A couple months back, some of my very good friends spontaneously decided to take me to a wedding that none of us were invited to. I have always wanted to crash one, but me being me I was freaking out. I'm so glad they didn't listen to me when I asked them to just take me back home so I can buy a gift or never go, hahaha. I still think that we should have left a gift for them. I've learned a couple things from that one wedding.
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Choose wisely | It's important to choose a wedding that you want to crash, possibly some where you don't know the bride and groom or the bridal party. Go to major wedding venues like Dharubaaruge and other restaurants and check the names and generally look around the guests.
Sending a Spy | One of the most important things is to send one (or maximum two) people beforehand so they can easily slip and check out if the party is worth crashing and give you the green light to go in. Meaning check on the food, guests, where the bride and groom are standing and if it's possible to easily get in and get out while blending in with the crowd.
Making a low entrance | The best kind of weddings to crash are ones where there are a lot of people going. Find a crowd going in and sort of blend in with them and while they go take pictures with the bride and groom, you can easily slip beside the cameras and make you way inside. This is the hardest part because you need to be very very careful not to seem like outsiders. Don't keep looking at people, but try to make some convo with your crashing team about the decor or some wedding related stuff like "finally they are getting married, remember when we went to *some obscure place* and joked about *some obscure event*". DON'T PANIC. This is most important.
I wished we could have taken a gift, but because we were on a spontaneous one, we didn't (also because the guys think taking a gift is such a "Shaha" thing to do) so we has to tag with some people carrying a gift so it looked like we were with them.
General Behavior | Always try to stick with your friends and keep making convo throughout, especially during the line at the food counters and choosing a table where you can sit together so you don't have to make small talk with other guests. People get intimidated when there are big crowds and usually refrain from chatting you up. Also, if you see or happen to bump into someone you know, try not to talk about the wedding and just generally say hi and be on your way. DO NOT SIT NEAR OTHER GUESTS THAT YOU KNOW unless they are cool people.
Easy Exit | Try to make a very casual exit, say hi to the flower girls giving favours and casually write in the guest book and just exit. DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE BRIDAL PARTY and most importantly, DO NOT STEAL THE GUEST BOOK. One crime is enough for a night.
There, I hope that was helpful if you ever wanted to crash one. It's such an adrenaline rush, or maybe just for me cos I was freaking out inside the entire time while trying to manage being composed, haha. Another thing off the bucket list! It helps to have good friends who do crazy things.
Have you ever crashed a wedding? What are your wedding crashing Do's and Don'ts?
Although this is made cool by Hollywood movies by people who have very different morals, I think this is unacceptable behaviour. Any set of good parents should teach the rule about "not going to places you are not invited" to their kids. There have been weddings in Maldives where uninvited people turn up and food runs out at around 10pm and the newlyweds have had to leave through a backdoor. Not the nicest thing to happen to someone on their happiest day.
ReplyDeleteObviously now I will be labelled as a stuck-up too-proper and what-not. Just ask one yourself one question. Will the prophet or one of his sahaba done the same? How would they have reacted if one amongst them did such a thing? But obviously, if our best role model Owen Wilson, all this doesn't matter....
I understand the points you have raised and yes, it is totally true. Crashing a wedding is morally and ethically wrong and I am aware of it and I did not do it because it was made cool or anything and I realize how you could get to that conclusion.
DeleteI can see how my actions on this blog post have led you to question the parenting of my parents and for that I'd like to make a reasoning. My parents have always thought me to respect people and to have general good manners and this one act of mine should in no way reflect their parenting. This was my decision.
And no, you have a very good opinion and thank you for the insight. I have never watched Wedding Crashers and Owen Wilson is not my role model. Thank you and have a good day.