Topping-out ceremony - Panic :-)

Hello everyone,

today the home delivery arrived, or rather the delivery of the wood (timber frame construction with CLT exterior walls).
All along I had in mind that a party should be held as a thank you for all helpers, whether commercial or private.
Today a neighbor mentioned something about a topping-out ceremony and I thought that’s exactly the kind of celebration where everyone is invited in the end.
But when I google "topping-out ceremony," it reads differently... meaning when the roof structure is in place, a celebration happens during working hours, etc.

The house will probably be standing the day after tomorrow, but I have neither vacation nor anything organized. And it also gets dark quite early.

But I don’t want to come across as stingy either.
Do people still hold such topping-out ceremonies in the old tradition with a topping-out wreath/tree? With hammering in the last nail etc.?

What would you do if you were in my place and how does one go about it?
I really feel a bit awkward, but for me the word "topping-out ceremony" had a somewhat different meaning until now.

Best regards
Tito

Make your celebration the way you like.
You can surely please the builders of your house with a pea stew and a case of beer or sparkling water (also tea or coffee). An envelope with a few bills is probably also appreciated as a recognition, especially just before Christmas.
If you dislike cash, then pack a few little Santa sacks with nice things inside (wine, cookies, merci).
For friends and future neighbors, you can have a party shortly before or after the move: hearty and not too fancy, rather down-to-earth and from the keg or crate.
And yes: the topping-out ceremony is usually celebrated according to the direction of the roof structure or the house itself. There is also a bit of superstition involved - I would ask the construction company if they have ordered a topping-out wreath. We were asked when signing the contract if a topping-out ceremony was desired.

Greetings

Hey thanks for your answer. Food, beer, coffee are all set. What do you mean by "few bills"? There are 4 carpenters and one crane operator. I have absolutely no idea what you usually pay for that.

I can only talk about my parents' topping-out ceremony: a pot with sausages, rolls, and a crate of cola. It was deliberately scheduled on a Saturday so that the core group of helpers could also be present. We considered skipping the topping-out ceremony altogether. Let's see when they would start it. During the week, we can forget about it. I personally wouldn’t give money. But that's my own attitude towards it.

It was deliberately scheduled on a Saturday so that the core group of helpers could also be present.

This just doesn’t work for some construction crews. We also had a topping-out ceremony for our prefabricated house and invited neighbors and friends. Since our crew was staying overnight anyway, they were happy to get some supplies in the evening. But if they’re from out of town, participation could be significantly lower, or the craftsmen might leave rather early.

You can also give a tip once they’re finished; it doesn’t necessarily have to be at the topping-out ceremony. But to be honest: it’s probably too late now to organize something.

Hey thanks for your answer. Food, beer, coffee are all ready. What do you mean by "few bills"? There are 4 carpenters and a crane operator. I have absolutely no feeling for what to tip there.

A tenner each??? Sounds so little... I'd go for a 10er each in a filled Santa sack.

You are definitely in for that direction, right?

Cheers