A staff family day is a private event held in a public-feeling space, usually with catering the company is paying for per head. The problem is nobody wants to run an ID check on a colleague's six-year-old. Wristbands settle who is on the guest list, who is covered for food and drink, and which activities a child is old enough for — without a single awkward conversation.
The guest list problem nobody wants to police
Family days are usually held on an oval, in a park or at a venue the public can wander into. Staff bring partners, children and sometimes a visiting relative. Asking people to prove they belong is exactly the tone you do not want at a staff event, so band everyone at a single arrival point and let the band do the checking from then on.
Catering is charged per head, so count it properly
Caterers quote on numbers, and the gap between the RSVP and who actually turns up is where budgets go wrong. Banding at arrival gives you a real count within minutes and stops the drift of extra guests through the afternoon. It also lets catering staff serve without asking anyone which company they work for.
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One colour for adults, another for children
The single most useful split is adult versus child, because it governs the bar, the activities and the ratios. A two-colour printed band carries the company name and the year while still being cheap enough to hand out to a few hundred people.
Age bands for rides and inflatables
Jumping castles, climbing walls and inflatables all have height or age limits, and the operator cannot be expected to ask every parent. Giving each age group its own colour means the operator makes the call instantly. A multi-colour band set covers several age groups from one order without a separate print run for each.
Give people something to take home
A family day is partly an internal marketing exercise, and the item that survives is the one attached to keys or a bag. A branded keychain outlives the day by a year, unlike a printed program that goes in the bin on the way to the car park.
Run one arrival point, staffed properly
The whole system depends on everyone passing through one desk on the way in. Staff it for the first hour rather than the average, pre-sort bands by type, and keep spares for the family who arrive late from a sports commitment. A second unstaffed entrance undoes all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers from the Handband team
Why band guests at a staff family day?
Because the event is usually in a public space and catering is charged per head. A band settles who belongs without anyone checking a colleague's family at the gate.
What is the most useful colour split?
Adults versus children. That single split governs the bar, the activities and the supervision ratios.
How do wristbands help with inflatables and rides?
Give each age group its own colour so the operator can apply height and age limits instantly without questioning every parent.
Do wristbands help with catering numbers?
Yes — banding at arrival gives a real headcount within minutes, which is what the caterer is invoicing against.
Should we print the company name on them?
A two-colour print with the company name and year costs little and makes the band feel like part of the event rather than a control measure.
What is worth handing out as a keepsake?
Something that attaches to keys or a bag. It stays in use long after a printed program is binned.
What is the most common mistake?
A second, unstaffed entrance. One arrival point staffed for the peak is what makes the whole system work.
Written by
Founder, Handband
Founder of Handband; specialist in custom wristbands and promotional products for events, schools, charities, and brands.
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