At the age of 30, when you take someone to your hometown to meet your father, they aren’t just a friend. This man is simply playing it safe. By using the ‘friend’ label, he is dodging all responsibility so that if he decides to walk away tomorrow, he can claim, ‘I told you from the start we were just friends.
If a man cannot stand in front of his father and say, This is my girlfriend, then he is simply not ready to settle down yet. you needs to have the Talk before attending that wedding; otherwise, he will remain just a ‘plus one’ rather than a partner