Let’s face it, part of the fun of getting married is planning a big party for all of your favorite people. You want everyone to have a really great time, so start thinking outside the box about what you can do to spice up your wedding entertainment.
Wedding Entertainment, Your Way
If you’re not an experienced party planner, coming up with creative ideas for your reception can be a tall order. Don’t worry! Plenty of creative brides and grooms have been there, done that, and shared their successes with the world. To get you started, here are a few unique wedding reception entertainment ideas.
1. Make It Game Time!
If you want people at your reception to mingle and get to know each other, party games are a tried and true option for breaking the ice. In the world of wedding entertainment ideas, games haven’t quite become a mainstay, so you’ll still get the chance to be the cool, hip couple who brought Jenga to their big day. For something even more adventurous, try Giant Jenga – a chest-high version of the game that can get the whole crowd involved.
Outdoor weddings offer even more choices. You can set up croquet, horseshoes, or any other lawn game that you think your crowd might be into. Leave the equipment for each game out where people can see it, and let them surprise you. Who knew Grandpa was such a whiz at bocce!
2. Hop Aboard the Food Truck Train
You may think of food and wedding entertainment ideas as two separate things to coordinate for your big day, but you don’t have to. Food trucks are all the rage, and there’s something about having one show up that makes the whole event feel like a carnival.
Food trucks also allow you to offer your guests more flexibility in what and when they eat. Instead of making everyone sit down to partake of their chicken, salmon, or pasta, they can wander up to the food truck whenever they need a break from dancing or socializing.
You can even keep the excitement going through dessert. After all, what’s better than an ice cream truck for cooling off after busting some moves?
3. Start a New Dance Craze
Weddings and dancing go together like ice cream and cake, but the chicken dance and the Electric Slide won’t exactly give your wedding that special something. Give your guests something to talk about by teaching them some fresh new dance moves!
Your options are endless. Heat up the dance floor with some salsa, or make Grandma proud with a folk dance from your family’s heritage. Whether you hire a professional teacher or ask a talented guest to share his or her skill, you and your guests will share some unforgettable moments.
4. Rent a Bouncy Castle
Believe it or not, one of the hottest trends in the wedding industry is the bouncy castle. Yes, we’re talking about the same kind of bouncy castle that you pined after for your eighth birthday party. But they’re not just for kids anymore – loads of brides and grooms are upping the fun factor and adding some inflatable joy to their nuptials.
While you can only rent wedding-specific white bouncy castles in the UK (so far), those of you on the other side of the pond can still get in on the act. Rent a regular bouncy castle and dress it up so it coordinates with your theme – or in any other way that tickles your fancy!
5. Send In the Critters
Sticking with the inner-child theme, why not have some non-human guests at your wedding? There are lots of different ways to bring your love of animals to your reception, whether you host the event at a local zoo or call up a mobile petting zoo service.
If you’re having your wedding in the Pacific Northwest, you’re especially lucky. A company in Oregon and Washington will rent out llamas and alpacas and bring them to your wedding And these critters are no slouches. They arrive fully decked out in their formal wear – yes, that means veils, little top hats, floral crowns and even jewelry!
Go ahead, start planning your destination wedding in Portland. We’ll wait.
6. Plan a Photo Scavenger Hunt
This one is a win-win for you as well as your guests. All you need to do is leave a list on each guest table describing 12 to 15 moments that you’d like people to photograph. The guest who collects all the photo moments first wins! A few possibilities are:
- Someone making a toast
- A kiss between the newlyweds
- The cutting of the cake
- Children on the dance floor
- The oldest person at the wedding
- The youngest person at the wedding
The logistics to make it happen are fairly easy. You can do it the old-fashioned way with disposable cameras that you develop later, or set up a Facebook or Flickr group where your guests can upload their photos. That way, everyone can see each other’s photos, and you don’t have to pay for development.
Craft your scavenger hunt list based on the moments you most want to remember from the day.
7. Make Your Own Stars
When the mood turns from silly to serious, it might be time to break out the paper lanterns. Sending these little balloons of whimsy up into the sky is a magical moment for everyone. You can either plan it so everyone sends them up together or let each guest release their lanterns as the spirit moves them.
For an extra personal touch, have your guests write wishes for your future happiness before they send the lanterns up into the sky. Then, stand back and watch the sky twinkle with your friends’ and family’s love for you.
Make It Yours
Whatever you choose to do, remember that your wedding and reception entertainment are about what makes you two special as a couple. You might choose jigsaw puzzles by a fireplace or a game of beach volleyball for your seaside nuptials – it’s all good. As long as you love what you share with your guests, the day will truly be a success.
Got some of your own unique wedding entertainment ideas? Let us know in the comments! Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for daily wedding inspiration!
