Wedding Day Security
Flowers – check.
Table Settings – check.
Guest List, Venue, Chauffeur – check.
Security – ???
I would be surprised to find security at the top of any wedding planner’s list, as they sit down to map out the happy couple’s big day. Neither should it be. There’s the music, food, ceremony and honeymoon to arrange. All the arrangements that are more usual features to finalise. Perhaps, however, I can make a case for keeping the issue of Wedding Day Security from missing the list entirely. I might also be able to highlight many good reasons to nudge it up the table a few places.
I should mention that I write this article, male and unmarried, so forgive me if I refrain from romantic hyperbole, but even I can appreciate the importance of the perfect wedding day.
With the right budget, almost anything (besides the weather) can be arranged to ensure the day is as special as you had always dreamed. My advice, if you would permit me to share it, would be to ensure that once the budget has been baked, iced and divided into segments, a suitable sized slice is given to Securing the day – and here’s why:
No 1 – Safety
It takes a certain type of person to dwell on the potential pitfalls of such a happy occasion. They tend not to be love-struck couples or inventive event planners. Sometimes, however, it pays to have a security professional on hand to consider the worst-case scenarios. It’s from these considerations that counter measures can be arranged and plausible problems prevented. Problems such as unwelcome guests infiltrating the ceremony, expensive wedding gifts going missing or paparazzi hiding in the bushes to steal a snap with their long lenses. All of these unfortunate occurrences happen more often than one would imagine. The papers regularly report on newlyweds waking up on their first day of married life to find their presents stolen or private photos have been sold by a guest looking to make some easy cash. All such incidents, however, with good planning and effective implementation, can be eliminated by a security presence on the day. That presence, I should add, like all other features on the list, may be customised to the client’s wishes. Please don’t feel put off by the idea of men with shaved heads, sunglasses and cheap black suits. Professional operatives with a fine array of softer skills, can be dressed in the colour scheme or costume of your choosing (perhaps with the odd exception.)
During the planning stages, your Security Manager will establish the details they need to complete a bespoke risk assessment for the day. Have there been any historical threats made to the family or guests? Are there medical issues to be aware of? Are there concerns regarding the couples profile that may affect proceedings?
The setting and its existing security features will also be considered, alongside the potential value of the wedding gifts and where exactly the best man plans to keep the rings prior to kick off. Other matters to consider, include:
- Access control, regardless of the venue, should be employed to ensure the attendees only include those you have chosen to share the day with.
- Security personnel to guard the wedding gifts or transport them to a suitable place of safe storage, whilst guests head for the dance floor.
- First aid trained operatives present with the appropriate kit on hand, should, God forbid, Great Aunt Maud trip on the steps or Granddad Charlie lose his breath doing the Macarena.
- Covert operatives deployed to patrol the venue and its surroundings, preventing the uninvited from invading on the action.
- Wireless CCTV installed to keep watch over the guest’s cars and intruder alarms set up to alert us to those wandering into off-limit areas.
No 2 – Privacy
Protecting ones’ public profile in today’s social media – smart phone generation is no easy feat. Once the client has provided the Security Manager with the level of privacy requested, steps can be taken to protect any unwanted exposure.
- Security staff can ensure the couple’s rules are adhered to in respect to any restriction on photos or selfies with high profile guests.
- Close Protection Operatives are experienced in dealing with persistent members of paparazzi, preventing unnecessary stress to the wedding party, should they attempt to crash the day.
- It’s even possible to employ drone detection technology to combat the increasing prevalence of unidentified flying objects spying down from above.
3 – Peace of mind
Most importantly, the employment of an experienced security team will allow you to focus on remembering your vows, getting through the speeches and enjoying the day without worry or concern. Security is the process of enabling not disabling, and by including it in your planning, you are increasing the chance that at least the first day of your married life will go according to plan.
Written by Bryn Frere-Smith
Security Manager and Consultant for Eden Private Staff
