Dancing has been a big part of weddings since forever. But what if it’s not your thing, or it’s not an option due to current restrictions? Every couple wants to make sure their guests have a good time at their wedding, and there are so many fun alternatives to getting down on the dancefloor!
As keen observers of the events unfolding before their lens, wedding photographers have a unique insight into which activities are a hit with the crowd. Today our guest author Jasmin from Blush and Pose Photography shares her top ideas for keeping guests entertained at your reception, whether dancing is a priority or not!
In This Story
- Photo Booth
- Caricaturist
- Wedding Painting
- Musical Performance
- Live Entertainers
- Casino Table
- Lawn Games
- The Shoe Game
- Newlywed Trivia
- Fireworks
Photo Booth
Photo booths are always a popular choice for wedding entertainment, because guests have the opportunity to swap formal portraits for funny faces! An enclosed wedding photo booth is a fantastic way to put people at ease and bring out the playful side of your guests. And best of all, these moments are captured forever, both digitally and in print.
Most photo booths will also come with a guest book, where your guests can paste a copy of their photo strip and leave you a message. It’s a great memento of your wedding day that you’ll be able to look back on and treasure!
Caricaturist
Hiring a caricaturist creates another fun opportunity for your guests to leave with a keepsake from your wedding. A cartoon artist is an activity they probably won’t have experienced before, creating laughter and interaction among guests as they share their artwork with one another. Children will love it too!
A caricaturist doesn’t require much space, which is perfect for smaller venues, and they can typically complete a drawing within 10 to 15 minutes. This also means your guests can enjoy a drink and a chat while having their portrait drawn.
Casino Table
Incorporating a casino table and professional dealer is a creative way to raise the stakes! It’s a great alternative if your guests are not much into dancing. Roulette and craps are two games that are quick to learn and play. The dealers are happy to assist and explain the rules as needed. You can provide some prizes for winners if you want to up the ante!
Wedding Painting
Your guests can channel their inner artist by contributing to a live painting of your wedding. The scene is first sketched by a professional and added to by your loved ones throughout the reception. It’s a great way to capture this special moment in time and the creativity of your guests! Everyone will enjoy watching the artwork come to life.
Live Entertainment
Magician or mystical tarot reader? Comedian or circus act? The choice is yours! Live performers can bring an element of surprise and point of difference to your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. This is something your guests will be talking about long after the day.
Musical Performance
Musicians help create atmosphere while your guests are arriving at the wedding reception, as well as during the meal or before the DJ kicks off! There are many specialist wedding musicians who have a well curated list of music that will add to the vibe of the day. Chat to them about your favourite genres, decades, artists and songs and they will do the rest to create the perfect set.
Whether you prefer a pianist, string quartet, acoustic duo or band, there is something available from low key to all out for entertaining your guests with a private concert! You can combine this with a game of bingo, where guests aim to be the first to mark all of the songs on their card as they hear them played during the reception.
The Shoe Game
The shoe game is a fun little piece of entertainment where the couple sit back to back, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s shoes. A dedicated person, usually the MC or member of the wedding party, asks a series of light hearted and silly questions about the couple’s relationship. To answer, the newlyweds must both hold up the shoe of whoever they think fits the answer best. This game definitely has guests laughing!
Newlywed Trivia
This is a quiz that gets everyone involved! Provide paper and pens for guests to answer trivia about the happy couple. The MC reads aloud a series of true or false, fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions, and the guest or team who answers the most correctly wins a prize.
Lawn Games
Venues with spacious outdoor areas are the perfect setting for some lawn games! Why not try croquet, bocce, ring toss, giant Jenga, Connect 4, giant chess or checkers? Outdoor games provide some friendly competition between guests as well as great candid photo opportunities for your photographer.
Fireworks
With indoor and outdoor fireworks available, there are many ways to wow your guests with pyrotechnics! You can signal your entrance to the reception as newlyweds, enjoy a spectacular display after dinner or exit along a pathway of sparkler waving guests. This also makes for some beautiful photos to remember your night.
Thanks again to Jasmin from Blush and Pose Photography for sharing her expertise with us! She specialises in timeless wedding and family photography for clients in Adelaide, South Australia and internationally.
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