Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding receptions are a time for the happy couple to relax and celebrate with their guests. While some people enjoy dancing the night away, others prefer to chat, eat, and drink. To keep guests entertained, hosts can organise activities like photo booths, lawn games, and even petting zoos. Food and drink are a big part of the reception, with cake-cutting, toasts, and couple portraits all featuring heavily. The time of year and sunset should be considered when planning the timeline, and it's important to schedule the exit so guests can plan their departure. Traditions can be followed or skipped, depending on personal preference, and music choices can be tailored to the couple's tastes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Duration | Several hours long, ending at 10 pm or before |
| Food and drinks | Cake, champagne, cocktails, beer, wine, and party snacks |
| Music and entertainment | Live band, wedding DJ, classical guitarist, photo booths, games, bonfire, bouncy castle |
| Traditions | First dance, bouquet toss, toasts, exit |
| Personal touches | Music, centerpieces, cakes, gifts for guests |
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What You'll Learn
Dancing, drinking, eating, and socialising
Dancing is a traditional part of wedding receptions, with many people choosing to hire a live band or DJ to encourage their guests onto the dance floor. Some couples even take dance lessons before their wedding to perform a choreographed first dance. However, it's worth noting that not all guests enjoy dancing, so providing other entertainment is a good idea.
Drinking is another common aspect of wedding receptions, with many couples choosing to serve alcohol to help their guests relax and have fun. This can include a cocktail hour, champagne service, or a more low-key option like sparkling cider or wine.
Eating is, of course, a crucial part of any wedding reception. Guests will expect a wedding cake, but it's also important to provide enough food throughout the event, as guests may be too full to eat cake by the time it's served. Couples can get creative with food services, such as interactive food stations or a dessert room where guests can mingle.
Socialising is a significant part of wedding receptions, as guests catch up with friends and family. The reception is an opportunity for guests to meet new people and spend time with the happy couple. To facilitate socialising, couples can provide a photo booth, lawn games, or even a bonfire with s'mores. For guests who are less socially inclined, the couple could provide a quiet area with board games or a craft station.
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Photo booths and props
Photo booths are a fun and interactive way to keep guests entertained during wedding receptions. They also provide guests with tangible memories to take home with them. While photo booths can be rented, couples can also create their own photo booth area with a designated backdrop and a photographer or camera station.
Photo booth props can be used to liven up the mood and add a fun touch to snapshots. Props can include signage, hats, sunglasses, flower crowns, and more. For instance, guests can pose with a blown-up photo of the couple's cat or dog. Couples can also get creative and make their own props, such as painting motifs onto foam core and cutting them out with an X-acto knife.
There are many affordable options for photo booth props, ranging from simple to intricate designs. For example, colourful ombre wigs can be used as props while also giving guests the option to change up their hairstyle in photos. Couples can also add a bit of text to their photo booth with signs, such as premade options with a wedding hashtag or blank signs that guests can fill in themselves.
Photo booth props can also be tailored to the wedding's theme or colour scheme. For instance, a rose gold colour scheme could be complemented by metallic photo booth props. Similarly, floral-themed weddings could incorporate fake blooms as crowns, garlands, or bouquets.
In addition to designated photo booths, photo booth-style props can also be brought onto the dance floor to encourage guests to get creative with their photos. Props such as big sunglasses, glow sticks, beach balls, hula hoops, and funny masks and hats can add a fun and playful element to the reception.
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Games and activities
Outdoor Games
If you have a gorgeous outdoor venue, take advantage of the space and set up some lawn games. Giant versions of classic games such as chess, tic-tac-toe, and Connect Four are sure to be a hit with guests of all ages. Spikeball, a mix of volleyball and foursquare, will get your active guests moving. For a simple yet fun game, set up a ring toss, a carnival classic that will bring nostalgia and friendly competition. You can even assign teams and turn it into a tournament.
Indoor Games
For indoor receptions, you can set up a pool table for guests to form teams and play together. A dart art station is another fun option, where guests throw darts at water balloons filled with paint to create a unique work of art. Transform a chalkboard into a creative word search or wedding-related word puzzle for guests to complete throughout the evening. You can also provide bingo cards during the toasts for guests to mark off clichés or phrases.
Photo Activities
Photo booths are always a popular attraction at wedding receptions. You can turn it into a game by inviting guests to reenact famous scenes or poses using props and costumes. Another idea is to provide disposable cameras on each table for guests to capture special moments from their perspective.
Other Activities
Dancing is a primary activity at wedding receptions, but you can also include other crowd-pleasing alternatives or additions. Sing-alongs with projected or printed lyrics can get everyone involved. A DIY model aeroplane throw or a bucking bronco will add a unique and playful element to the reception. For a quieter activity, set up a casual guestbook for guests to fill out during any downtime.
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Toasts and speeches
Wedding toasts and speeches are a chance for the couple to give the floor to those they love and care about to welcome guests, tell stories, and possibly even share a tear or two. Toasts are an unavoidable part of wedding receptions, and they can either be separate from the speeches or the end part of a speech.
Who Should Give a Speech?
The wedding couple, parents of the couple, maid of honour, best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, officiant, and other family members or important guests can give a speech. The couple may also decide to give a bridal party toast to thank their attendants.
The wedding speeches can be given at the rehearsal dinner, the wedding reception, or during the ceremony. Toasts are usually done during the wedding breakfast and not at the evening party. They can be done before or after the first course, after the main course, or towards the end of the meal before the cake-cutting ceremony and the first dance.
The speeches can be about the couple's journey, welcoming the bride to the family, friendship, and how the couple has grown together. The couple can also share their excitement and appreciation in a less formal setting. The speakers can also share their first impressions of the couple, talk about how the couple met, or share a childhood memory.
Tips for Giving a Speech
- Write a rough draft and practice out loud.
- Don't drink too much before the speech.
- Be aware of who is speaking before and after you.
- Keep the toasts short.
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Music and entertainment
If you decide to hire a band, consider the type of music you want. Some couples take dance lessons before their wedding and want a band that will play a variety of songs to get their guests on the dance floor. You could also hire a classical guitarist to play during the ceremony and reception, providing a more relaxed atmosphere for guests to mingle and chat.
If you're looking for unique entertainment ideas, you could include a drag performance, singers, dancers, acrobats, contortionists, or celebrity impersonators. Lawn games like corn hole, Bocce ball, and giant Jenga are also a great way to keep guests entertained, especially during cocktail hour. For animal lovers, a petting zoo can be a fun and unique experience.
For couples who want to add a creative twist, renting out popular video games or setting up a photo booth with fun props can provide memorable interactions and photos. A warm bonfire is another excellent idea for colder months, allowing guests to make s'mores, share stories, or play instruments by the fire.
Remember, the entertainment you choose should reflect your personality and what's important to you. Whether it's a live band, unique performances, or interactive games, the key is to create an engaging and memorable experience for you and your guests.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to entertain guests at a wedding reception. Here are some ideas:
- Dancing
- Photo booths
- Lawn games (e.g. corn hole, giant Jenga)
- Live music
- Bonfire with s'mores
- Petting zoo
- Video games
- Casino
- Bouncy castle
- Champagne service
- Exit with sparklers, bubbles, or confetti
If you're looking for something more unique, you could consider hiring performers such as singers, dancers, acrobats, contortionists, or drag queens. You could also have a live wedding painter or celebrity impersonator.
A typical wedding reception can last several hours. It's recommended to start the ceremony at 3:30 pm in the winter and 6:00 pm in the summer. The reception usually ends around 8:30 pm or 9:00 pm in the winter and 10:00 pm in the summer.
Traditional activities at a wedding reception include cutting the cake, toasts, and the bouquet toss. Dancing is also a common activity, although not all couples choose to include it.
