If you have been invited to a gathering and would like to bring someone, ask the host before inviting that person. Name your guest, mention the event, and leave room for a simple no. A friendly invitation to you does not automatically include a plus-one.

Choose one of these 48 messages and replace the bracketed details. Ask privately and as early as you can. If the invitation already says no additional guests, respect that limit. For formal invitations, assume only the named people are invited unless the host clearly offers a plus-one. Wait for an explicit yes before making plans for your guest.

Short texts for casual get-togethers

  • Would it be okay to bring my friend [name] to your barbecue on [day]? No worries if you’re keeping the group as planned.
  • Thanks for inviting me to game night. Could my roommate [name] join me? I’m happy to come on my own if that works better.
  • Before I mention your picnic to my friend [name], I wanted to ask whether you’re comfortable with me bringing one guest.
  • Are you open to one extra person at your movie night? I’d like to bring [name], a friend from [where you know them], if that suits you.
  • I’m looking forward to your birthday drinks on [day]. May I bring my friend [name], or would you prefer to keep it to the people you invited?
  • Could I bring my neighbor [name] to your garden get-together? Please feel free to say no if you’d rather keep it small.
  • For your housewarming on [day], would bringing my friend [name] be okay? I haven’t invited them and will wait for your answer.
  • Can I check whether my friend [name] could come with me to your beach gathering? If you’ve already settled the guest list, I understand.

Asking to bring a partner or someone you are dating

  • Would you be comfortable with me bringing my partner, [name], to dinner on [day]? It’s completely fine if the invitation is just for me.
  • I’d like you to meet [name], whom I’ve been dating. Would your party on [day] be a suitable time for me to bring them, or shall we meet another time?
  • Thanks for including me in your holiday gathering. Is there room for my spouse, [name], to come with me? I understand if you’ve finalized the numbers.
  • May I bring my girlfriend, [name], to your lunch on [day]? I wanted to check with you rather than assume partners are included.
  • For your gathering on [day], are you happy for me to bring my boyfriend, [name]? Please say if you’d prefer the original group.
  • Could my partner, [name], join me at your anniversary drinks? I know you’re hosting, so I’ll leave the guest list up to you.
  • I’ve started seeing [name] and wondered if I could bring them to your barbecue. If you’d rather meet them separately, that’s fine too.
  • Before I make plans with my partner, [name], may I check whether they can join me at your dinner on [day]? No problem if there isn’t space.

Bringing a visiting friend or family member

  • My sister, [name], will be visiting on the day of your picnic. Would you be happy for me to bring her? I can make separate plans with her if not.
  • Could I bring my brother, [name], to your cookout on [day]? He’ll be in town, but I haven’t suggested joining your gathering without checking first.
  • A friend from out of town, [name], is visiting that weekend. Would one extra guest fit your plans for [event]? Please don’t feel you need to change anything.
  • Would it be all right if my cousin [name] came with me to your afternoon tea? I understand if you’re keeping it to the people you already know.
  • My mother, [name], will be staying with me that week. Could she join me for your lunch on [day], or would you prefer to keep the invitation as it is?
  • May I bring my friend [name] to your potluck while they’re visiting? If you’re comfortable adding them, I can check what they should bring afterward.
  • My adult daughter, [name], will be in town for the weekend. Would you welcome her as my guest at your gathering on [day]? It’s fine if that doesn’t fit your plans.
  • I’d like to bring my father, [name], to your afternoon gathering on [day], if you’re comfortable with that. He would join only for the gathering, and I’ll wait for your go-ahead.

Checking before meals, reservations, or ticketed events

  • Before you confirm the restaurant booking for [day], could my friend [name] join as my guest? I understand if you need to keep the reservation at its current size.
  • Would adding my partner, [name], to your birthday dinner be possible? Please don’t change a fixed menu or seating plan on my account.
  • I know you’ve booked a table for [event]. May I bring my friend [name] if there is space, or is the headcount now closed?
  • For the concert outing you invited me to, may my friend [name] join our group if they buy their own ticket? I’ll check with you before they book.
  • Could I bring my roommate [name] to the brunch you’re organizing on [day]? We would each pay our own bill, but I wanted to check the guest list first.
  • Would you consider one additional guest, my friend [name], for the dinner in the private room? If the booking is fixed, I’m happy to leave it as it is.
  • Before I buy another ticket for your fundraiser, is it okay to bring my friend [name] as my guest? I’ll wait to hear whether there are guest or registration requirements.
  • May my partner, [name], join me for the tasting you invited me to? I won’t reserve a place for them unless you’re happy to add another person.

Asking about work and community gatherings

  • Thanks for inviting me to the team celebration. Are partners welcome? I’d like to bring [name], but I’m happy to attend alone if it’s for colleagues only.
  • May I bring my friend [name] to the neighborhood gathering on [day]? They don’t live in the area, so I wanted to check whether outside guests are welcome.
  • For the volunteer lunch you invited me to, could I bring my spouse, [name]? I understand if the places are reserved for volunteers.
  • Would it be appropriate to bring my colleague [name] to your networking evening as my guest? If so, please let me know whether they need a separate registration.
  • I’d like to bring my friend [name] to the book club gathering you invited me to. Is this meeting open to a guest, or would members prefer to keep the usual group?
  • Could my partner, [name], join me at the office holiday reception? I haven’t assumed guests are included and will wait for confirmation.
  • For the community garden lunch on [day], is it okay if I bring my friend [name]? Please let me know if the invitation is limited to current members.
  • Would you be comfortable with my colleague [name] joining me at the alumni gathering? They didn’t attend the school, so I understand if guests aren’t part of this event.

When the date is close or you have already replied

  • I’ve already replied for one to your dinner on [day], but wanted to ask whether my partner, [name], could join me. If your numbers are final, please keep my RSVP as it is.
  • I realize your party is tomorrow. Would you be open to me bringing my friend [name]? I know this is late notice, so it’s fine to keep the original plan.
  • Before you finish shopping for the barbecue, may I ask about bringing my roommate [name]? If you’ve already bought everything, there’s no need to add another guest.
  • I should have asked earlier: could my friend [name] join me for your gathering this evening? I won’t bring them unless you confirm that it works for you.
  • When I accepted your lunch invitation, I planned to come alone. Would it now be possible to bring my sister, [name]? I understand if you’d rather not change the arrangements.
  • I heard you’re moving the picnic indoors. Before I ask my friend [name] to join me, is there room for one extra person, or would you prefer to keep the group unchanged?
  • I know the RSVP date for [event] has passed. Is adding my partner, [name], still an option? If not, I’ll stick with the place you’ve already confirmed for me.
  • For your gathering on [day], could my friend [name] join me for the afternoon portion only? I’ll wait for your approval, and I understand if you don’t want any changes to the guest list.

What if the host says no or does not reply?

Accept a no without asking for a reason or trying to negotiate. Thank the host for letting you know, then confirm only what you can genuinely do. If you can no longer attend, say so promptly rather than using your attendance to pressure them.

No reply means your extra guest has not been approved. Keep to the original invitation. A yes applies to the person and event you asked about, not additional friends, other parts of the celebration, or an overnight stay. Once the host agrees, check any arrival, meal, ticket, or registration details before passing them to your guest.

For a message about an arrangement already agreed, see these polite messages to confirm plans. If you are hosting your own event, browse our party invitation message ideas.