Photo: New Line/Courtesy Neal Peters Collection
No one likes a wedding crasher. That open bar is for your guests, not open to the public! And while the easiest way to avoid wedding crashers is to host your wedding at a venue that’s remote or unlikely to have quite so many passers-by, sometimes that dream venue is in the heart of downtown — or, it’s at a location with multiple gorgeous spots to get married. So if you’ve rented a venue that hosts more than one wedding per night, what steps can you take to make sure those on the dance floor are your guests, and your guests only? Here are a few tips from our experts.
Before you get too worried, talk to your venue rep. If they regularly have two or more weddings and events on a given night, chances are they have a process in place that helps keep guests in the right spot, whether it’s having each event on a different side of the venue so guests don’t really cross paths or arranging the timing so that you’re not bumping into another bride on your way to cocktail hour.
Still want to make sure everyone knows where to go? Invest in a sign or two to place at the entrance to the space you’ll be using, clearly stating the names of the couple getting married. Marrying in a public space, like a museum or library? Add “Private Event” to the sign so tourists and the like won’t get tempted to peek.
You should also ask the venue if they can station a member of their staff at the entrance to help guide guests as they arrive. Nothing’s worse than dropping your car off at the valet with no idea where to go next, but someone in business attire who looks official is always the first person people ask for directions. They can ask arriving guests which event they’re attending, then guide them accordingly. Later in the evening, the same staff member (or someone serving a similar purpose) can be stationed near the restrooms to help guests find their way back to the right party, as well as keep an eye out for anyone who looks like they really don’t belong.
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