As an experienced wedding photographer based in Berkshire many times over the years I’ve seen some great ways to bring entertainment and joy to your wedding so here are 10 ways to entertain guests at your wedding.
There are so many ways to keep them engaged and having fun. From interactive games to photo booths, here are 10 ideas that will ensure your wedding guests have a wedding they won’t forget!
Live Music & Entertainment
Live performances are right at the top of 10 Ways to entertain guests at your wedding and add an element of surprise that will keep people talking about your wedding long after it’s over. Think about hiring local magicians, firebreathers, or jugglers who can perform throughout the night while your guests enjoy dinner and drinks. You might even ask a few friends or family members if they’d be willing to put together a short skit or two – it’ll be sure to bring lots of laughter!
Some of my personal favorites are Gospel singers and The singing Waiters who both bring the house down.
Photobooth
Photo booths are a great way to get your guests interacting with each other while they create lasting memories of your special day. Make sure you choose one with props, like silly hats and glasses, so everyone can let their hair down and have fun posing for photos! Many companies also offer instant printing services so they can take a pic away with them. You should also get a copy for yourselves as a memory.
Lawn Games
Interactive games are always a hit with wedding guests! Giant Jenga, Croquet on the lawn, Connect Four, Lawn Chess, or even a giant bouncy castle for the kids – the options are endless when it comes to providing entertainment. You could even set up an outdoor movie screen if you want something truly unique. This will give your guests an opportunity to relax after all of the dancing is done.
Hire a Magician to go around the tables
You can book a magician to perform at any time of your wedding day but there are definitely times in the wedding day schedule when it’s best.
During the drinks reception, a magician really helps to break the ice between your guests. It’s also a great idea to hire a magician during your wedding breakfast as again it gives complete strangers something to talk about and creates a great buzz and atmosphere around the room with tables waiting excitedly for their turn. Just ensure the magician entertains between courses and not whilst your guests are eating.
A Casino in the evening
Casinos are No 5 in my 10 Ways to entertain guests at your wedding list so If you’re looking to throw a wedding reception that’s a little bit different, hiring a fun casino is a great choice bringing your guests together for an evening of risk-free gaming and fun using personalized toy money and chips that you can keep as mementos of celebration. Casinos often come with professional croupiers who are always happy to teach anyone how to play.
You could have a roulette wheel, one-arm bandits, stud poker, or any other popular casino game.
Ice Sculpture with Shots
Get your wedding party started with a Vodka Luge. These ice sculptures are always good fun and always seem to really get the party going at your wedding .. I’ve even seen granny take part!
Sweet Cart or Icecream cart
Everyone loves a treat and ques always form during the evening entertainment when the sweet trolley or ice cream cart opens for business. Try and be a little original with your sweets although old-time sweets always seem to be the favorite!
Live Painter
A live-event painter is a bit of a surprise in my 10 Ways to entertain guests at your wedding but it really captures your special day on canvas in a beautiful way at your wedding celebration. Alternatively, you could hire an artist who goes around drawing mini caricatures of each of your guests. It’s great fun!
Ceilidh / Dance routines
Dancing was always going to be on this list of 10 Ways to entertain guests at your wedding.
A Ceilidh is a perfect entertainment at a wedding as it brings everyone together in the evening, whether young or old or in possession of two left feet! It keeps all the action of your evening on the dancefloor so all your guests have the same shared experience to talk about for years to come.
Dance Routines
Having the DJ put on a well-known dance track is a genius way to get guests out of their seats and onto the dance floor. From classic country hits to modern-day pop sensations, there’s a wedding line dance for every taste. Wedding line dances have become hugely popular in recent years.
Macarena
Love it or hate it, the Macarena is one of the most popular wedding dances with a quick tempo and loads of opportunities for your guests to sing along, this song is a true crowd-pleaser. With simple moves and jumping to boot, there’s a lot to love.
The Locomotion
The Locomotion has easy-to-follow moves that all of your guests can get behind. The song was originally released by Little Eva and later covered by Kylie Minogue which means that family members of every generation probably know it.
The Conga
Need an excuse to get every guest onto the dance floor? The Conga is just the routine. This wedding dance is about following the leader; make a train of people and keep adding to it as you move around the room. “It’s conga time for sure!”
Fireworks
Fireworks are the last of my 10 Ways to entertain guests at your wedding. A display of five to 10 minutes will be enough to delight your guests without costing a fortune. It’s better to have a short, high-quality display, than a longer one with fewer simultaneous sequences.
If you’re looking for something a little different, but still in the fireworks arena – or as a highlight during your fireworks display – a fun alternative is fire writing. It can be a lovely touch to have you and your partner’s names or initials written in jets of fire in the sky!
Wedding fireworks displays are often booked as a surprise for the couple, perhaps by a close friend or relative. Most pyrotechnic companies will work with the venue to stage a surprise display and will use unmarked vehicles when setting up, so if you’ve got surprise fireworks in mind, either for a couple or for your new spouse, be sure to mention this to your supplier – so they don’t blow the surprise.
10 Ways to entertain guests at your wedding
About the author
Mark Seymour is a Berkshire wedding photographer.
I hope you got some great ideas for your wedding and now as you are at the planning stage of your wedding and you need a great wedding photographer take a look at my portfolio and get in touch to take the next steps.
No matter what type of entertainment you choose for your reception, making sure your guests have fun should be a top priority! With these 10 ideas, we’re sure you’ll find something that suits both you and your partner’s style while keeping everyone engaged throughout the night. And don’t forget – when all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with just playing some good old-fashioned music and letting loose on the dance floor! Good luck planning!
