Congratulations, you’re getting married! But, planning a wedding can be challenging, with all the details that need to be taken care of, and the biggest challenge sometimes can be keeping your guests entertained during the downtime between the ceremony and reception.
The time gap between the wedding ceremony and reception can be quite long, especially when the two events are held in separate locations. During this intermission, wedding guests usually have a lot of time on their hands, which can get boring, tedious, and uncomfortable.
However, with some practical and imaginative wedding entertainment ideas, you can keep your guests engaged and ensure they still have a good time!
Here is how to keep your guests engaged and have a memorable day.
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Plan a Cocktail Hour
Organizing a cocktail hour is a great way to keep your wedding guests entertained while you and your newly-wed spouse take your wedding photos. It’s a perfect time to mingle, catch up, and enjoy drinks and appetizers. You can create a signature cocktail that reflects your wedding theme, which will make your guests feel special and pampered.
You can either hire a local bartender to set up and serve your signature wedding cocktails or you can have an open bar and allow your guests to serve themselves. It will keep guests occupied while they sip on their favorite beverages. You should also consider providing non-alcoholic drinks too, so everyone has something to drink.
If you don’t want to spend the extra on a local bartender or if you don’t want to put the effort into setting up a whole bar, you can also use a simple mimosa bar kit to set up a drink station in minutes! This mimosa bar decoration kit contains everything you need for setting up a mimosa bar station or cocktail bar at your event.
It’s a simple way to elevate the appearance of your drink station effortlessly. This is also excellent for smaller weddings where you don’t have a huge guest list.
Use Conversation Starter Cocktail Napkins
Going along with your cocktail hour, make sure to include cocktail napkins for your guests… BUT not just any cocktail napkins, use conversation starter cocktail napkins!
Cocktail napkins are underrated when it comes to keeping your guests entertained. They are an excellent way to kick-start conversations among your guests and get them chatting with each other.
Convokins cocktail napkins are crafted to transform any wedding reception from ordinary to unforgettable. Witness your guests effortlessly forge connections as they engage with these delightful and thought-provoking icebreaker questions.
Your guests will appreciate having something to do while they wait for you to arrive at the reception venue. Plus, it’s a great icebreaker for guests who may not know each other, helping them to form new friendships and connections.
Raise a toast to the wedding that will forever be remembered in everyone’s memory!
Provide Yard Games
If your wedding is outdoors, you can set up some fun yard games such as cornhole, ladder toss, giant Jenga, or horseshoes. These games are easy for anyone to play and provide a great opportunity for some friendly competition among your guests.
Not only will the games keep your guests entertained, but they also encourage them to interact and get to know each other. You can even have some small wedding favors for the winners to make it more exciting.
These games can help guests mingle and break the ice and are suitable for all ages. If you need more inspiration, here are 21 fun outdoor wedding reception game ideas.
Have a Photo Booth
A photo booth is always a hit at weddings! Your guests will love dressing up in silly props and taking photos together. It’s also a great way to make some fun memories for your guests to take home.
You can either hire a professional photo booth company or create a DIY photo booth with wedding props and a Polaroid camera. This will keep your guests entertained while also providing them with something tangible to remember your big day.
Provide Delicious Food and Drinks
Food and drinks are always a must-have at weddings, so think beyond dinner and cake and provide your guests with some snacks and treats to nibble on as well. You can have a grazing table, cheese platters, or even food trucks! This will give guests something to munch on and keep them satisfied until dinner is served.
Hangry is a real thing and the last thing you want on your wedding day is a bunch of hangry guests!
You can also set up a cute charcuterie display with these charcuterie board letters that will surely impress your guests. These letters go beyond simply spelling out your love for food; they serve as a way to effortlessly set up your wedding snacks while also offering a captivating display.
Create a Kids’ Activity Corner
If you have young guests attending your wedding, it’s a good idea to provide some activities for them as well. You can set up a kids’ corner with coloring books and crayons, puzzles, games, or even a small bouncy castle if the venue allows.
This will keep the little ones entertained and give their parents a chance to relax and enjoy the wedding without worrying about their kids getting bored or causing a commotion.
If you want to go above and beyond, you could also hire a babysitter for the kid’s corner to give parents more time to enjoy the wedding.
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Ready to Plan An Unforgettable Ceremony and Reception?
Your wedding day is a celebration of love, but it’s also a chance for your guests to have a good time. By incorporating these entertainment ideas into your wedding, you can ensure that your guests stay engaged and have a memorable experience.
From signature cocktails to photo booths and yard games, these ideas will keep your guests entertained and make your wedding day even more special. Cheers to a fun-filled wedding reception!
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