Wedding and private reception security guard

Plain clothes or uniform A dark suit to blend in with the guests, or a visible uniform if you want a deterrent effect at the entrance. You choose.

The end of the night, above all That is when everything happens: seeing people off, vehicles, tired guests, and any uninvited visitors drawn in by the music.

Gifts and car park Two sensitive points we always cover: the card and gift table, and vehicles parked in an unlit field.

Absolute discretion A duty of confidentiality covering everything our guards see at your event. It goes without saying, and it is written into the contract.

01 · Duties

What we take care of at a reception

The brief is short but precise: who comes in, what we watch, who to alert, and what we handle without disturbing you.

Screening at the entrance

Welcoming guests against a list or invitation, directing them to the cloakroom and the reception room. A wedding sometimes attracts the curious, or even unwanted guests: screening deals with it quietly.

Watching the gift table

Cards and gifts are often left unattended for hours, in a room where dozens of people are moving about. It is the most common theft at private receptions.

Car park and surrounding areas

Estates and châteaux rarely have a lit, enclosed car park. Regular patrols around the vehicles, directing parking on arrival, and lighting the way at departure.

Managing tensions

Blended families, alcohol, old grievances: most wedding incidents are between people. Our guards step in early, quietly, and move the person out of the newlyweds' sight.

End of the night and seeing guests off

Watching departures, helping identify who is fit to drive, managing the last guests to leave, and closing the venue together with the venue's own team.

Liaison with the venue and suppliers

Coordination with the estate manager, the caterer and the DJ, particularly on the time music must stop, as set by the local council order.

02 · Sizing

How we prepare for a private reception

You already have a hundred things to manage. Our preparation comes down to one conversation and an instructions sheet.

A twenty-minute conversation

Number of guests, venue, timings, whether children will be present, access points, whether the car park is lit, any potentially unwanted individuals. Nothing more.

A site visit if the venue is complex

For a large estate, a château with several buildings, or an outdoor site, a preliminary site visit avoids unpleasant surprises on the big day.

An agreed instructions sheet

We write down what our guards will and will not do, and who they speak to if there is a problem (never the newlyweds, except when necessary), and you sign it off.

On the day, in the background

Starting before the first guests arrive, a discreet presence through the evening, and a simple report the next day if anything happened.

03 · Real-world examples

Three typical situations

Wedding at an estate

80 to 250 guests

One or two guards are usually enough: one at the entrance during the arrival window, then both rotating between the reception room, the gift table and the car park until the end of the night.

Birthday or private party

Young crowd, close neighbours

The challenge is twofold: screening out unplanned arrivals that follow word spreading on social media, and keeping noise levels down to avoid neighbours complaining.

Corporate reception

Seminar, end-of-year party

Screening against a guest list, a supervised cloakroom, attention to personal belongings and equipment, and managing people leaving at the end of the night.

04 · Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about weddings & receptions.

The questions that come up most before booking this service. If yours isn't here, ask us: reply within 24 working hours.

How many guards for a wedding of 150 people?

In a typical set-up — an estate, one main entrance, an adjoining car park, the night ending around 4 am — two guards cover the event properly. One can be enough if the venue is enclosed, already guarded in some way, and the car park is lit.

This isn't a fixed rule: tell us your exact set-up and we'll give you a reasoned figure rather than a flat package.

Will your guards be in suits or in security uniform?

Whichever you prefer. In plain clothes — a dark suit — the guard blends into the reception and the atmosphere isn't affected; it's the most common choice for a wedding. In a visible uniform, the deterrent effect is stronger at the entrance, which helps if you are worried about unwanted arrivals.

A mix is possible: a visible uniform at the entrance during arrivals, then switching to plain clothes.

The venue requires its own security provider — can you still work there?

Some venues impose their own approved list. Others simply require a certificate of professional liability insurance and proof of operating authorisation, which we provide as standard.

Ask the venue exactly what it requires, and pass it on to us: in the great majority of cases, it's a question of paperwork, not exclusivity.

What happens if a guest becomes aggressive?

Our guards first defuse the situation by talking, isolating the person from the other guests. If the situation requires it, they escort them off the premises. They have no law-enforcement powers: they cannot stop and question people or search them, but they can refuse entry and call the police.

In practice, the vast majority of tensions are resolved discreetly, without the newlyweds ever being told about it at the time.

How much does a security guard cost for a wedding?

Billing is by the hour and per guard, with the legal night and Sunday premiums. The total mainly depends on the hours covered: an assignment from 6 pm to 4 am is ten hours per guard.

We itemise everything on the quote, with no hidden extras. See our page on how we price an assignment.

05 · Where we operate