Ask the Experts: Real-Life Wedding Crashers

Q: As much as I love Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, how can I keep real-life wedding crashers out of our reception?

A: You never know when an adventurous, well-dressed passerby will try to drop into your cocktail hour uninvited, says David McCracken, a wedding coordinator in Wilmington.

“It’s usually someone who just wants a couple of drinks and a few hors d’oeuvres,” he says.

The best defense against gatecrashers is a greeter stationed at the door who keeps an eye out for people who look a bit out of place.

“All the greeter has to do is politely ask: ‘Which event are you looking for?’” McCracken says. “The gatecrasher won’t know the name, but can excuse himself gracefully by pretending to be lost or confused.” —Eileen Smith