What would a party be without party crashers? It happens
all the time, no matter the level of the event. Someone
always shows up who was not invited. Based upon many years
of event planning at A Wynning Event, I decided to include
a chapter in my upcoming book, Simply Elegant Events on a
Budget, discussing a few options to consider when uninvited
guests arrive and think they will be partying with you.
First, if you don't know them you can easily approach them
and explain that this is a private function by invitation
only and to please leave. Most often, people are just
looking and will do so. If they refuse to leave and you
are at a facility, then go to the facility manager or
security personnel and have them escort the party crasher
out. If it is at your house and a stranger just happens to
walk in and doesn't want to leave, then you may have to
call the police.
At your event, you do need to be careful and be aware as to
a guest who is invited and then brings someone you don't
know without telling you in advance. It is acceptable to
approach this guest you haven't met and ask them who they
are as well as which attendee they are a guest of. This
simple step will not only introduce you to a new person but
will also grant you peace of mind allowing you to enjoy
your party.
Occasionally at weddings or events occurring at a hotel or
banquet hall, it is easy for people to learn about the
event, dress the part and then attend it uninvited.
Sometimes, they are looking for a free drink and some food.
This incident has happened to me quite a few times.
During these instances, we just approached them directly,
took the drink out of their hand, explained that this was a
private affair and then asked them to leave immediately,
which they did. Basically, when the ruse is up, they are
embarrassed and leave quickly since most people have some
level of morality.
Another instance regarding uninvited guests, especially at
hotels or banquet facilities, is that these people could be
scamming the event looking to see what they can easily walk
away with such as cameras, purses or expensive coats.
Unfortunately this experience is the downside of throwing a
party and you just need to be aware of who is in the room
and if necessary, call security or the police if you are
uncomfortable or don't feel safe approaching these people
yourself.
Sometimes your guests may bring their babies because the
babysitter canceled last minute, or they just assumed the
party is a family affair. This situation can be a bit
tricky and most often will be handled by the parent who
brought the child. If the event is a formal sit-down
dinner, then the parent will quickly realize bringing the
baby or child was not a wise decision and will most likely
excuse themselves from the party. If the event is a large
or more informal party, then I would suggest allowing the
baby to stay as long as the child behaves. Most often,
parents realize quickly whether their child is ruining the
party and will self-correct the situation.
Through my years at A Wynning Event, the easiest solution I
have found to uninvited guests is to hire a security person
to check names off at the entrance to your party. With
private house parties, a suggestion is to provide a guest
list to someone who is assigned to check names at the door.
These simple steps can save you time and allow you to
enjoy your party without worrying who is not suppose to be
enjoying it with you.
----------------------------------------------------
Andrea Wyn is a marketing and special event planner with
over 15 years of special event industry experience. For the
past ten years, she has been the Awards Event Supervisor
for the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R). She holds an MBA
from the University of Chicago and a BA from UCLA. To
Twitter her about events and learn more about special
events and social media then go to
http://www.awynningevent.com
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