Your wedding is the best day of your life. You’ve spent months planning every detail and spent a good amount of money on the venue, the catering and more. You do not want something to go wrong on the day. What do you need? Professional event security, thanks to YPG Risk.

You don’t hire private security for a private party expecting trouble. It is being prepared for the unexpected, in case something arises. You hire private security to handle situations quickly and discreetly so you can continue with your celebrations.

As a trusted security company serving Melbourne and the surrounding suburbs, YPG Risk provides experienced crowd control security and event security personnel for weddings, milestone birthdays, graduation parties, and all sorts of private functions. We understand the discrete approach and know to be respectful of the occasion.

What would you expect from private security at your wedding, or your private party? We’ll walk you through the key roles and responsibilities of security so you know exactly what you’ll be getting from us, and why it is worth it.

Why Hire Security for a Wedding or Private Party?

Hiring security for a wedding will help ensure a safe and uninterrupted event. They can manage rowdy crowds, deter uninvited guests and gatecrashers and protect valuables from theft and damage. Events grow in size, and if you throw alcohol into the mix, crowds can get rowdy. You don’t want a father in law trying to enforce conflict resolution. You want someone who is trained in this to quickly de-escalate a situation, so you can get back to doing the Madison on the dance floor.

Let’s go through the main reasons you’d hire private security for your wedding:

• Preventing gatecrashers Security maintains access control at access points. They can check guest lists and ID’s to stop people who are not invited from gaining entry, such as hostile family members or ex-girlfriends. This can be especially true for high profile events, where media or fans may want to crash the party for their own stories.
• Guest safety and crowd management For large events with large crowds, managing the flow of people in and out of the venue, without crowding or crushing, is the job of security. Security can monitor alcohol consumption and ensure the responsible service of alcohol is adhered to. If alcohol fuels an escalation in conflict, then security can de-escalate and resolve conflict quickly, leaving the party to continue.
• Protection of valuables Security can monitor the gift table so nothing gets taken. They can patrol the car park so no cars get broken into or vandalised. The security can also walk the perimeter to prevent unauthorised entry, especially if it is an outdoor party.
• Emergency response and first aid Our security teams are trained in first aid and can assist if there is a larger emergency. If there is an emergency and most of the attendants at the party have been drinking, then this can hamper any efforts to administer first aid. They can also act as reliable witnesses for any criminal reporting to Police.

If you have a large guest list for your event, if there is going to be alcohol served, or if you’re expecting drama from extended family or strangers, then it is a wise move to employ the services of private security.

What’s The Difference Between a Security Guard and a Bouncer?

Let’s touch on this briefly before we continue. While Bouncers and Private Security are there to protect guests and the venue, bouncers focus on crowd control and unruly behaviour. Security personnel focus on surveillance and access control. Security is more into prevention of anything nasty, while Bouncers step in once things get nasty.

Often a venue will hire bouncers, while the party organiser would hire security.

What Will Security do for me at my Event?

Guest List Management and Entry Control

Security can screen all guests trying to enter your function. They can match ID to a pre-approved guest list and quietly handle a situation if a guest’s name is not on the list. If need be they can also apply wristbands or other credentials to easily identify authorised guests. This comes in handy when there is a tab at the bar in a public venue hosting a private function.

They are able to check bags before entry, and do wand checks or body pat downs to ensure no contraband makes it into the event.

This gives you risk reduction and peace of mind that your event will run safely. You can relax knowing uninvited guests who want to cause drama are kept out of your function. If there is drama, the security can handle it without you getting involved.

Crowd Management and Monitoring the Venue

With experience comes knowledge. Security teams can be proactive when it comes to monitoring a venue and managing crowd situations. They can identify potential choke points for when crowds move around a venue, and control them appropriately.

Security teams can control the number of people in a location so things don’t get too crowded. If trouble starts then security can de-escalate an issue, manage those who are far too intoxicated, and cool down the crowd so it doesn't get out of control.

Security can also help with evacuations, emergency response and first aid, and assisting authorities in containing a situation.

Alcohol Management and Handling Intoxicated Guests

This function of private security is vitally important. Intoxicated guests can be unpredictable and rowdy. If you’re at a wedding, and a family member tries to calm a person down who has had too much to drink, the intoxicated person would potentially not hesitate to get violent, because it’s family. Have a well-trained security guard intervene, and their behaviour can change dramatically.

Security will do proactive monitoring for the service of alcohol. They can inform bar staff to cut someone off. They can detect the early warning signs of bad or intoxicated behaviour and step in to calm the situation down before it explodes.

Security have a duty of care to everyone at a function and as such they can have a visible presence to ensure the safety of everyone and to ensure the safe transport for anyone who may have had too many drinks.

Conflict Resolution and De-escalation

YPG Risk private security are trained in conflict resolution and de-escalation practices. We are active listeners who can maintain a steady, calm tone of voice so we don’t excite or anger a person.

We can take a matter outside to discuss, and other strategies to remove a disruptive person from the venue and calm the whole thing down.

Our personnel are trained at recognising human behaviour and noticing when something could blow up, before it does. We’d much rather prevent an escalation than try to put out the fire. This is also more positive for you and your guests.

How Many Security Guards Do You Need?

The number of security guards depends on the size of the guest list, the venue and the event.

Low Risk events would be corporate events and weddings where there would be 100 people, you would be good with perhaps 2 guards.

For parties and larger events, you’d be looking at 2 guards per 50 people.

Festivals and where there is a large tab on the bar, 1 guard per 25 people would be ideal.

Uniformed vs. Plain-Clothes Security: Which is Right for Your Event?

A uniformed security guard is a visible deterrence and an immediate authority figure. They’re good for large crowds so people know they’re there. However, some people may become a little tense if they’re at your reception and there are uniformed guards standing by.

Plain clothes security can be more discreet, unobtrusive. Your guests can focus on having a good time while the security monitors the event as a whole. The possible downside of plain clothes security is they may not be easily identified if there is an emergency.

What to Discuss with YPG Risk Security Before the Event

Before an event where you’re considering private security, it's good to have a conversation with us. We can discuss the venue, what you want from security, and do a comprehensive risk assessment. Then we can tailor the security just for you, rather than have the one-size-fits-all approach.

We can walk the venue with you and do a site assessment. We can identify blind spots or places of vulnerabilities, assess where any threats may come from and prepare accordingly. Based on the number of security per guest, we can ensure that your event has enough security but doesn’t feel over secured.

Our team can go through an evacuation procedure and identify emergency exits, gathering points and such. We can go through ‘what if’ scenarios with you and establish who has authority to stop an event in certain situations.

Our team can go through any legal issues and compliance issues and any specific location OH&S procedures that apply.

Keeping Your Guests Safe Without Killing the Vibe

You want the security team at your special event to be effective, professional and discreet, but also be able to handle anything that happens. You don’t want your guests uncomfortable or inconvenienced. You want them to enjoy themselves and feel safe while they celebrate you.

At YPG Risk our staff are fully licensed, highly trained and backed by a management team with years of experience in the security industry. We have former Victoria Police officers as part of our leadership team, so you can trust you’re working with people who have managed crowd situations before.

If you need high profile security for a visible deterrent, or a plain clothes crew to blend in for intimate functions, YPG Risk are here to help. Contact our team today and let’s discuss how we can make your special event fun, safe and secure.