Crazy Storytime- I got ASSAULTED by a Wedding Crasher!

Hey babes! Grab a glass of 🍷 because this is a good one! Today’s post takes me back to when I first started my career- and got physically assaulted by a wedding crasher!

It might not have been too bad if it was Owen Wilson or Vince Vaughn, but….it wasn’t.😜

So this is a crrraaazzzyyy story- a behind the scenes-true life-what it’s like to be a wedding planner-kind of crazy. Most of the time it’s glamorous (cue Fergie), fun, and exciting. BUT, some of the time you find yourself in crazy situations that could only happen at a wedding.

So let me take you back—- I was in my early 20s and I was doing a wedding at a really beautiful, upscale hotel (I will keep the name on the DL). The way this hotel is laid out— it’s actually known for having wedding crashers because the hotel bar is right next to the ballroom. This makes it really easy for any stragglers at the bar to kind of just meander their way over to where the ballroom is and sneak right on in. In order to deter that, because it’s kind of known in this industry to happen at this particular hotel, you ALWAYS have back-up—a security guard.👮‍♂️

As a good wedding planner does, I do my due diligence. I get that security guard to man the entrance and make sure no wedding crashers can sneak into our party.

I’m running around behind the scenes in the vendor’s room–a little room that hotels set aside for the vendors-kind of like a band green room if you will. This is where we keep our client’s stuff. I was actually assembling what we call party props: glow sticks, foam LED sticks or glow necklaces, sunglasses, or hats—the things you pass around during the party while everyone is on the dance floor. This really amps up the party. While in the room assembling and getting them ready to take to the dance floor, I noticed something that did not quite belong. 😬

At this point in my career, even though it was early, I was still doing big, over-the-top luxury weddings and this wedding was a semi-formal event. So everybody was in cocktail attire in the big ballroom and immediately my eyes went straight to the dance floor. My eyes were set on an elderly man in denim jeans, a plaid shirt, and a cowboy hat who was DANCING WITH THE BRIDE!😱

So I spot this guy, and I pan over and see his wife right next to him. It’s obvious this couple does not belong at this wedding. They were UNINVITED. They were this weddings’ Owen and Vince.

This was the first time this happened in my career. I was thinking:

What should I do?
How do I handle this?

I look over to my bride. She’s young, fun, hip, and cracking up. She thinks this is so funny and dances with the guy for a little bit to get some funny pictures. OK! She was taking it like a champ. BUT, after one dance, she looks at me and gives me the “I’m done” sign and “Get him outta here” look.

It’s HYPERDRIVE—GO TIME at that very moment. 🙅🏻‍♀️

I walk up to him and say “Hey, so sorry. We know you were not invited to this party. Please come with me.” He pays me absolutely no attention. Keeps dancing and doing his thing. So I say with a little more force and authority, “Sir, you were not invited to this wedding. The bride would like you to leave. Will you please come with me?” And he says, “NO”. Excuse me!? I’m motioning with my hands and repeating “Please come with me.” I’m trying to walk him off the dance floor. NO LUCK! There are so many people around and he’s just arguing with me. Yelling at me. Telling me he’s having a great time. Like, dude, it’s not your party. I realize he’s not going anywhere.

It was clear he had drank a few beverages…let’s just put it that way shall we? I’m looking at his wife for help and saying “Get your man! Take him and GO!” Meanwhile, she’s sneaking off into the background, not helping at all.

Then I think- maybe this guy can’t really hear me. We’ll give him that much. So I go up to him to sort of whisper in his ear to say “Hey, we really need you to leave” and as I’m leaning in to whisper—side note—I”m in my early 20s—this O-L-D man, takes his hands, using his palms and palm heads me so hard in the shoulders that I’m knocked backward and fall on my butt in the middle of the dancefloor for all to see. I AM SHOOK! What.Just.Happened? Am I on candid camera?

So I pick myself up and I SHIT YOU NOT, I grabbed him by the ear and I dragged him out of the room. You might be thinking, “where is security”? Oh, he’s on his phone. Yes. HIS PHONE!🤦🏻‍♀️

I told him exactly what happened—AND HELLO— “Can I get a little help here? You let the wedding crashing couple into my party and you’re sitting here on your phone and not managing the situation while I’m being assaulted”.

Long story short, the security guard asked if I wanted to press charges. I just wanted them to leave. They were escorted out and the hotel actually kicked them out as well, making this just a really crazy story for me to tell!😜

Luckily the bride was a good sport and took it all in stride. We are still friends, thank goodness, to this day. I mean, sometimes you can’t control everything that happens, even though you’d like to!

The crazy thing is, someone felt they were entitled to walk into a party, eat the food, drink the drinks, and dance the dances. And in being told no, they decided to get physical. 😳

L-E-S-S-O-N L-E-A-R-N-E-D – get the guard involved from the beginning!!! Otherwise, you might find yourself in the middle of the dance floor turned boxing ring. Also, I learned to always ask suspicious guests how they know the bride or the clients. You just never know- maybe they couldn’t afford the proper attire or arrived late and came straight from the airport!

Whew, this was a fun one to share with you and a favorite story I’ll have forever!💕

Until Next Time –

Until Next Time -

BYE, BABES 😘