Our topping-out ceremony is coming up, looking for planning tips

The roof structure of our single-family house will be erected shortly, probably on May 30th/31st. Unfortunately, we are unavailable on the following Friday and weekend, so we are planning a topping-out ceremony on June 10th (Friday). We have never attended a topping-out ceremony before, and we do not yet live on site, so we do not know the neighbors. Maybe you can give us tips on whom to invite, what we can offer, and so on. When does a topping-out ceremony usually start? I can imagine that the construction workers want to go home quickly before the weekend, but the neighbors and friends only come home from work around 4 p.m. How did you handle it? Is the [Richtkranz] made by hand or bought? Thanks for all the tips; we want to celebrate a really nice party.

In this area, Friday at 4 pm is the usual starting time. Maybe from 3:30 pm as well. Then the craftsmen finish work and it can start right away. It's best to just discuss with the roofers (and masons, etc.) what works best for them. The wreath used to be frequently made or arranged by the neighbors. That is no longer customary in every area nowadays. Then you have to get it yourself or ask someone from the family. You can either buy the wreath ready-made, e.g. at the flower shop, and bind it yourself. Then you would preferably need the base frame. You can also get that at the flower shop.

Look on a video platform to see if you find anything when you search for: Das Richtfest. Planung und Durchführung

The roof structure of our single-family house will be erected soon, probably on May 30th/31st.
Unfortunately, we are unavailable the following Friday and weekend, so we are planning a topping-out ceremony on June 10th (Friday).
We have never been to a topping-out ceremony before and do not yet live on site, so we do not know the neighborhood.
Maybe you can give us tips on whom to invite, what we can offer, etc.

Take a look here in the forum search with "Richtfest" or "Hebauf", then for example these come up:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/richtfest-panik.18082/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/richtfest-planung-wie-viele-bauarbeiter-kommen.26504/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/richtfest-niedersachsen-lueneburg.34147/

Ask the general contractor how the craftsmen see it and what they want. They are warmly invited… please spread the word.
Speak personally with the carpenters, they’ll work an hour longer for about fifty bucks or so. Ask how they want to handle it.
Start time around 2 pm or so.
Slip flyers into the shell construction doors of the neighbors: the next three on the left, right, and opposite. Hand the flyer personally to those you see.
Friends, acquaintances, relatives, and future neighbors you want to have along will get the same flyer. You’re all on a first-name basis!
Drinks on commission, G-markets have beer benches and coolers for rent, and nobody’s ever complained about a field kitchen. Grandma can contribute butter cake.

I might first ask whether the craftsmen would like to spend the time. We gave money to the carpenters. We also lived somewhat away from the new construction site and invited all new neighbors, additionally all locals who had ever had any kind of contact with the house or property. Most of them came as well.
Regarding catering, I like to call the respective town hall in such cases to find out who they use themselves if the catering is to be good. This question is called in Swabian who makes the best potato salad and doesn’t have any artificial stuff in the meat seasoning. The smaller the place, the easier it is to get the answer.
The [Richtbäumchen] was forgotten by the supplier at short notice and I had to take a large wreath base for funerals. I snarled, tied many colorful ribbons to it, it got a broomstick attached with 4 long ribbons, was flawless.
The topping-out ceremony for the family took place separately as a Weisswurst breakfast, which also gave us pleasure and not much work.
Wishing you much joy with guests and house
Gabriele