High School Formals

RSVP: How to Avoid Gatecrashers

21 September 2011 by admin in Formal Planning, Homepage, Latest, Uncategorized

by Laura Elvery

Once upon a time there was something we now refer to as 'snail mail'. This now archaic method of communication was once the preferred means of sending out invitations to events such as birthday parties, weddings, funerals, christenings, hen's nights and even BBQ's.

Snail mail made it easy for you to invite people to an event, if you sent out twenty invitations, generally speaking twenty people replied and you’d have roughly twenty people showing up on the big day.

But as effective as snail mail may have been in its day, it’s becoming less likely that invitations to events like your after formal party will be delivered by the mailman. Whether you’re the brave one hosting your after formal party, or the lucky one who gets an invite, it usually goes something like this: an invitation is set up on Facebook, where the administrator (the person doing the inviting) can choose privacy settings from ‘open’ to ‘private’.

In the tea-and-sandwiches scenario above, there would have been no chance of gatecrashers, because no one else knew about the event. Gatecrashers are non-invitees who turn up and usually cause problems (remember the Corey Delany debacle of 2008).

These days, gatecrashers are not only common, they’re sadly expected. Good hosts should try to prevent them and good guests should do everything they can to not ruin someone else’s party. Most states police websites have useful information to guide you, a great example of this is the Party Safe Program set up by the Queensland Police. There’s great info there for teenage guests, hosts and parents.

Their best tips?

For hosts:
• Register your party with your local police. This doesn’t mean they’re going to hassle you, but they’ll have your details if they’re needed.
• Don’t assume everyone will want alcohol. Be responsible and have plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks for all your guests.
• You have the right to ask guests to leave. If you don’t think you’ll be up to it, think about hiring a private security guard or two.

We have also heard of some parents going to more extreme lengths and organising security guards for the after party and then sending out lanyards or ID cards for attendees. then, only people with IDs are allowed access on the night.

For guests:
• Treat the house and property of your host with respect.
• Turn up when you’re supposed to and leave when the party has ended (no matter how much fun you’re having.)
• Plan a safe way to get home.
• Don’t spread the word on Facebook or SMS.

Remember, your host is going to all the effort: inviting a huge number of people—not all of them close friends—to their parents’ house to eat, drink and potentially make a big mess. Even if it’s not sandwiches and tea you’ll be chatting over, be on your best behaviour.