When it comes to planning a wedding, expectations for entertainment are always very high. Surely you want to impress the guests at your reception and create a party that everyone will remember for a lifetime.
Your guests will be with you all day from the ceremony and walk to the banquet. This means it's important to come up with a wedding day timing to make sure your guests have a great time.
Of course, the wow factor of your entertainment won't work if it's been seen at a million other weddings. Whether you prefer fireworks, outdoor wedding games or alternative food to lift the mood, check out our roundup of the best wedding ideas for guests. Here are the best quirky wedding entertainment ideas, from photo booths with a twist to unexpected surprises and games guests will love. Read on to find out how to make sure your wedding day truly goes off with a bang.
Singing waiters
Take your wedding to a whole new level by hiring a brigade of singing waiters to liven up your dinner. For best effect, keep it a secret from your guests until they suddenly burst into song. Hiring singing waiters to perform at a wedding is the latest trend this year.
Encourage a group of performers to dress up as staff for your wedding before breaking into song during the wedding breakfast. They are guaranteed to turn everyone's ears!
Preface
I tried all the competitions included in the collection myself. They captivated the audience dozens of times at discos, parties, weddings in capital cities and rural clubs.
There are famous games here that have proven to adapt perfectly to disco. A lot of original material has also been collected, which I have never seen anywhere except on our dance floor.
Sources? One was spied on by fellow animators, another was found in club magazines, and a lot was invented. The entries had been accumulating for many years before I did - thanks Ridero! – combined them under one cover. Maybe someone will find it useful.
Igor Borisov, author-compiler
DJ
It may be obvious, but you have to get people on the dance floor. A wedding DJ is the best way to do this.
Self-service tables
Self-service tables are a huge wedding trend this year and a great food and drink alternative for your evening reception.
Mini golf
If you're hosting a summer wedding, create a mini golf course for guests of all ages. The perfect setting for a summer wedding, the miniature golf course is accessible to guests of all ages.
Fire show
Add a wow factor to your wedding day and hire firemen to perform at your reception. Guests of all ages will be delighted by their amazing, exciting (and sometimes dangerous!) rooms. By ordering a show, you will be delighted with the effect, and your friends and family will definitely remember the holiday for many years to come.
Surprise dance
Give your guests a shock effect by showing a full-fledged professional dance!
Eat a donut
As if you need any excuse to have all the donuts at your wedding. This entertaining idea is both delicious and fun!
Knit a variety of scented donuts to string the strings and hang them on a tree in the garden of your wedding venue. Then watch as your guests tie their hands behind their backs and use their mouths to get the sweet treat!
Ice cream cart
Everyone loves ice cream, so if you're throwing a retro wedding day, why not hire an ice cream cart?
Give your guests a sweet treat with your own custom ice cream in a variety of flavors and toppings. Or you can provide spoons, cones and sauces so they can create a more portable treat.
Do-it-yourself cocktail bar
A great idea is that guests can make their own cocktails from the ingredients provided. Create a wedding drinks station where guests can make fizzy drinks with fruits and liqueurs or create their own cocktails. Such stations look spectacular and are a highlight at the reception.
Flower master class
Arrange for a flower master class with a florist. Your guests will love creating their own bouquets!
Magician and magician
Let's be honest, who doesn't love magic and magic tricks? Easy to organize and with a lot of punch, magicians are a versatile option for entertaining guests. Don't just have your magician perform during the drinks reception - ask him or her to take a break to entertain your patrons or interact with guests who want a break from dancing in the evening. Expect sleight of hand, cool card tricks and close-up tricks. There are few things more exciting than magic. This is a skill that really gets the mind going and will have your guests determined to figure out the secret behind the tricks!
Dance lesson
Organize a professional dance lesson for your guests. Salsa and Samba lessons are great for a party!
Cartoonist
Give your guests a wonderful keepsake of your wedding by hiring a cartoonist. Everyone will love this unique gift from your couple. Your guests will line up for cartoon cards.
Artist
Another way to capture magic that you can cherish for years to come is to hang it on your wall. Hire an artist to create beautiful, stylish portraits of your loved ones and friends. Everyone will go home with a wonderful gift from you.
Giant chess
Thanks to its size, this game is fun and functional. Zone different open spaces for play.
bouncy castle
Awaken your inner child! Bouncy castles are always a good idea, especially if you're having a summer wedding. They are a lot of fun for kids and adults and make for amazing photos.
Picnics
Embrace the picnic look for a relaxed, rustic wedding and outdoor dining experience. Assemble baskets filled with charcuterie, freshly baked bread, cheese, salads and drinks to serve at a modest feast.
Competition for the best baked goods
A budget-friendly and interactive way to fill your dessert table for less! Guests will enjoy participating in the making of pastries and desserts. Give prizes, medals or awards for the best baked goods.
Jazz band
One of the easiest ways to ensure a dance floor is to choose a genre that people just can't help but dance to. A live band is a surefire way to get your guests on their feet.
Stand-up comedian
Make your guests laugh with the help of a comedian who can provide entertainment during your wedding dinner.
Karaoke
Save this idea for the end of the evening and you're sure to get even more brilliant, fun and enthusiastic results!
Quiz for newlyweds
It's time to check out this wedding entertainment idea! This has to be one of our favorite wedding entertainment ideas. See how well you and your partner know each other. Encourage guests to ask you questions while you hold the board to indicate the answer.
How well do you really know your partner? Ask a series of questions from simple questions like his shoe size and what kind of tea he likes, to more complex topics.
Chocolate fountain
Unleash your sweet tooth!
sparklers
Bengal lights are used for spectacular photographs.
Circus show
For original and out-of-the-box wedding entertainment ideas, consider the circus. You can hire all kinds of performers to put on your own big circus show. Jugglers, acrobats and even aerialists will delight guests - let your imagination run wild.
Unleash your talents
Add an element of surprise to your wedding entertaining ideas. Maybe you are a secret rock goddess? Or has your husband always dreamed of becoming a DJ? Unleash your talents and surprise your guests.
Flashmob
Organize a dance flash mob, preparing it in advance with your friends.
Treasure Hunt
Another fun, nostalgic idea! Leave clues around the area of your venue to keep guests occupied. You might characterize the treasure hunt around local myths, stories from your time together, or even the history of the place.
Dance competition
This is late night fun for all ages!
Cotton candy machine
Your guests will enjoy creating airy sweet clouds.
Wine degustation
You've purchased wines for your wedding, so why not do a tasting and tell us more about each drink?
Temporary tattoo bar
Give guests the opportunity to get a fancy tattoo done with a portable tattoo bar.
Talent show
Do your guests have any hidden talents that could be part of the entertainment? Create a shortlist of speakers and enjoy the talent!
Fireworks
What better way to end a festive evening than with fireworks?
Nothing beats the magical flashing of lights as you celebrate the end of a holiday with your loved ones.
Throwing a bouquet
There are so many wedding traditions these days... Throwing the bouquet is one of the most fun traditions.
Entertaining isn't the only way to delight your guests. Consider giving them wedding gifts. Read more about wedding gift ideas for guests here.
It’s a child’s birthday: we invite an animator
When the place and menu have been thought out, it remains to devote time to the entertainment program. Many parents prefer to hire animators - thematic characters. This solution has many advantages:
- the child will be congratulated by his favorite character;
- children will be supervised, and adults will be able to communicate with each other;
- memories from such a pastime will be remembered for a long time;
- the entertainment program is designed for a certain age category;
- You can conduct an entertainment event outdoors or indoors.
Among the disadvantages is the high cost of such a service. Another drawback lies in the possible low professionalism of the animators. If a person who does not know how to connect with children is invited to a holiday, there is a high probability that the birthday boy and the guests will be bored with such a “mass entertainer”; parents will have to think for themselves how to entertain the guests at the birthday party. To prevent such a situation, we offer several original ideas.
Alternative birthday options
If the event is planned outside the home, there are a lot of ideas for organizing an unforgettable holiday. Let's take a closer look at some of them:
- quest You can organize this entertainment yourself or hire a special team;
- virtual tour. This is a relatively new direction that is only gaining popularity. You can visit a museum or exhibition, sightseeing or other interesting places;
- Master Class. This direction is very popular among different age categories. The most popular are creative master classes such as pottery, painting, and tableware painting. You can organize your friends and go to a dance studio, perform a culinary feat or compete in making cocktails;
- karaoke. It's always noisy and fun. The more guests, the more exciting the evening will be, especially if among those invited there are fans of singing.
To summarize, we note that if you wish, you can come up with many original ideas not only at home, but also outdoors in a restaurant. When planning an event, focus on the interests of the audience. An entertainment program is an important part of the celebration, so think in advance not only about the theme and goals, but also about the budget.
Interesting ideas for home gatherings
Let's start with how to entertain guests at the birthday party table:
- Quiz. Check how well the invitees know you and your life. Come up with questions about interesting events related to your loved ones. For example, your favorite teacher or color of clothing, football team or actor. Thank the winners with symbolic prizes.
- Good old "Crocodile". This is a game that never goes out of style. One person thinks of a word and explains it with gestures, facial expressions, without words. Others guess. The one who guessed takes the place of the leader.
- Impromptu performance. Come up with a funny fairy tale in advance or use one of the well-known ones. Print out the roles for the guests and the script for yourself. When it comes to character, he must stand up and demonstrate his role.
- Board games. There are a huge variety of them – from classic card games to “Mafia”, “Monopoly”, “Imaginarium”, etc.
- Game "Warm and Cold". An object is hidden in the room, and guests are looking for it. The person who makes the wish gives the clues “Warm” or “Cold”.
- Game "Dating". Guests write little-known facts about themselves, then they are collected in one box. The presenter reads and asks you to guess which of those present wrote what.
- Photoshoot. Create original photo zones in your home and invite your guests to take memorable photos.
- "Alphabet of congratulations." Each person invited to the table must come up with an original congratulation in order for all the letters in the alphabet.
Perhaps there will be ideas that will be of interest specifically to your guests. Don't be afraid to experiment. For close relatives, you can hold a session with viewing old photos or make a collage together.
Who to invite to entertain guests
You can complement the festive program with bright showmen. It can be:
- musicians and performers. Celebrities or local group - it depends on the budget;
- artists. An alternative to a photographer who takes photos in real time. A caricaturist, portrait painter or graffiti artist will not only create original sketches of guests, but will also create a special creative atmosphere;
- stellar twins. Perhaps one of your friends knows how to parody famous artists. Invite him to a party or look for a double on the Internet. This will amuse the guests and give a lot of positive emotions;
- acrobats or magician. People of these professions always create a good mood.
Before hiring stars, ask around among your friends to see if anyone wants to showcase their talents at the event. If there are no volunteers, you can start searching for famous personalities.
