Interactive Weddings: Creative Ways To Engage Your Guests

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but there are ways to make the process fun and interactive for you and your guests. From food to entertainment, here are some ideas to get you started.

Food is a great way to get your guests involved and excited about your wedding. You could have a build-your-own bar with all your favourite foods, from tacos to pretzels, or even a signature cocktail with a DIY station. Buffet-style dinners are another way to get your guests moving and socialising. For dessert, a build-your-own option or a unique wedding-themed piñata is sure to be a hit.

Entertainment-wise, there are endless options to choose from. A photo booth is always a fun idea, or you could go old-school with Polaroid cameras. Outdoor games like cornhole, giant Jenga, and Connect 4 are simple yet addictive ways to get your guests mingling. For something more unique, consider a petting zoo, fire performers, or even an owl ring bearer! If you're feeling creative, a live painter or caricaturist will capture the magic of the day, while a singing waiter or roaming musician will bring the entertainment up close and personal.

With so many options to choose from, you're sure to find something that suits your style and makes your wedding interactive and memorable.

Outdoor games and activities

• Giant lawn games such as Jenga, Connect Four, chess, draughts, and dominoes.
• Sports and active games such as badminton, mini-golf, bowling, and tug of war.
• Classic lawn games such as croquet, boules, rounders, noughts and crosses, and skittles.
• Drinking games such as beer pong and flip cup.
• Creative games such as archery, dart art, and macramé making.
• Competitive games such as ring toss, cornhole toss, and cocktail-making competitions.
• Interactive games such as "I Spy", photo scavenger hunts, and wedding bingo.
• Kids' games such as hopscotch, hula hooping, and piñatas.

These games will not only keep your guests entertained but will also create a fun and memorable atmosphere at your wedding.

Creative food and drink stations

Build-Your-Own Bars

Add a snack station that guests can customise to their liking. This could include anything from popcorn, milkshakes, tacos, loaded fries, pretzels, chicken and waffles, pizza, s'mores, and more. You could even suggest combination names that have a special significance to you and your partner. For example, a milkshake bar could feature a combination named "Tall, Dark, and [groom's name]".

Food Trucks

Food trucks are a fun way to offer a unique treat to your guests. You could have a champagne truck, a beer on tap truck, or a truck serving sweet treats like donuts, popsicles, or cupcakes.

Outdoor Activities

If your venue has outdoor space, set up a cozy nook with your favourite wines or whiskeys, or offer a selection of cigars for guests to enjoy. You could also set up oversized lawn games for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour.

Charcuterie Boards

Disperse charcuterie boards and carts throughout your cocktail hour. Guests will naturally gather and chat as they create the perfect bites.

Family-Style Dinner

During dinner, serve the food family-style. This gives a welcoming and homey feel to the reception while still being upscale. Alternatively, you could have a tapas-style dinner with unique food stations, such as a bruschetta station or a "pasta-tini" station.

Local Treats

Set up a table with a selection of local fare and regionally-made specialties, such as BBQ sauces, candy, cakes, craft beer, or cocktails.

DIY Treat or Beverage Bars

Let your guests get creative with build-your-own street tacos, baked potato bars, ice cream or yoghurt bars with toppings, self-serve cotton candy, gourmet hot dogs, flavoured popcorn, and more. For drinks, you could have a make-your-own martini bar, or a whiskey, wine, or craft beer tasting bar.

Cheese or Fondue Station

Arrange a stellar cheese station with breads, fruits, nuts, olives, vegetables, and condiments. Or, let your guests dip bread, fruit, and more into a choice of cheesy or sweet fondue.

Mini Food Station

Offer crowd-pleasers in mini form, such as mini burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken and waffles, donut holes, pie pops, and more.

Hot-Weather Treats

For a summer wedding, offer chilly refreshments like popsicles, snow cones, ice cream sandwiches, or set up a smoothie, iced coffee, or orange Julius station.

Cold-Weather Fare

Warm up your guests with a coffee and donuts bar, a s'mores station, a chili tasting bar, or a hot cocoa station with flavoured marshmallows.

Food Trucks

Hire your favourite local food truck to serve up treats like sliders and waffle fries.

Photo booths and cameras

Photo booths are a great way to encourage your guests to interact with each other and create lasting memories of your wedding. They can be a significant expense, so if you're looking for a budget-friendly option, a DIY photo booth is a fantastic alternative. Here are some tips and ideas to help you create a fun and interactive photo booth experience for your wedding:

Location and Backdrop

Choose a location for your photo booth that is easily accessible to your guests, ideally near the reception area or dance floor. Consider setting it up in a private area, such as an alcove, a small room, or a caravan, to make guests feel more comfortable in front of the camera. When selecting a backdrop, opt for one that complements your wedding theme and provides a picturesque setting. You can go for a plain wall, brick or stone, or get creative with sequin sheets, gold lametta tinsel, rustic palettes, or fresh flowers.

Camera Options

There are several camera options to consider for your DIY photo booth:

• A good quality camera on a tripod with a remote control ensures high-quality photos, but you'll need someone to manage the settings.
• A phone on a selfie stick or a tablet on a stand is a simple and cost-effective option.
• Polaroid-style cameras are a popular choice as they provide instant prints, but the film can be expensive.
• You can also hire a photo booth camera with an open setup, selfie camera, and instant printer.

Props and Accessories

Photo booth props add a fun and interactive element to your wedding. Raid your attic or local thrift stores for feather boas, funny hats, celebrity masks, and cheap wigs. You can also make your own props with cardboard, craft paper, and fabric scraps. Include classic props like hats, glasses, and mustaches, as well as wedding-themed items such as veils, bow ties, or bouquets.

Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in capturing great photos. Opt for soft, diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows, and consider adding fairy lights, lanterns, or string lights for a festive touch. If your venue has dim lighting, bring in external flash units or LED panels to enhance the overall lighting setup.

Interactive Features

To make your photo booth even more engaging, consider adding interactive elements like a guest book station, selfie stations, or digital backdrops and filters. You can also provide instant printing options or allow guests to share their photos on social media by creating a unique hashtag.

Other Considerations

• Instructions: Keep the instructions simple and clear, especially for less tech-savvy guests or those who've had a few drinks!
• Signage: Use signage to direct guests to the photo booth and provide basic instructions.
• Costume boxes: Encourage guests to dress up and be creative with dressing-up boxes filled with hats, wigs, and accessories.
• Printing: Make sure to print your photos or use an app to capture and share them.

Live entertainment

Circus Performers

Circus performers, including stilt walkers, fire breathers, acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, and ribbon twirlers, will definitely surprise and delight your guests. You can hire an entire circus troupe or individual performers to roam around during cocktail hour or perform during the reception.

Live Music

Live music is a classic way to entertain your wedding guests. You can hire a DJ, a live band, or roaming musicians. Mariachi bands, barbershop quartets, and saxophonists are just a few examples of the many options available. If you want to add a unique twist, consider hiring a steel drum band or bagpipe and Scottish drummer duo to perform.

Live Painters

A live painter will create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that captures the magic of your wedding day. Your guests will enjoy watching the painting come to life, and you'll have a beautiful keepsake to cherish forever.

Synchronized Swimmers

If your venue has a pool, why not put it to good use? Synchronized swimmers, with their cheeky choreography and eye-catching costumes, will put on a show that your guests will never forget.

Tarot Card Readers and Fortune Tellers

Give your guests a glimpse into their future with tarot card readings or fortune-telling. This is a unique and interactive way to entertain your guests, especially if your wedding has a celestial or astrological theme.

Fire Performers

Fire performers, including fire dancers and fire eaters, will definitely leave your guests in awe. Just be sure to check with your venue about any special insurance or precautions that may be required for this type of performance.

Belly Dancers

Incorporate your culture into your wedding with a belly dancing troupe. This is a great way to honor your Arabic heritage and add some excitement to the celebration.

Singing Waiters

Surprise your guests with singing waiters! These performers will dress up as staff and then burst into song during the wedding breakfast. It's a fun twist that will have everyone up on their feet.

Magicians

A magic show is a great way to entertain guests of all ages. Your guests will be amazed and delighted, and your photographer will have plenty of memorable moments to capture.

Guest book alternatives

Guest books are a timeless wedding tradition, but you don't have to follow the status quo of using an actual book. Here are some interactive and unique guest book alternatives to make your wedding memorable:

Vintage Typewriter

Place a vintage typewriter at the reception and ask guests to type out notes of love and encouragement. You can find one at charity shops, car boot sales, online marketplaces, or Etsy.

Quilt Guest Book

Ask your guests to sign and decorate a quilt patch. After the wedding, embroider the messages to ensure they last forever. It would also look amazing on your sofa or bed.

Luggage Tag Guest Book

Luggage tags can be used as sweet note cards for your guest book. Guests can write their wishes on the tags, which can then be pegged on a line or made into collages.

Record Player Guest Book

For music lovers, set out a vinyl record for guests to sign. You can then frame it and display it in your home.

Polaroid Guest Book

Set up a photo station and ask guests to add polaroids to your book. Include craft tape and pens so that signing the guest book becomes a playful, interactive experience.

Jenga Guest Book

Using Jenga blocks as a guest book is a fun and interactive idea. Guests can sign their names and wishes on the blocks, and every time you play the game, you will be reminded of your special day and your loved ones.

Wine Bottle Guest Book

Choose a wine that will last until your first anniversary. Guests can write messages on the bottle, and you can reread them while celebrating your anniversary.

Globe Guest Book

If you and your partner love to travel, a globe guest book is a perfect choice. Guests can sign their names and even mark destinations they think should be on your travel bucket list.

Surfboard Guest Book

For beach weddings or surfing enthusiasts, a surfboard guest book is a fun and unique idea. Guests can sign their names and wishes, and you can later hang it in your home as a memorable keepsake.

Frequently asked questions