When trying to make your guests a part of your big day, it can be hard not to throw in extras just to fill time. Here at Creative Grace Planning we’ve seen a few time-fillers that end up half done or without enthusiasm and no one wants that for their wedding day. So today we’re going to give you some ideas to keep momentum going and guests engaged!

Whether you are planning to have an indoor wedding in January or a summer bash in June, we will include some options for you to enjoy participating in and watch your guests enjoy as well.

1. Wedding Guest Bingo

This game will be best played if you and your significant other have many mutual friends and acquaintances- otherwise it may be a tad awkward.

To play, just download a blank bingo card and type in things like “Owns a red car” or “Has more than one kid”. You can do any type of theme or style you want as long as you know that enough of them are true for someone to get bingo. Guests can mingle about during cocktail hour and ask different guests and tables if the prompts apply. This is a great way too keep their minds off of waiting for dinner!

This can can be played just for fun or have a prize waiting at the end, but don’t forget to have them write the name of the guests or tables they used to make sure it’s all done fairly. We wouldn’t want cousin Naomi to sneak in fake wins 😉

2. The Shoe Game

What do guests LOVE about receptions? Getting involved with the bride and groom, of course!

The shoe game put bride and groom at the center of everyone in chairs facing back to back. Each spouse will hold one of their own shoes and one shoe from their spouse. A list of ‘couples’ questions (i.e. Who is most likely to drop their clothes on the floor after a long day or work?, Who said “I love you” first?, etc.) will be read off by the MC and each party will hold up the shoe of the person they believe to relate the most. As the bride and groom aren’t facing each other, the game quickly turns comical as the spouses reveal how little they know and agree on each other’s behaviors and the guests go nuts for that stuff. Trust us, we’ve been around a crowd or two.

3. The Photo Booth Game

It’s no secret that photo booths are becoming a staple at weddings in the current culture. They are both fun and memorable. One way to take advantage of this staple is too make a contest or themed challenge out of it. Leaving silly props and a list of famous poses or movies to act out for your guests. Imagine them grabbing whatever they can find to be Jack and Rose on the Titanic or The “A” Team. You can even make it favorites of the couple if you want to get really in depth.

Not only will your friends and family enjoy the photo booth challenge, but they will take home some great memories to hang on their fridges (Unless you opt to have the photos put into an album for your own keepsake).

4. Love Themed Mad Libs

The thing about Mad Libs is that you don’t need any liquid courage or age range to make something enjoyable for everyone around. So no matter who is at your wedding, you can have a table contest for the Mad lib. These are best themed as something like ‘Love Story/How We Met’, ‘My Wedding Day’, ‘Honeymoon Chaos’, or something similar. The wonderful thing about this game is you can find and print out a template rather than spend eons on having to plan and create it. We all know that easy and quick are preferable when it comes to wedding planning!

5. Outdoor Lawn Games

If you’re planning a warm-weather wedding and want to make it easy-going for all of the guests involved, outdoor games are a sure win. Games like Giant Jenga, cornhole, ladder ball, or bocce ball allow your guests to play at their leisure without the pressure of having to get involved. Games like these keep a light and friendly atmosphere relieving the bride and groom of being the center of attention at any given moment.

6. Wedding I Spy

This one is a play-as-you-go game that can be done throughout the evening along with regular wedding activities. As guests enter, they would grab a list of things to seek out through the reception, such as the card box, a bridesmaid dancing, someone taking shots, someone who’s taken their shoes off, or anything and everything your heart desires to add to the list. ‘I spy’ is a great way to keep younger people occupied as well if you are having a kid-friendly wedding.

This one is also done best if given a time limit. People are more likely to play if they know exactly when it ends. We recommend at least an hour before the end of the reception so that there will still be a fair amount of people present to claim the reward.

7. Date Night Jar

Whether you go with an advice book, a recordable phone message station, or something similar, a date night jar can bring some great ideas from well-established couples as well as silly or steamy ideas that will leave you smiling when you read them later as a couple. It’s not so much a game as it is an active participation event, but it is certainly worth the addition for your sake as the couple.

8. Musical Chairs

This a crowd pleaser for sure! Instead of a bouquet toss, opt to have the unmarried women of the room play musical chairs for it. It is both engaging and entertaining whether you are participating or watching.

Some great song choices for this would be- “All the Single Ladies”, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, “Run the World (Girls)”, or “Shut Up and Dance With Me”.

9. Marriage Length Dance

This is a timeless game that is always such a sweet addition to the night. All married couples are pulled to the dance floor for a slow dance and the MC will slowly eliminate couples by length of time married. You can do it by every 4-5 years depending on how many couples there are and watch as the guests swoon as the years pass by.

This past weekend we had a wedding where the final couple had been married for over 60 years. They were adorable, to say the least. This one is typically short enough to get people involved while still garnering the attention of the rest of the guests.

Hopefully this was able to tick a few boxes off your to-do list, but if you didn’t see the sort of game you were looking for for your own unique big day- no worries- just reach out to us at Creative Grace Planning and we are happy to give you as much or as little advice as you need!

Until then,

The Wedding “A” Team