Keeping Your Wedding Guests Entertained
Weddings are typically all day and night affairs, so everything needs to run smoothly and there needs to be plenty going on to ensure everyone has a great time. But what entertainment do you actually need to organise for your wedding?
What Is Expected?
Every wedding is unique and therefore there is no right or wrong way to have your wedding. Generally speaking though the recipe to a great wedding celebration is great food and drink, great music and great company. Everything else is extra! That being said, if there is a part of the day where guests are going to be hanging around for a while, for example at the drinks reception or when everything is being changed over for the evening, then it may be a good idea to introduce some sort of entertainment to keep them occupied. This could range from lawn games to a bouncy castle, or a magician to singing waiters. Nothing is expected of you to provide any such entertainment, but if you want to add something extra to your celebration, here are some great ideas to give you some inspiration.
Games and Activities
Photo Booth
A very popular choice for evening entertainment. It’s a great way for your guests to have fun and also keep a momento of the day. You can even get your guests to stick their photos into a guest book, so it’s a win win.
Bouncy Castle
A sure way to unleash your guests’ inner child, and makes for some great photos!
Lawn Games
As outside ceremonies have become more popular, so have lawn games. Hire a giant Jenja or Connect Four, or go all out on a giant chess set.
Table Games
Instead of favours that will be left behind, create mini table games for your guests to play whilst waiting for the food to be served. You could have mini puzzles and board games, packs of cards or trivia. You can go one step further and create your own game, for example, a Mr and Mrs trivia game where the guests have to answer questions about you.
Sports Activities
Get your guests to face off against each other in organised sports, such as mini-golf, croquet or even clay pigeon shooting. It’s guaranteed to get everyone talking!
Unusual Guest Books
Instead of just getting your guests to write in a book, make it into an activity. Get your guests to take polaroids and stick them in, or lay out some ink for them to do finger prints with. There are so many different guest book ideas for you to choose from nowadays; here are just a few from Hobbycraft.
Date Ideas Jar
Why keep it to just the guest book? Invite your guests to write down date ideas or marriage advice on slips of paper and keep them in a jar. Another wonderful keepsake to go with your guest book.
Space Hoppers
A guaranteed laugh for all your guests no matter their age, and definitely a conversation starter!
Entertainers
Magicians
Introduce a little magic to the proceedings by hiring a magician for the day. They can wonder through your guests during the evening or the drinks reception and spread wonder as they go.
Comedians
If you’re after something a bit more formal, why not hire a comedian? This will get everyone laughing and in great spirits.
Caricaturist
Another great way for your guests to take home a momento of the day and a great laugh for everyone.
Balloon Modeller
Hire a balloon modeller for a bit of fun. You could even get them to create balloon crowns for everyone to wear!
Add A Twist To Normal Traditions
Choreographed First Dance
Wow your guests with a performance for your first dance. Whether you do a simple dance, or go all out and learn the waltz, it’s a wonderful way to jazz up this old tradition.
Awards Ceremony
Inject some more humour into your speeches by holding an awards ceremony. You can keep it serious by honoring those guests who have helped you out the most, or add a bit of humour and give out awards for the best dressed, or the best drunken fall!
Flash Mob
Take your first dance to the next level by organising a flash mob with your bridal parties, then invite your guests to join in!
Video Yourselves
Shoot It Yourself is a company that send you the equipment for your guests to film themselves throughout the day, then they edit the footage for you into a video keepsake. A great way to get your guests involved.
Musicians
DJ
No wedding is complete without music! The most popular choice is to hire a DJ for the evening. Not only do you get great music, but you’ll get a light show too, guaranteed to get your guests up and dancing.
Live Band
If you’re after something a bit more atmospheric, a live band could be the way to go!
Solo Musicians
Create a beautiful ambience with a cellist, pianist or acoustic guitarist for your ceremony and drinks reception.
Singing Waiters
A huge talking point, a wonderful surprise for your guests and a great way to liven up your wedding breakfast.
Karaoke
If your worried about getting your guests up and dancing, why not introduce some karaoke? Who could say no?!
Line Dancing
Hiring a line dancing band is an unbelievable amount of fun. Not only will you get great live music, but you and your guests will be invited to learn new dances together. This is a perfect way to get your guests talking to each other!
Food and Drink
Prosecco Bar
Add a bit of class with a prosecco bar! Invite your guests to add different flavoured mixers to their drinks, or add some fruit and sparkles to it!
Sweet Carts and Desert Tables
A huge trend in recent years, and a great treat for your guests. You can hire a sweet cart, a mini-desert table or create a donut wall.
Hire Food Trucks
If you are able to hire outside caterers, why not hire food trucks? Particularly good for festival themed weddings and more informal affairs. You can hire anything from Chinese food, to Fish and Chips and Ice Cream trucks.
DIY Cocktail Bar
If you aren’t a fan of prosecco, make a DIY cocktail bar instead, where your guests can mix their own drinks. You can print out some recipes for your Mr and Mrs drinks too.
Hot Chocolate Bar
Who says a drinks bar needs to be alcoholic? Help your guests wind down and warm up in the evening with a luxurious hot chocolate bar, complete with different flavours, creams, marshmallows and more.
Chocolate Fountain
Why stop at hot chocolate? Take it to another level with a chocolate fountain table!
For The Kids
Glitter Bar
Not just for the kids this one! Just beware it’ll get everywhere!
Tattoo Bar
Set up a tattoo station where your guests can get temporary tattoos, you can even make the tattoos wedding themed! Here are some great ideas on Etsy.
Animals and Petting Zoos
A great way of creating unique entertainment. Llamas in particular have been very popular this last year!
Colouring Packs and Stations
Worried about possible disruptions from your little guests? Set up colouring and activity stations or give them colouring packs as favours so they won’t get bored during the wedding breakfast!
Face Painting
Another great way to keep the little ones entertained, just make sure they don’t come near your dress!
Go That Extra Mile
Hire A Funfair
If you really want something special for your wedding day, consider hiring a travelling fair. ‘Wedding Fun Fair Hire’ is a particularly popular one, you can visit their website here.
Fire Breathers
If a whole fun fair might be a bit too much for you, fire breathers are an awesome happy medium!
Casino Tables
A sure way of entertaining your guests. You can all use real money and put it towards your honeymoon or a charity, or use fake money and whoever wins the most at the end of the night gets a prize.
Grand Finales
Fireworks
Fireworks are a permanent favourite for a big send off at the end of the night. Check with your venue if they are permitted; your venue will likely have a recommended supplier if they do!
Sparklers
A trend that has become very popular in recent years, and makes for some fantastic photo opportunities.
Fire Pits And S’mores
Grab yourself some giant marshmallows and set up some fire pits for your guests. You can now get double use ones that are giant ice buckets in the day and turn into fire pits at night!
Cigar Bar
Who doesn’t love that classic shot at the end of the wedding, featuring all the groomsmen with cigars! If this is your thing, then why not go the extra mile and create a cigar bar for all your guests? You can even step it up another notch and feature some whiskey in there too.
Pamper and Hangover Packs
If you don’t want your guests to go home empty-handed, these packs can be a great send-off for them. You can personalise them with your wedding theme too!
All images in this post are copyright (c) of Aby-Joanne Photography.
