Legal Ramifications For Wedding Crashers

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Legally, what can be done to a wedding crasher?

A bridezilla made international headlines recently when she put up a Facebook post explaining that while she was going to send out invitations to her wedding, there were people who wouldn't be receiving an invitation, with a list of reasons including: "If you are just a work acquaintance and I have never hung out with you outside of work" or "If your [sic] only going to show up for food and alcohol and really have no interest other than that". Then adds, confusingly: "If you don't get an invite and you are planning on coming let me know." (Cause who wouldn't want to come celebrate this special moment in her life? - Or her lucky groom).

But if you're trying to trim your guest list and fear wedding crashers what can you do?

Although hotels are public accommodations that can't discriminate in whom they let into their public spaces, private parties can be limited to those who have been invited. So give the hotel a list and ask them to check names. If someone does show up uninvited that person's a trespasser, and eating the food or drink paid for by another is akin to skipping out on the bill at a restaurant when the bill comes - someone else is left holding the bag.

Most brides don't want cops busting up the party, so if you're planning a wedding, ask the hotel to station an employee to check names as people arrive - or let all of your non-friends know they shouldn't show up.