on base reception

COSmitty

Does anyone have ideas for working of the reception card? We are having an on base reception (my Dad was retired Navy) but we're not military. I know we need to let people know it's a little more involved than just driving up.

I grew up going on base so I don't think of it as any sort of big deal- we have a list we'll give the base and people show IDs/get inspected. But I'm learning those who didn't grow up miliatry want a what to expect kinda thing.

What did you write if you did a base reception?

KendallR10

I don't live on a base but I have been to them enough times to know that you should remind everyone to have  picture IDs

aor9487

Ditto on the photo ID. Also, on most bases, there's a visitor's gate. It's USUALLY the main gate on the base. They may have to sign in at the gate, but it's not always the case. I would just suggest you direct your guests to the main gate in case something like that happens, so they aren't being turned around and asked to go through some other gate on another side of the base. 

firsttimersluck

Always go through the visitors gate with ID, license, and registeration.
When it comes time for your wedding make sure every single guest is put on the "access roster" for that day. Even if not all the people are driving on, they will need to be on the roster (just to play it safe.. believe me.. it'll be a bigger hassel if something messes up)
Let all guests know to be extra extra early just in case. Sometimes the access roster is right their in front of them and all is dandy... sometimes they make you pull over to the side and are confused for a while.. I have been in both situations.. the second sucks.  :P Don't want people late to your wedding!

calindi

If you are having a wedding website, perhaps you could put a page with a general overview? I would also put all invited guests on the list, whether they RSVP'd yes or no or didn't respond, because most weddings have a few unexpected guests who show up. If you want to make sure people who didn't RSVP yes can't get in, then obviously disregard ;-)

COSmitty

Thanks- there really is only one main gate to this particular base (it's a smaller base) and they do weddings most every weekend so I'm hoping it just flows. I will definately make a page on the wedding website and I like the ideas you mention. The ceremony will be off base but the reception on base so at least most people will be trekking in together.

kyrgyzstan

Don't *only* put it on the website, most people didn't even view mine. Mine wasn't on base, but it was in a place that if they were late, they would get locked out, so I just got the free business cards off of VP, and wrote some instructions there that said basically, "The Museum closes it's gate by 3:30 pm, so please arrive prior to that. If you miss the gate closure, please join us at [reception] afterward." Yours could just say something like, "In order to access [base], please do not forget your driver's license, current registration, and valid proof of insurance." My mom had taken her reg out for some reason, and she was staying in lodging with me, and it was kind of a nightmare.