Most people will have heard friends, relatives or colleagues describing the wedding planning process as highly stressful — this being true even before the coronavirus pandemic, which undoubtedly amplified stress levels. According to a poll of 2,000 British married couples (in 2019), 52 per cent declared the whole process as “stressful”. If it’s not choosing the guests, finding an available photographer, booking the venue or dining the perfect wedding dress, it’s worrying about what could go wrong on the day itself. You probably won’t be too surprised to know that many people now hire security guards for weddings.
You don’t have to be royalty to see the perks of having guards at your wedding. One of the biggest fears for many couples is having unwanted guests showing up. There’s nothing worse than hearing the words:
“If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
Then having an objection from an uninvited attendee, perhaps someone you know well who has qualms with your impending union. Of course, we’ve painted a very dramatic scene and whilst this is unlikely to happen, you may have other fears on your mind, such as:
- Tension between guests
- Wedding crashers
- Paparazzi
- Theft
- Property Damage
If some of these points above ring true to you, it’s highly likely that investing in a security guard will be one of the best decisions you’re likely to make for your big day. Why maximise risks of something going terribly wrong when you can have a team of professional security guards on hand to step in, taking swift and confident action. Whether a guest drinks too much and becomes violent, paparazzi get too close for comfort, or a theft takes place, an SIA security guard can help make sure everything goes to plan, and your day is as special as it can be!
What do you get for your money?
One of the biggest factors to keep in mind with any wedding supplier is price, and this is no different for security guards. Prices will vary based on the hours required, location and experience, however, in most cases, brides and grooms find that hiring a security guard is not as expensive as it seems. Your average SIA security guard will have passed training courses in conflict management, public disorder, search, and restraint techniques. The cost must also consider what security guards offer in return, and they could save you many thousands! For example, one intoxicated wedding guest could break a chair, punch a hole through a wall or break a chandelier. Either way, you are responsible for booking the venue and may be required to cover the cost, or, at least, your insurance will. Security guards can stop traumatic incidents from taking place. A talented wedding and events security guard will identify guests who have had too much to drink and remove them before they cause any damage.
The film “Wedding Crashers” is hilarious, and whilst it’s a less than believable comedy, the overriding concept is true in many respects. The larger your wedding is, the more likely you are to have unwanted attendees. Fortunately, security guards are highly skilled in identifying and removing wedding crashers (also known as “walk-ins”).
Don’t wedding venues have security teams?
Generally, no. Of course, it depends on the venue. Even in rare cases where the venue does have a security team in place, how focused are they going to be on you are your big day? Not very. They will be purely focused on protecting the venue, and whilst this will, in turn, have some benefit to you, the level of service will not come close to a team of guards handpicked by you, with your needs at the core of their service.
What about protection against fans and paparazzi?
Many high-profile weddings are essentially gate-crashed by the paparazzi or fans, especially once the event, date, location and other details reach the public domain, which is easier today due to social media. In some cases, the bride and groom only want official photographs of their wedding, meaning guests are required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Security guards can assist with this process whilst also preventing guests from taking photos on their phones. Of course, the level of security you require depends on your overall goals. You may only want to keep tabloids and fans at bay, or you may require a more comprehensive strategy to ensure your day goes exactly as you plan.
Securing the car park
As discussed, some venues will have at least some form of security in place, but not necessarily for car parks. With large venues holding hundreds of guests, it’s even more important to secure the car parks so that vehicles will be left safe and sound until they’re ready to collect — often later that evening or the next day. Of course, opportunistic thieves and vandals know people are busy indoors at a wedding enjoying themselves, meaning the vehicles in unsecured car parks are particularly vulnerable. With a team of experienced security guards at your wedding, you can have the carp park patrolled and monitored, so that suspicious behaviour is identified and dealt with swiftly before it becomes a large security incident.
If you’re interested in booking security guards for your wedding or event, please send us a message or call our friendly team on 0333 888 0247. We can regularly provide confidential solutions for VIPs, whilst our guards have the hands-on skills required to work discreetly without disruption; after all, your wedding is one of the most important days of your life.