Wristbands

I've thought of the invitation thing, but it's a DW, and I know a large chunk of people will most likely forget it

I had no idea people were so opposed to this. I would have no issue if I was asked to do this, but I'm also a very security minded person.

I’m a security minded person, and I’ve held jobs and been married to someone where security was incredibly important in our lives, but to stand in a line of 200 people to get checked in for a wedding? No. It’s a wedding. If it’s common for people to join in the parade, it’s probably also common that those people don’t join the reception- or that tradition probably would have gotten shut down or you’d hear about it because who wants to pay for extra people.

And I wasn't planning on having a receiving line. Is that a thing I need to do? My reception is only 3 hours and it would take the entire time I feel.

Also, we are not having any assigned seating as it is never done at this venue. And the food will be passed around and in stations (not plated) so it would be very easy to blend in and crash if you wanted since everyone will just be hanging out mingling.

Obviously if people are there in very casual tourist clothing it would be clear they were out of place, but I also have one invited guest who I expect will wear jeans, even though this is a fancy thing.

View Quoted Comment

It was suggestion. In addition to the ticket, there will also be a list at the door.

View Quoted Comment

If its really that much of a concern, and it shouldn;t be. No one is just standing around waiting for Second Lines to go by to crash weddings; not even in NOLA where that is common, then skip doing it outside.

I had a friend from College get married in NOLA this past year. They did the parade/second line thing but they did it inside the venue at the start of the reception. It's weird that you would think people would randomly join your wedding - but if its truly a huge concern just adjust your plans.

View Quoted Comment

Unless people lose them or forget them at home, which at least 25% will. Then it will be an even bigger problem.

This is super trashy.

View Quoted Comment

You're overthinking this. You're assuming that strangers would want to crash your wedding which in itself is a very presumptuous. Then you're worried they'd blend in even in street clothes because one other guest might be in jeans? Skip the wristbands and don't worry about it.

View Quoted Comment

Well I was saying that I wouldn't want this one particular guest to be kicked out accidentally.

View Quoted Comment

Who would kick them out?? No one should be getting kicked out unless you or your partner tell the venue to.

View Quoted Comment

But you don't KNOW that this guest will be wearing jeans though and even if he did I'm sure he could ask the coordinator to confirm with you.

And again - people aren't like waiting in fancy clothes on the side of the street to join your party. But if its a serious concern then just don't do this portion outside in public. Problem solved.

Okay so you are worried strangers will crash...how many security guards are you hiring? Will everyone have to show ID? Will people need licenses or will credit cards work? Is anyone getting married or divorced before your wedding hence changing they may have different names from what's on the list?

Honestly, to keep this moving I fell like you'd need at minimum 10-12 security guards. What if a crasher gets rowdy because you are kicking them out? You'll need an additional guard to kick them out. Honestly, I'd just keep your eyes peeled and if you see a crasher, just tell your coordinator and they will discreetly remove them.

So your reception is 3 hours. 200 people need to checked in. If it takes 30 seconds per person to look up their name and snap on the wrist band that's an entire hour.

Your guest spend the entire cocktail hour waiting to get inside. I'd be so pissed.

What a fantastic idea!!!! Who wants randos or people who didn't RSVP to eat all your awesome food, right? It's not like the weather is ever crappy in NOLA, your guests totally won't mind standing outside waiting to be let in! And if a guest is irresponsible enough to lose their bracelet its their own fault they get kicked out! You should make these your favors to the gusts so they'll always have something to remember your awesome wedding by!

View Quoted Comment

Ditch the wristbands, no one cares about your wedding enough to crash it. If you are that concerned hire a few security guards and have them remove anyone that shouldn't be there.

How do you plan to greet and thank all of your guests? Usually, you have either a receiving line or you will do table visits. It sounds like you aren't planning to do either and you most definitely need to make this a priority. You should also be assigning tables (to guarantee that families/couples can sit together).

I was just thinking that having wristbands would end up saving a lot of time if we gave them to VIPs the night before and whatnot.

Just so I am understanding, are y'all saying the issue is with the 'tacky" wristbands, or with the list in general? I don't think the list at the door would take any longer then finding your name on an escort card table, which I am not having? If the issue is entirely with the wristbands, there are alternative visibility things I can do. The venue does have security at the door at all their weddings for this purpose.

View Quoted Comment

No, the point is that this is an unnecessary "security" measure.

View Quoted Comment

I will be doing table visits, and do not plan on sitting down the entire time. The only "activities" planned during the reception are the first dance and the cake. The entire rest of the time will be open for guests.

Assigning tables is not done at this venue, which I am glad about. It's set up for mingling.

Eh, pass. That seems "clubby" to me.

View Quoted Comment

No people have issue because

1. If its a DW wedding people spent a lot of time planning and money traveling. Asking them to stand and wait in line to be checked in is rude and inconsiderate of their time

2. It's unnecessary - the likelihood that someone will actually crash this wedding is slim. If the outside parade is an issue then you change that - you don't ask your guests to wait around to be let into an event your invited them to

Also if the venue specfically has a guard for the purpose of deterring crashers then that should be enough. You don't need security on top of security.

Also why would only VIPs get them??? That leads to even more confusion around why some guests have them and some don't and will be really disrespectful of the feelings to those who were not deemed a "VIP"