There are expected to be 2.24 million weddings in 2023. With that in mind, on average there are usually around 100 to 200 guests at a wedding, which if you do the math… that’s a lot of conversations. At a wedding, the conversations between guests can either make or break the night. At any point in time, it can quickly go from awesome to awkward and vice versa. Which is why today we’re going to be having a conversation about… well wedding conversation topics! Not only are we going to talk about it, we’re going to give you guys all the tips, tricks, thoughts, and much more!
With that being said, here are the best topic ideas and conversation starters to help your guests converse with each other like best friends. So sit back, relax, and let us help you take your wedding conversations to the next level!
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How to Make Sure Your Wedding Doesn’t Get Awkward for Guests
As a guest, there are some things that can make the wedding experience awkward… which in turn is just awful. If the couple or wedding planner doesn’t provide enough direction for guests or fails to plan for certain things, guests can feel lost and uncomfortable at different times.
For example, if there is no seating chart, guests may not know where to sit or who to talk to. This can lead to a lot of standing around and feeling lost. Additionally, if the bride and groom don’t provide a list of activities or events for the day, guests may not know what to do with themselves. This can result in periods of boredom or awkwardness.
Another common issue that can make weddings awkward for guests is when the bride and groom take too long to say goodbye. Often, guests are ready to go home after the reception ends and don’t want to stand around waiting for the couple to finish their goodbyes. This can lead to an overall feeling of unease and discomfort.
Another important issue to talk about is conversations. If guests don’t already know each other or have a pre-existing relationship, conversations can go south for some guests real fast. We’ll touch more on this in just a bit though.
These obviously are all not always the case but can still happen at weddings, which is why planning ahead is always a good idea.
Ultimately, it’s important that couples and planners design their wedding thinking about how their guests will feel throughout the day. By planning ahead and considering all the possible scenarios, they can ensure that their wedding is enjoyable for everyone involved!
As we go through and talk about ways to ensure the wedding isn’t awkward and the wedding conversations flow, think about all of the weddings you’ve gone to and if you ever felt awkward yourself. Then think about what exactly made you feel that way and what could have been done to not make you feel that way.
Things That Make Weddings Awkward For Guests
Now today’s topic is going to mainly be centered around wedding conversation starters and topics, however, we want to make sure everything else goes well for the wedding your currently planning!
So with that in mind, on top of conversations, these are the main pain points to think about when planning that can make guests feel awkward:
- Not knowing many people or what to talk about when mingling
- Running out of food (No one is going to be happy when they’re hungry)
- Skip the cash bar (They are already spending on presents and travel)
- No schedule with long gaps (This can lead to awkward pauses where guests don’t know what to do with themselves)
Wedding Conversations: Here is What to Do
The best way to keep wedding conversations going is by having interesting topics, conversation starters, and activities prepared in advance. This will help avoid any awkward silence and ensure that guests are always engaged in conversation.
Not all guests are going to know each other and on top of that, some guests are… well awkward themselves already. This can lead to an endless night of uncomfortable moments and discussions.
So you’ll need to help and encourage your guests to talk and provide them with everything they need to mix and mingle! Let’s talk about the top ways you can do that.
Host a Cocktail Hour
A cocktail hour is a great way to encourage guests to mix and mingle. It’s a built-in break between the ceremony and reception where guests can relax, grab a drink, and chat with those around them. Or it can be before the ceremony and help loosen up your guests.
If you’re planning on having a cocktail hour, be sure to have plenty of appetizers available so that no one goes hungry. You should also consider hiring a band or DJ to play some music during this time as well. Music is a great way for people to have something to talk about.
Give Them Conversation Starter Napkins
One fun way to get guests talking is by giving them conversation starter napkins! These are wedding cocktail napkins that have been specifically designed to get people engaged in conversation. They can be used during your cocktail hour before the ceremony or during dinner and the reception.
There are all sorts of different icebreaker wedding conversation questions on these napkins, which makes them fun and engaging. They range from light-hearted and funny to more thought-provoking. They include conversation starters such as:
- What do you think is the key to a successful marriage?
- What’s your favorite podcast?
- What is one thing you can’t live without?
For a full list of the questions inside, you can check out the blog post that shows all of the wedding topics included in them.
They’re sure to get your guests talking and interacting with one another. It’s a perfect way to keep your guests from wondering what to talk about at a wedding reception and ceremony.
What better way to break the ice than with predetermined and fun questions? Convokins are the world’s first wedding conversation starter napkins designed to get your guests talking and better yet, you can easily order them right on Amazon.
Have a Photo Booth
Photo booths are always a hit at weddings and they can also spark a ton of wedding conversation topics! They provide guests with a fun activity to do and also give them something to take home with them. But most importantly, they get people talking!
Guests will have to work together in order to take the perfect photo and this is a great opportunity for them to chat and get to know one another. Plus, it’s always fun to see how creative people can get with props and costumes.
If you’re looking for a unique photo booth idea, consider hiring a company that specializes in vintage trailers. These are turned into fully functioning photo booths complete with all the props and accessories you’ll need.
Assign Seating Arrangements
This is typically already done at most weddings, but strategically seating your guests can help prevent awkward table conversations and ensure that everyone is talking.
If you have a lot of guests who don’t know each other, consider doing a seating chart. This way you can seat people next to others that share similar interests or that you think would get along well. Instead of tables set by family, go with Foodies, Sports Fans, Fitness, etc.
On the flip side, consider who you shouldn’t assign next to each other.
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Split into Groups & Play a Game
If you want to get everyone talking, consider splitting your guests into groups and playing a game. This is a great way to break the ice and get people interacting with one another.
There are all sorts of wedding-specific games like “Guess the Bride’s Favorite Childhood Memory” or “Who Knows Most About the Bride & Groom”. No matter what type of game you choose, it’s sure to get your guests talking and laughing.
To make things even more fun, you can offer prizes for the winning team! This will give everyone something to strive for and make the game even more enjoyable. Just make sure to randomize the groups so they have to get to know each other and converse.
Choose the Right Type of Tables
One of the key things to think about when planning your wedding reception is the type of tables you’ll be using. This may seem like a small detail, but it can actually have a big impact on how well your guests interact with one another.
Round tables are typically the best option as they allow everyone to see and talk to one another more easily. If you’re thinking about using rectangular tables, know that it’s harder for people to converse, and as they are much more limited to who they are able to talk to. Consider using round tables as this won’t make people feel like they’re only talking to the person right next to them and will be more likely to engage in conversation with those across from them.
Getting Your Guests to Mingle and Converse
No matter what you do, make sure that your guests feel comfortable and have plenty of opportunities to converse with one another. This will ensure a fun and festive wedding reception! Providing them with things such as conversation starter napkins can give them exactly what they need to avoid those awkward conversations!
Hopefully, this guide gave you some great insight into providing your guests with the best wedding conversation topics and ideas!
Have any other ideas on how to get your guests talking? Let us know in the comments below.
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