Dear Carson: I recently received a wedding invitation. My boyfriend thinks I should call the bride and ask her if I can bring a guest. I think that would be rude and that the invitation would have included "and guest" had the couple intended for me to bring a date.

The bride is not a close friend, but I have known her for about 10 years and I'd like to attend the wedding, with or without a date.

Should I call the bride and inquire about bringing my boyfriend? - Uninvited Guest Query

Dear Query: Your instincts are correct. It is proper to ask the bride or her parents to bring a guest only when the uninvited guest and the invited guest are engaged to be married, and then only if one is related to or close friends of the bride or groom or their families. Caterers charge by the head, sometimes upward of $25.

Write to Ask Carson, The Augusta Chronicle, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903-1928. Send e-mail to askcarson@home.com. Carson Elliott's Web site is at www.theproperthing.com.