Look Who's Wearing a Lampshade! Ways to Deal with an Intoxicated Wedding Guest

It happens every weekend, in every community. Someone has too much to drink at a wedding reception. This causes a lot of discomfort for the bride and groom, but there are things you can do to handle the situation with grace. Sometimes the person really isn't to blame, and they have no idea that they are disruptive. This occasionally happens when a person is a non drinker, and has had more than they can handle. On the other hand, there are people who will take full advantage of free alcohol and choose the occasion to celebrate in their own way-drinking until there is no alcohol remaining. Whatever the case might be, there is little need for embarrassment with careful strategies.

Nothing is more awkward than having someone open their mouth about personal aspects of the bride or groom's past, vile remarks about in-laws, or rants about religion and politics, but when alcohol is served the chances of this happening can increase greatly. Alcohol has been called "liquid courage" and "instant dummy". It's responsible for many disputes and disagreements, and if not handled properly-jail time. Not everyone becomes friendly and loving when they consume alcohol, and many people don't know their limits.

The most obvious way to deal with the issue at hand is not to plan or provide alcohol at your reception. It's an added expense that can lead to trouble, especially if there are friends and family members who don't get along well. You have the option to put yourself in total control by eliminating the problem before it occurs. You could choose a church hall for your reception, and state that there will be no alcohol served. A friend that refuses to attend your reception based on whether or not alcohol is served is not really someone you want there anyhow.

You can also control alcohol intake by having a reception with a cash bar, and controlling how long the bar will be serving drinks. Offering free booze to people is often a recipe for disaster, as some will continue to drink until they pass out or become ill. What precedes that event can cause trouble and embarrassment for everyone involved. People tend to curb their intake when they are in charge of paying for it, so if you choose to have a reception where alcohol is served, don't supply it in large quantities. A simple champagne fountain is fine, and when it's gone, it's gone!

What happens if someone does get drunk and disruptive? Thinking about the issue ahead of time and planning what actions will be taken can eliminate a lot of worry, and solve serious problems before they escalate. Just as you put someone in charge of decorations, it's wise to choose a few trusted friends who won't be under the influence to help with controlling adverse situations. It's difficult to deal with a drunk when you're drunk, so put people in charge that don't drink, and have even tempers and can handle situations with some diplomacy. If an issue should arise, this is the person you should ask to handle the situation. The bride and groom's responsibility at a reception is to have a memorable and fun time, not to fight with Uncle Charley and load him into a cab, after he makes a pass at a bridesmaid, and gets decked by the best man.

Make sure the person you choose agrees to monitor the situation, watching other guests and if needed, cutting off the supply of alcohol. The bartender can be an important factor as well, and it's wise to hire one instead of using personnel that are employed by the hall you are using. You can choose to set aside cab fare for an unruly guest who can't be persuaded to take it easy, ensuring that they get home safely. If you know the guest personally and have a close relationship, sometimes a few gentle reminders will do the trick.

Nobody wants to be seen as the bad guy, and by planning ahead and wisely-you won't have to be. After all, a wedding reception isn't fun when the police have to intervene. This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Choose wisely, and stand by your choices!