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Keep unwanted/public out of reception

normraenormrae member
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
We are having our ceremony and reception in public areas.  Our ceremony will be on the beach, not worried about this part, but our reception will be held at a museum with a public resturant attached.  There is one main entrance that leads to both the museum and the restuarant.  There is a side entrance that leads to the museum after walking through the steps and patio.  Our cocktail hour is on the patio with maybe an ability to use ropes? Our reception will be held inside the museum.  How do we keep wedding crashers or uninvited guests out of our reception?  We will know every person that will be there, no unmet family members, but we have 160 guests.  We wont be to pay attention to the entire crowd.  Our guests are from many aspects of our lives so there are also not many people that would know everyone.  Our only really option is stopping them from getting in.  Any suggestions?
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Re: Keep unwanted/public out of reception

  • InkdancerInkdancer member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its First Anniversary First Answer
    Hire security. They will be able to watch entrances and make sure only your guests are at your wedding. 

    Also, talk to the museum. They deal with this on a regular basis, so will most likely know what to do.
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  • misshart00misshart00 member
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    Can you ask the venue what they've done in the past for private events?
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  • kmmssgkmmssg mod
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    I would think your venue has dealt with this before so I would start there. 
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  • AddieCakeAddieCake member
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    I agree. Surely this is not the first private event to take place at this venue. 
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  • JCbride2015JCbride2015 member
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    Yep, ask the venue.  It sounds like there is a decent division between the public and private areas.  Ask them whether they normally would put up ropes or a sign.  If they don't seem to have it under control, consider hiring security.

    Our venue sounds really similar: ceremony outside in a park (although that lawn is technically private, it doesn't look much different from the rest), then reception in a private area of a public restaurant.  We are counting on a simple sign at the doorway to differentiate.

    Are you more concerned about people wandering in unawares, or active wedding crashers?  I wouldn't really be concerned about crashers, I don't think that happens IRL very much.  (But others correct me if you have stories!)
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  • huskypuppy14huskypuppy14 member
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    I think your worrying over nothing. It is very common for people to have receptions in public places like hotels, museums, etc, and the venue probably has ways to distinguish the private event from the pubic spaces.  My sister's wedding was in a public space like this, and the cocktail hour was in the hallway, right near the public restaurant. There were no issues.
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
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    laurynm84 said:
    I think your worrying over nothing. It is very common for people to have receptions in public places like hotels, museums, etc, and the venue probably has ways to distinguish the private event from the pubic spaces.  My sister's wedding was in a public space like this, and the cocktail hour was in the hallway, right near the public restaurant. There were no issues.
    The problem is if non-guests help themselves to provisions being paid for by the OP, her FI, or their parents-especially if it leaves not enough for those who were invited.  So that's not "worrying over nothing."  The fact that it wasn't a problem at your sister's wedding doesn't mean that it could not be a problem at the OP's wedding.
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  • huskypuppy14huskypuppy14 member
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    Jen4948 said:
    laurynm84 said:
    I think your worrying over nothing. It is very common for people to have receptions in public places like hotels, museums, etc, and the venue probably has ways to distinguish the private event from the pubic spaces.  My sister's wedding was in a public space like this, and the cocktail hour was in the hallway, right near the public restaurant. There were no issues.
    The problem is if non-guests help themselves to provisions being paid for by the OP, her FI, or their parents-especially if it leaves not enough for those who were invited.  So that's not "worrying over nothing."  The fact that it wasn't a problem at your sister's wedding doesn't mean that it could not be a problem at the OP's wedding.
    That can be a problem at any wedding. Sorry, but I think this is not a unique situation. Other people had good advice, to ask the venue, if she has concerns. Yes, if it's a consumption based bar, this could be a slight problem.  OP are you having a cocktail reception, or are you having a full dinner in the museum?  It's not like someone is going to come in and plop themselves down at a table and eat dinner.
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
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    laurynm84 said:
    Jen4948 said:
    laurynm84 said:
    I think your worrying over nothing. It is very common for people to have receptions in public places like hotels, museums, etc, and the venue probably has ways to distinguish the private event from the pubic spaces.  My sister's wedding was in a public space like this, and the cocktail hour was in the hallway, right near the public restaurant. There were no issues.
    The problem is if non-guests help themselves to provisions being paid for by the OP, her FI, or their parents-especially if it leaves not enough for those who were invited.  So that's not "worrying over nothing."  The fact that it wasn't a problem at your sister's wedding doesn't mean that it could not be a problem at the OP's wedding.
    That can be a problem at any wedding. Sorry, but I think this is not a unique situation. Other people had good advice, to ask the venue, if she has concerns. Yes, if it's a consumption based bar, this could be a slight problem.  OP are you having a cocktail reception, or are you having a full dinner in the museum?  It's not like someone is going to come in and plop themselves down at a table and eat dinner.
    I've heard of situations where uninvited persons have done exactly that.

    I agree that the OP should talk to the venue about this; just not that this is "worrying over nothing."  That's putting it dismissively when it could be a real problem.
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  • MairePoppyMairePoppy mod
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    I have only heard of it happening once, and I'm very old. My dear friend's wedding crasher danced with the ladies, drank from the open bar and made up a plate at the buffet. She assumed the man was one of the guests dates. The wedding took place at an American Legion and was very casual, no assigned seating. Dinner was over before she realized the groom's family didn't know him and he wasn't a plus 1. They love telling the story and showing their wedding album with the mystery man appearing in many of the candid photos.

    I have attended many weddings at public places. There's usually a sign posted at the entrance to the reception area that it's the 'Raedel - Jones Wedding' or whatever. Like the others have said, if this museum rents out space for private receptions, they probably have a procedure to insure that no one takes advantage. If they don't, hire someone to hand out escort cards as the guests enter. 
                       
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  • sofakingmadsofakingmad member
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    Jen4948 said:
    laurynm84 said:
    Jen4948 said:
    laurynm84 said:
    I think your worrying over nothing. It is very common for people to have receptions in public places like hotels, museums, etc, and the venue probably has ways to distinguish the private event from the pubic spaces.  My sister's wedding was in a public space like this, and the cocktail hour was in the hallway, right near the public restaurant. There were no issues.
    The problem is if non-guests help themselves to provisions being paid for by the OP, her FI, or their parents-especially if it leaves not enough for those who were invited.  So that's not "worrying over nothing."  The fact that it wasn't a problem at your sister's wedding doesn't mean that it could not be a problem at the OP's wedding.
    That can be a problem at any wedding. Sorry, but I think this is not a unique situation. Other people had good advice, to ask the venue, if she has concerns. Yes, if it's a consumption based bar, this could be a slight problem.  OP are you having a cocktail reception, or are you having a full dinner in the museum?  It's not like someone is going to come in and plop themselves down at a table and eat dinner.
    I've heard of situations where uninvited persons have done exactly that.

    I agree that the OP should talk to the venue about this; just not that this is "worrying over nothing."  That's putting it dismissively when it could be a real problem.
    First of all, if this is going to stress the OP out, maybe, juussstt maaaybe, this isn't the venue for her.

    Second of all, I agree with other posters that if this venue has private parties, I'm 110% positive that they have something in place to deal with unwanted guests.

    I stand in the "your worrying about nothing" boat and I'll go down with it.
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
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    DragonBlood13 said:
    Jen4948 said:
    laurynm84 said:
    Jen4948 said:
    laurynm84 said:
    I think your worrying over nothing. It is very common for people to have receptions in public places like hotels, museums, etc, and the venue probably has ways to distinguish the private event from the pubic spaces.  My sister's wedding was in a public space like this, and the cocktail hour was in the hallway, right near the public restaurant. There were no issues.
    The problem is if non-guests help themselves to provisions being paid for by the OP, her FI, or their parents-especially if it leaves not enough for those who were invited.  So that's not "worrying over nothing."  The fact that it wasn't a problem at your sister's wedding doesn't mean that it could not be a problem at the OP's wedding.
    That can be a problem at any wedding. Sorry, but I think this is not a unique situation. Other people had good advice, to ask the venue, if she has concerns. Yes, if it's a consumption based bar, this could be a slight problem.  OP are you having a cocktail reception, or are you having a full dinner in the museum?  It's not like someone is going to come in and plop themselves down at a table and eat dinner.
    I've heard of situations where uninvited persons have done exactly that.

    I agree that the OP should talk to the venue about this; just not that this is "worrying over nothing."  That's putting it dismissively when it could be a real problem.
    First of all, if this is going to stress the OP out, maybe, juussstt maaaybe, this isn't the venue for her.

    Second of all, I agree with other posters that if this venue has private parties, I'm 110% positive that they have something in place to deal with unwanted guests.

    I stand in the "your worrying about nothing" boat and I'll go down with it.
    Any venue could have a problem with crashers.  And not every venue handles it well.

    I agree that any good venue should be able to, but the OP may be locked into a contract or there may be other circumstances that make any other local venue even worse.  So have fun at the bottom.
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