Planning a wedding but not sure how to keep your guests entertained all day apart from the traditions like the cake cutting or bouquet toss? We've put together 10 tips for fun wedding reception games that the newlyweds and all their guests will enjoy.
Think carefully before you start choosing your wedding activities. Weddings are like anything else - less is more, so don't feel you need to include all the games we've listed below. ✅ Rather, choose a few to enjoy and leave time for catching up and dancing with family and friends.
Don't force everyone to participate. Not everyone is comfortable being the center of attention in front of all the wedding guests. Let your guests volunteer. Finally, choose a person to be in charge of each activity so there are no unnecessary gaps between activities.
If we had to recommend just one newlywed game, it would be the wedding shoe game. The game is very simple to prepare and the wedding guests can get to know you and your partner a little better. The concept of the game is simple – Both newlyweds sit back-to-back and each holds one shoe of the bride 👰♀️ and one of the groom. 🤵♂️ A preselected moderator, such as the best man, asks the newlyweds questions. They hold up either their shoe or the other's shoe in response. 👡👞 We've compiled some sample questions below. ⬇️
It’s easy for guests to tune out during the speeches. Create a fun game that keeps guests on their toes the whole time. Put a bingo card on each dinner plate with popular phrases that are usually mentioned during wedding speeches. 🥂 Whoever completes their card first shouts “Bingo!” Don’t forget to have a small prize for the winner. 🏆
This wedding game will keep your guests entertained during short breaks throughout the day. Plus, you'll get lots of unique wedding photos directly from your guests. 💒 At any time during the wedding reception, the newlyweds announce a short photo contest for the best photo. 📸 It may be a contest for the best group selfie, best kiss, best cake photo, or a photo with guests over 60 to get the grandparents involved too. Keep all the photos and add them to your wedding photo book 📚 or print them for your wedding album. 📒
If you are having an outdoor reception, there are many fun outdoor games that your guests will love. You can try the classic block-stacking game Jenga. Place the tabletop version on tables or prepare a life-sized version. 🤩 You can even paint the blocks in your wedding colors.
Corn hole, or beanbag toss, is another fun and easy-to-set-up wedding game that you can enjoy outside. You can make this game just for kids or you can let all guests try their hand at it. 🤪 To make the game match your wedding decor, create a custom board with the names of the newlyweds or wedding date.
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures of the games in action. 📸 These candid moments will be most cherished.
In addition to the photo scavenger hunt, a photo booth is another great and fun way to have a wedding that will leave you with lots of photos to remember it by. Create a photo booth, adding different props to make each photo unique. 📸 Ask your guests if anyone has an Instax at home, or rent one, and let the imaginations of your guests run wild. 🥳 Place a wedding guest book right next to the photo booth so guests can immediately add photos to their words of congratulations.
💡 Tip: Place mounting corners or washi tape next to the guest book so guests have something to attach their photos with.
The wedding is all about the newlyweds, 👰♀️🤵♂️ so let’s see how well the guests know them. At each guest's seat, leave a sheet with some trivia questions about the newlyweds – it could be multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, or open-ended questions. Make the sheets in the same style as the invitations. 💌 Announce the correct answers for everybody at once or leave an answer sheet at each table so everybody can play at their own pace.
Keep the fire going for years to come. Create a spot at the reception where guests can help the newlyweds come up with date night ideas and suggest their favorites. 🍿🍽🧖♀️ Prepare a box or a jar for guests to put their ideas for romantic and adventurous activities that the newlyweds can try in the future. Or, you can set up a board where guests can display their ideas so other couples can get inspired too. ✅
Reminisce about all the beautiful moments of your relationship and your childhood together with your guests. Put together all your favorite photos 📸 and videos 🎥 and make a slideshow for the guests. If you don't feel like getting a projector and making a slideshow, print all your favorite photos and create beautiful wedding decorations. 💒 The whole wedding venue will tell your love story all by itself. 💖
A wedding party wouldn't be complete without all the dancing. 💃🕺 Put a fun spin on it and add dance challenges to the dance floor. Help guests sitting at the same table bond by giving each wedding table their designated song. 🎶 When their song is played, the whole table must rush to the dance floor to get things moving. Or, try a dance challenge using a balloon. 🎈 The rules are simple - Couples dance while holding a balloon between their heads or bodies. If the balloon falls, they lose. The last couple dancing wins.
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Which games are you including at your wedding?