The classic comedy Wedding Crashers will be 10 years old this year. It tells the hilarious story of two “professional” wedding crashers, played by Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, who are also big-time womanizers. While the movie is fiction, real-life wedding crashers are out there. Some are intentional in their actions, and others do it accidentally.
The Nuptials of Kristin Lamlin and Andrew Reilly
Two uninvited guests showed up at the 2014 Pennsylvania nuptials of Kristin Lamlin and Andrew Reilly. The newlyweds suspected something was amiss at the reception. Even though they initially thought it was funny, they had the pair removed from the party by hotel employees. However, when Mr. and Mrs. Reilly later discovered the two bold crashers were prominently featured in numerous pictures and a video from the event, they decided to track them down and ask them for an explanation. The newlyweds posted pictures of the couple on Facebook, and the crashers identified themselves shortly thereafter and apologized. They had been guests at the hotel where the reception occurred, and they said the party looked too fun to pass up.
An Irish Wedding
While promoting their film Trainwreck in Ireland in August, producer Judd Apatow and stars Amy Schumer and Glen Hansard (an Oscar-winning Irish singer) ended up in a pub with a wedding party that was having some post-ceremony drinks. Hansard played his guitar for the couple and Schumer sang along.
Barack Obama
President Obama unintentionally disrupted the December 2014 wedding of a military couple while on vacation in Hawaii. The wedding of Army captains Natalie Heimel and Edward Mallue Jr. was supposed to take place at a Marine Corp base on the island of Oahu — the traditional Christmas vacation destination of the Obama family. The intended spot for their nuptials was located close to a golf course the president happened to be playing that day, and the Secret Service determined the wedding had to be relocated for security purposes. The president was unaware of what had transpired until after the fact. When he found out, he called the couple to apologize and wish them the best.
How to Recognize Wedding Crashers
With all the confusion that can surround a wedding reception, it is sometimes hard to recognize crashers. At other times, they stick out like sore thumbs. Here a few tips that may help identify them.
- Size matters
Only the extremely bold would attempt to crash a small party, so most wedding crashers gravitate to larger events.
- They weren’t at the ceremony
The reception is always livelier than the actual wedding. Crashers come for the party, so it is highly unusual for them to attend the ceremony.
- They usually don’t sit down
It is tough to crash a sit-down dinner reception because there are seating assignments, but the extremely brazen may still try. However, they will probably head for the bar or disappear altogether when it is time for dinner and rejoin the party when the dancing starts. Buffet receptions tend to be easier targets.
- They are good dancers
Wedding crashers are frequently big partiers and have self-assured personalities. Consequently, they usually aren’t afraid to show off their moves. There is not much point to crashing a wedding if you’re not going to have fun, and a lot of the action is often on the dance floor.
- They come late
If they show up after the party starts, crashers don’t have to go through the receiving line; they may also choose to miss the toasts. When these formalities are done, receptions tend to become much less structured, so it is easier to go unnoticed.
While the movie Wedding Crashers is highly entertaining, real-life crashers aren’t as funny. A lot of time and expense goes into planning a wedding, and sharing the big day with uninvited guests can be highly irritating.