Creating A Fun Wedding: Tips For An Enjoyable Guest Experience

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it's important to remember that the day is meant to be enjoyable for both the couple and their guests. To ensure your guests have fun, focus on creating a comfortable and engaging atmosphere. Here are some tips to make your wedding more enjoyable for your guests:

- Keep the ceremony short and sweet.

- Ensure the event flows smoothly from one part to the next.

- Provide plenty of food and drinks, including late-night snacks.

- Offer a variety of entertainment options, such as music, dancing, lawn games, and a photo booth.

- Create a comfortable environment with thoughtful touches like flip-flops for dancing and shade or blankets depending on the weather.

- Encourage mingling by seating guests with friends or providing spaces for casual conversations.

- Add personal touches, such as a custom cocktail or decor with meaningful elements.

- Keep guests entertained during downtime with activities like a cocktail hour, live music, or lawn games.

- Delegate tasks and take private moments to relax and enjoy the day as a couple.

Provide entertainment and interactive activities, such as a photo booth, lawn games, and a dance floor

Provide entertainment and interactive activities

Photo booth

A photo booth is a fun activity for guests of all ages and a great way to capture memories. Guests can take photos, boomerangs, and instant prints, which they can then email to themselves or share on social media. This is a great way to get everyone involved and having fun, and it also provides a memento of the wedding.

Lawn games

Lawn games are a perfect way to keep guests entertained, especially during the cocktail hour or while the happy couple is having their photos taken. Some popular lawn game ideas include:

• Giant Jenga
• Cornhole
• Horseshoes
• Giant Connect Four
• Yard Pong
• Croquet
• Kubb

Dance floor

A dance floor is a must-have for any wedding reception. It provides a dedicated space for guests to show off their moves and lets you showcase your cultural traditions or perform a choreographed first dance. To make it even more fun, you could incorporate some of these ideas:

• Disco balls
• Neon signage and globe lights
• Paper lanterns
• Cold sparkler machines
• String lights
• Multiple dance floor monograms

Offer refreshments and balance alcohol with non-alcoholic options and water

Offer refreshments

It is important to keep your guests refreshed throughout the day. While they will be excited to celebrate with you, it is a long day and they will need sustenance! If you are having a summer wedding, consider offering fans and shade, as well as refreshing drinks and snacks. For winter weddings, think about providing blankets, heaters and hot drinks.

Balance alcohol with non-alcoholic options

An open bar is a great way to keep the party going, but it is important to offer non-alcoholic options too. This could be a selection of soft drinks, or you could create a signature non-alcoholic cocktail. It is also a good idea to provide water to ensure your guests stay hydrated. You could set up water stations around the venue, or encourage guests to alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Provide late-night snacks

Dancing is hungry work! Your guests will be grateful for some late-night snacks to keep their energy up. This could be something simple like pizza slices or sliders, or you could hire a food truck for a more substantial offering.

Offer interactive activities during downtime

There will likely be periods during the day when you and your new spouse are busy with photos or other activities. To keep the party going, offer interactive activities such as lawn games or a photo booth to keep your guests entertained.

Plan thoughtful seating arrangements to ensure guests are comfortable and can mingle

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it's important to remember that your guests' enjoyment is linked to your own. If you're relaxed and having fun, your guests will follow.

• Seat guests with friends or those who share common interests. This creates a relaxed environment where everyone feels comfortable.
• Designate tables for different groups, such as college friends, family, or elderly relatives, to ensure guests are surrounded by familiar faces and can easily mingle.
• Create a seating arrangement that allows for easy mingling. For example, you could set up an outdoor lounge area or a designated space for casual conversations.
• Provide a mix of table games, couple trivia, mad libs, or cards for a game of wedding speech bingo to spark conversations and help guests get acquainted.
• Avoid seating guests at a table where they don't know anyone, especially if everyone else knows each other. This can be uncomfortable and make it difficult for them to join in on the conversation.
• Consider the comfort of your guests. Provide a basket of flip-flops near the dance floor for those who want to dance without the pain of high heels. Offer shade and fans during hot weather, and blankets and heaters in cooler weather.
• If possible, avoid long periods of downtime, such as during photo sessions. Plan activities to keep the fun going, such as lawn games, a photo booth, or interactive elements like a custom Snapchat geofilter.
• Offer late-night snacks to keep your guests energised throughout the celebration. Simple options like pizza slices, sliders, or a food truck serving comfort food will be appreciated.

By creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere, you'll ensure your guests are comfortable, entertained, and happy to mingle.

Create a memorable atmosphere with unique touches like a custom backdrop or a mixologist

Creating a memorable atmosphere with unique touches is a surefire way to make your wedding enjoyable for your guests. Here are some ideas to achieve that:

Custom Backdrop

A backdrop can be a simple yet effective way to elevate your wedding's aesthetic appeal and create a memorable atmosphere. The right backdrop can complement your wedding theme and enhance your chosen venue, whether it's an outdoor setting or an indoor space.

For an outdoor wedding, consider the beauty of nature as your backdrop. A serene beach, a lush garden, or a rustic barn can provide a dreamy setting. You could also opt for a flower wall, creating a vibrant and romantic atmosphere with a floral scent that adds an unforgettable sensory touch. If you're looking for something more sustainable, silk flowers can be a great alternative.

For indoor weddings, a fabric drapery backdrop can add elegance and charm. Airy tulle or rich velvet fabrics in colours that match your theme can be draped to create a soft, billowy effect. Enhance this setup with fairy lights or floral garlands for a whimsical vibe.

Other unique backdrop ideas include:

• Vintage window frames paired with flowers or fairy lights
• A lighted tree, adorned with twinkling lights for a magical setting
• Paper lantern arrays, hung from tree branches to create a fairy-tale canopy
• A natural forest backdrop, harnessing the wild grandeur of nature
• A lace curtain with twinkling lights, adding a touch of romantic allure

Mixologist

Adding a mixologist to your wedding can elevate the drink offerings and create a unique and memorable experience for your guests. Mixologists are experts in crafting and mixing drinks, often experimenting with techniques and flavours to design memorable cocktails. They can create seasonal menus or signature drinks specifically for your wedding.

Having a mixologist at your wedding can provide:

• A unique and premium drink experience for your guests
• Customised drinks that cater to different tastes and preferences
• Interactive entertainment, as guests can engage with the mixologist and watch their drinks being crafted
• A dynamic and festive atmosphere, especially when paired with other forms of entertainment

Keep guests entertained during downtime with activities like a cocktail hour or lawn games

Keeping your guests entertained during the cocktail hour or downtime is a great way to ensure your wedding is memorable and enjoyable for everyone. Here are some ideas to keep your guests entertained:

Lawn Games

Lawn games are a great option to keep guests entertained, especially if you're hosting an outdoor wedding with ample space. Here are some lawn game ideas:

• Croquet
• Giant Jenga
• Cornhole/Bean Bag Toss: You can even personalise the boards and bean bags with your wedding colours or new last name.
• Badminton
• Bocce Ball
• Ring Toss: You can write the names of guests and bridal party members on the bottles and rings for added fun.
• Horseshoe Toss
• Giant Connect Four
• Giant Tic-Tac-Toe
• Giant Dominoes
• Mini-Golf
• Hoop Toss
• Hula Hoop

Cocktail Hour Activities

If you're looking for activities to keep guests entertained during the cocktail hour, here are some ideas:

• Signature Cocktails: Create a unique cocktail for guests to enjoy and add a garnish station where they can customise their drinks.
• DIY Cocktail Bar
• Make-Your-Own Mimosa or Bloody Mary Bar
• Cocktail Table Games: Set up small games like tic-tac-toe or checkers on cocktail tables for guests to enjoy while they mingle.
• Lawn Games: If your cocktail hour is outdoors, you can set up lawn games like those mentioned above.
• Photo Booth: Set up a fun photo booth with themed props for guests to take memorable pictures.
• Live Music: Hire a musician or band to perform during the cocktail hour. This can include instrumental music, a string quartet, or a mariachi band.
• Background Music: Create a playlist of your favourite TV show or movie soundtracks for guests to enjoy.
• Charcuterie Boards: Offer charcuterie or veggie trays for guests to snack on while they mingle.
• Make-Your-Own Flower Crowns: Set up a craft table with flowers, floral wire, clips, and vases for guests to create their own accessories.
• Anniversary Time Capsule: Provide writing prompts or cards for guests to fill out with advice, well-wishes, or favourite memories.
• Wedding Mad Libs: Customise wedding-themed Mad Libs and leave them on tables for guests to fill out throughout the cocktail hour.
• Open Mic Speeches: Allow guests to come up and share a few words during the cocktail hour.
• Lawn Games Indoors: If your cocktail hour is indoors, you can set up giant Jenga, tic-tac-toe, or cornhole.
• Custom Decorations: Create a fun photo backdrop with a Facebook theme, as you met on Facebook Dating.
• Bingo: Set up a game of bingo for guests to play during the cocktail hour.

Frequently asked questions