ᐅ Topping-Out Ceremony and House Completion: Who to Invite, Who Not to, Traditions?
Created on: 11 Oct 2013 09:29
A
AnirbasHello,
Although our topping-out ceremony is still some time away, I wanted to ask in advance.
How was it for you? Who did you invite (tradespeople, family, friends, neighbors)?
How much did the topping-out ceremony cost you, and how many people attended?
For those who celebrated it in winter, did you use patio heaters (costs)?
Who usually provides the topping-out wreath/tree?
We are still considering whether to invite only tradespeople and neighbors. But from what we hear, family and friends also expect an invitation...
Thank you very much for your opinions and experiences.
Although our topping-out ceremony is still some time away, I wanted to ask in advance.
How was it for you? Who did you invite (tradespeople, family, friends, neighbors)?
How much did the topping-out ceremony cost you, and how many people attended?
For those who celebrated it in winter, did you use patio heaters (costs)?
Who usually provides the topping-out wreath/tree?
We are still considering whether to invite only tradespeople and neighbors. But from what we hear, family and friends also expect an invitation...
Thank you very much for your opinions and experiences.
Everyone was invited – current and future neighbors, friends, relatives, colleagues, contractors, the home building company... we wanted to share our pride and celebrate with everyone. Those who didn’t have a topping-out ceremony due to the weather are hosting an opening party here in our new housing development.
The building company brought the topping wreath; otherwise, everything was handled by the homeowners. Cost: 500 bucks for homemade chili con carne for 50 people and plenty of drinks.
The building company brought the topping wreath; otherwise, everything was handled by the homeowners. Cost: 500 bucks for homemade chili con carne for 50 people and plenty of drinks.
Hello,
everyone is invited to the topping-out ceremony. In our case, people also showed up who “just wanted to have a look.” It’s best to be generous with hospitality. If the food runs out, then it runs out. Our costs were about €600 (approximately $660), although we were able to return unopened drinks.
We borrowed the topping-out wreath from a local florist in our current village. That was ideal because it was very affordable yet still professional. You can also decorate a real tree yourself, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill a tree just for a few hours.
everyone is invited to the topping-out ceremony. In our case, people also showed up who “just wanted to have a look.” It’s best to be generous with hospitality. If the food runs out, then it runs out. Our costs were about €600 (approximately $660), although we were able to return unopened drinks.
We borrowed the topping-out wreath from a local florist in our current village. That was ideal because it was very affordable yet still professional. You can also decorate a real tree yourself, but I couldn’t bring myself to kill a tree just for a few hours.
schubert7912 Oct 2013 20:10No topping-out ceremony. The craftsmen weren’t really interested either... They had about a 1.5-hour (1.5-hour) journey home.
We will have a housewarming party.
We will have a housewarming party.
I’m bringing this thread back up because today we had our topping-out ceremony.
There were two special circumstances that meant we had significantly fewer guests.
First, we are building about 600 km (370 miles) away from all our relatives, so they were not able to attend.
Second, the topping-out ceremony was held today, on a Tuesday, around 3:30 pm (the roof frame had already been in place since 1:30 pm). Unfortunately, this meant that working friends who didn’t happen to be on vacation couldn’t join. Well – the craftsmen probably also wanted to be home by 6:00 pm to watch the football World Cup (especially since the roof frame was finished around 1:30 pm and the carpenters didn’t want to hang around all day).
We had planned for about 30 to 35 guests, consisting of 4 carpenters, 6 shell workers, 4 people from the general contractor, 2 neighbors plus their site manager (we took the opportunity to discuss some neighborly work), 4 friends, and various acquaintances who liked to chat with our general contractors about their own projects. We also expected other neighbors might drop by.
In the end, 17 guests actually showed up (3 of whom didn’t eat). Everyone else was unable to come for the second reason mentioned above. This was exactly the challenge with “catering”. It was difficult to estimate who would come and who wouldn’t. Those potentially interested were considered fairly certain but, for various reasons, did not show up.
Costs:
We ordered 5 kg (11 lbs) of meatloaf and 35 meat patties from the local butcher. Plus 70 bread rolls and a large quantity of drinks. The total cost was 200 euros (including the topping-out tree). The traditional toasts came from our own stock (I’m glad I didn’t have to buy those as well). Today was again a very hot day – so I expected relatively high drink consumption.
Looking at what was left over now, I would guess the actual cost came to under 100 euros.
For example: 24 beers (out of 37), 10 bottles of 1.5-liter (0.4 gallon) cola (out of 12), 6 bottles of juice (out of 7), 10 bottles of 1.5-liter sparkling water (out of 12), 10 bottles of 1.5-liter mineral water (out of 12), at least 10 meat patties and 10 slices of meatloaf, as well as around 30 bread rolls (after we gave some away to friends and acquaintances and secured food for our lunches over the next few days).
Once again, an epic miscalculation. But it’s not a big deal. I’m just glad I reduced the originally planned 6 kg (13 lbs) of meatloaf, 40 meat patties, and 80 bread rolls somewhat.
We’ll drink the beverages over time – only with the beer I see a problem since I rarely drink beer myself. I hope the local supermarket is flexible enough to take back two small crates. Otherwise, the workers on site will have their well-deserved after-work beer.
The surplus meat patties, meatloaf, and bread rolls will be frozen and gradually used for our own meals.
Topping-out wreath / tree:
Since we really didn’t want to buy an overpriced wreath for a one-time event, we asked the carpentry company if they had one we could use. To our surprise, we learned that in this region it is not very usual to hold a topping-out ceremony. The company couldn’t provide a wreath, but suggested that a topping-out tree is an alternative. It is decorated similarly to a Maypole. It cost 20 euros plus about 10 euros for the ribbons. See attached picture.
So long. Too bad there couldn’t have been a few more guests – but that can happen.
There were two special circumstances that meant we had significantly fewer guests.
First, we are building about 600 km (370 miles) away from all our relatives, so they were not able to attend.
Second, the topping-out ceremony was held today, on a Tuesday, around 3:30 pm (the roof frame had already been in place since 1:30 pm). Unfortunately, this meant that working friends who didn’t happen to be on vacation couldn’t join. Well – the craftsmen probably also wanted to be home by 6:00 pm to watch the football World Cup (especially since the roof frame was finished around 1:30 pm and the carpenters didn’t want to hang around all day).
We had planned for about 30 to 35 guests, consisting of 4 carpenters, 6 shell workers, 4 people from the general contractor, 2 neighbors plus their site manager (we took the opportunity to discuss some neighborly work), 4 friends, and various acquaintances who liked to chat with our general contractors about their own projects. We also expected other neighbors might drop by.
In the end, 17 guests actually showed up (3 of whom didn’t eat). Everyone else was unable to come for the second reason mentioned above. This was exactly the challenge with “catering”. It was difficult to estimate who would come and who wouldn’t. Those potentially interested were considered fairly certain but, for various reasons, did not show up.
Costs:
We ordered 5 kg (11 lbs) of meatloaf and 35 meat patties from the local butcher. Plus 70 bread rolls and a large quantity of drinks. The total cost was 200 euros (including the topping-out tree). The traditional toasts came from our own stock (I’m glad I didn’t have to buy those as well). Today was again a very hot day – so I expected relatively high drink consumption.
Looking at what was left over now, I would guess the actual cost came to under 100 euros.
For example: 24 beers (out of 37), 10 bottles of 1.5-liter (0.4 gallon) cola (out of 12), 6 bottles of juice (out of 7), 10 bottles of 1.5-liter sparkling water (out of 12), 10 bottles of 1.5-liter mineral water (out of 12), at least 10 meat patties and 10 slices of meatloaf, as well as around 30 bread rolls (after we gave some away to friends and acquaintances and secured food for our lunches over the next few days).
Once again, an epic miscalculation. But it’s not a big deal. I’m just glad I reduced the originally planned 6 kg (13 lbs) of meatloaf, 40 meat patties, and 80 bread rolls somewhat.
We’ll drink the beverages over time – only with the beer I see a problem since I rarely drink beer myself. I hope the local supermarket is flexible enough to take back two small crates. Otherwise, the workers on site will have their well-deserved after-work beer.
The surplus meat patties, meatloaf, and bread rolls will be frozen and gradually used for our own meals.
Topping-out wreath / tree:
Since we really didn’t want to buy an overpriced wreath for a one-time event, we asked the carpentry company if they had one we could use. To our surprise, we learned that in this region it is not very usual to hold a topping-out ceremony. The company couldn’t provide a wreath, but suggested that a topping-out tree is an alternative. It is decorated similarly to a Maypole. It cost 20 euros plus about 10 euros for the ribbons. See attached picture.
So long. Too bad there couldn’t have been a few more guests – but that can happen.
Is the topping-out ceremony still celebrated nowadays? I get the impression that it’s slowly disappearing.
Who here has had a topping-out ceremony? Our roof will be installed next week, so it’s time for the topping-out, but with this cold weather, you don’t really feel like celebrating.
Who here has had a topping-out ceremony? Our roof will be installed next week, so it’s time for the topping-out, but with this cold weather, you don’t really feel like celebrating.
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