Creative Ways To Keep Your Guests Entertained At The Reception

We’ve all been there ourselves. The ceremony is over, you’re settled in at the reception site, and the food is smelling soooo good…

The bride and groom are off taking pictures, and you’ve already eaten all the little personalized Hershey kisses within your reach. Now what to do while you wait?

There’s nothing better to relieve this time of slight boredom than to have something fun and entertaining to do while you wait! Some of our Joel and Amber brides have come up with fabulous ways to keep their guests busy and content while they finish up the last of the pictures. (For the best way to minimize the reception waiting time, see our blog post on Why We Love the First Look!)

But keep reading to see 10 ways these creative couples kept their guests entertained!

 

1. A Wishing Tree

This is a wishing tree, ready to be filled with well wishes, advice, laughs, and anything else that guests can come up with. It gives you something fun (and maybe even deep) to think about while you wait!

 

2. Bubbles!

Oh, what fun bubbles are! Having bubbles on the table is guaranteed to provide endless entertainment for both kids and adults. Seriously, who can resist a good bubble blowing session?!

 

3. Yard Games

This is probably my all-time favorite idea for entertaining guests! There were adorable, hand-made yard games set up for everyone to enjoy! Corn toss, ring toss, checkers…what a perfect afternoon activity! (Plus it made for some super fun pictures when we caught the bride and groom trying their hand at the fun!)

 

4. Date Night Ideas

Love this idea! It’s one that keeps guests busy AND is a gift that the couple can enjoy forever! There were popsicle sticks and sharpies at each table, ready for guest to write down fun date ideas! There was a jar on the favor table for guest to deposit their sticks. The guests came up with dates that ranged from romantic to downright silly, but that jar was packed full of unique and fun ideas!

 

5. Wisdom

Here’s another fun way to keep guests busy thinking of something profound. Each envelope had questions that the bride and groom made up – ready for advice from older and wiser people they loved!

 

6. The Kissing Menu

Guests spent lots of time coming up with ideas, practicing, and laughing over the efforts!

 

7. FOOD!

Food is one of the best ways to keep guests happy during that in-between time! A few simple (or elaborate!) hors d’oeuvres can keep guests happily munching away, much more willing to wait patiently for the main event to get started!

(This yummy food was from Stonebridge Farms, one of our favorite wedding venues!)

 

(And this amazing spread was created by the ever fabulous Chef Margaret at The Chef Next Door. We can’t say enough wonderful things about her and her food!)

 

8. Photo Booths

The photo booth is one of our favorite reception past-times! It gives guests a chance to let out a little bit of silly! The photo booth pictures are ones you will treasure (and laugh at) forever! All you need are a few simple props, and your guests will provide the rest!

Even we can’t resist. Ever.

 

9. Ideas for Kids

Don’t forget the kids! They are entertained with something as easy as crayons and a coloring book! Endless entertainment. You might be surprised at how many adults will share in the fun!

This wedding had fun wooden masks for the kids to color. Love this idea!

 

10. Mad Libs

Mad libs take me on memory lane to 3rd grade, when we would spend rainy recesses creating mad libs with my friends! It never gets old.

 

Most guests are just happy to be celebrating this day with you! But just to keep off any chance of the yawns while you’re enjoying fun memories and pictures with your new husband (or wife!), these ideas will help keep your guests content and laughing along with you.

Do you have any favorite wedding games or past times to share with our readers? We love new ideas!! Share in the comments below!

*hugs*

Amber