Weddings are joyous occasions filled with love, laughter, and celebration. But beyond the ceremony itself, one of the key elements that can make a wedding truly memorable is how you entertain your guests. Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand affair, ensuring your guests are entertained throughout the day is crucial. This guide, tailored to those planning weddings in the UK, offers a range of ideas to keep your guests engaged, from traditional activities to modern, interactive games.
The Importance of Guest Entertainment
Weddings bring together people from all walks of life, often mixing different generations, backgrounds, and interests. Keeping everyone entertained can sometimes be a challenge, but it’s essential for the overall success of the day. Entertainment helps to break the ice among guests who may not know each other, creates lasting memories, and adds a unique personal touch to your celebration.
Moreover, providing entertainment beyond the traditional reception ensures that your guests remain engaged throughout the event, particularly during transition periods like after the wedding ceremony or while the couple takes photographs. By planning a range of activities, you can cater to diverse tastes, ensuring everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, has a fantastic time.
Classic Wedding Entertainment: Music and Dancing
No wedding is complete without music. From the first dance to the late-night party, music sets the tone and atmosphere of your celebration. A live band or DJ is a traditional choice, offering a broad spectrum of genres to suit your personal taste and the preferences of your guests. Opting for a live band adds a dynamic energy to the evening, with many bands offering versatile performances that can range from soulful ballads during dinner to upbeat hits that fill the dance floor later in the night.
In addition to live music, consider adding a twist with a themed dance party. Swing, jazz, or even a silent disco can be a fun way to get everyone on their feet. A silent disco, in particular, is gaining popularity in the UK. It allows guests to choose their music channel, dancing to different beats while enjoying a shared experience. It’s an excellent option for venues with noise restrictions or for creating a unique and memorable atmosphere.
Interactive Wedding Games: Bringing Fun to the Forefront
One of the most effective ways to keep your guests entertained is through interactive games. These not only provide amusement but also encourage socialising among guests. In recent years, hiring interactive games has become increasingly popular at UK weddings. These games range from giant board games to pub favourites, offering something for everyone.
Giant board games are a fantastic addition to any wedding, providing a nostalgic throwback to childhood while engaging guests in a bit of friendly competition. Games like giant Jenga, Connect Four, and Snakes and Ladders are visually impressive and easy to play, making them perfect for guests of all ages. Set up these games in a designated area, perhaps on the lawn if you’re having an outdoor wedding, and watch as your guests gather to compete and cheer each other on.
For something a bit more competitive, consider incorporating pub games into your wedding entertainment. Air hockey tables, foosball, and even traditional pub games like darts or skittles can be hired for the day. These games are particularly popular among guests who might prefer a break from dancing or those who enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry. Plus, they provide a great conversation starter for guests who may not know each other well.
Pinball machines offer another retro-inspired option. These colourful, noisy machines are bound to attract attention and provide hours of entertainment. They’re perfect for adding a quirky touch to your wedding and can be a great way to entertain guests who enjoy something a bit different.
Themed Entertainment: Adding a Personal Touch
Themed entertainment can take your wedding to the next level, creating an immersive experience that reflects your personality and style as a couple. Whether you’re planning a vintage-inspired event, a festival-style wedding, or something entirely unique, themed entertainment can tie the whole day together.
For a vintage wedding, consider hiring a jazz band, setting up a vintage photo booth, or arranging for a classic car to transport guests between venues. You could also incorporate period-specific games or activities, like a 1920s-inspired casino or a tea party with lawn games such as croquet.
If you’re opting for a festival-style wedding, consider setting up a variety of entertainment stations. These could include live music stages, craft beer or cocktail bars, and food trucks. Interactive games fit perfectly into this theme, with the addition of activities like tug-of-war, sack races, or even a mechanical bull to keep guests entertained. The relaxed atmosphere of a festival wedding lends itself well to a mix of activities that guests can enjoy at their own pace.
For couples who love the thrill of the arcade, an arcade-themed wedding could be a perfect fit. This could involve setting up classic arcade games, pinball machines, and maybe even a few modern virtual reality games. It’s a fun and light-hearted way to entertain your guests, and the nostalgia factor will appeal to guests of all ages.
Photo Booths: A Modern Must-Have
Photo booths have become a staple of modern weddings, and it’s easy to see why. They offer a fun way for guests to create their own mementoes of the day and provide endless entertainment. With the option to customise props and backdrops, photo booths can be tailored to fit the theme of your wedding, whether that’s rustic, glamorous, or quirky.
In addition to traditional photo booths, consider setting up a slow-motion video booth or a GIF booth. These modern twists on the classic photo booth provide an interactive element and result in unique, shareable content that guests will love. Another popular option is a 360-degree photo booth, which captures your guests from every angle, creating dynamic, eye-catching images.
For an extra personal touch, consider hiring a photo booth company that offers instant printing and a guestbook option. Guests can stick their photos into a book alongside a message for the happy couple, creating a wonderful keepsake that you can treasure for years to come.
Food and Drink: A Culinary Experience
While food and drink are essentials at any wedding, they can also serve as a form of entertainment. Consider transforming your catering into an interactive experience, allowing guests to engage with their meals in a new and exciting way.
One popular trend is the introduction of live cooking stations. These can range from a traditional carvery to sushi rolling stations, where chefs prepare food in front of your guests. This not only provides fresh, delicious food but also adds a level of entertainment as guests watch their meals being prepared. Another option is to set up a build-your-own food station, such as a taco bar, pizza station, or ice cream sundae bar, where guests can customise their dishes to their liking.
In addition to food, drinks can also be part of the entertainment. A cocktail bar with a professional mixologist can be a real crowd-pleaser. Guests can watch as their drinks are expertly crafted, or even take part in a cocktail-making masterclass. For a more relaxed vibe, consider a self-serve beer or prosecco wall, where guests can pour their own drinks, or a gin bar featuring a selection of craft gins and mixers.
Outdoor Entertainment: Making the Most of the Venue
If you’re planning a wedding during the warmer months or have access to a beautiful outdoor space, taking your entertainment outdoors can be a wonderful way to enhance the day. Outdoor entertainment allows you to make the most of your venue and provides guests with the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air while engaging in fun activities.
Lawn games are a popular choice for outdoor weddings, offering a relaxed and informal form of entertainment. In addition to the giant board games mentioned earlier, consider adding games like croquet, pétanque, or quoits. These traditional games are easy to set up and can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.
For a more whimsical touch, consider hiring a carousel, a Ferris wheel, or a set of vintage fairground games. These can create a magical atmosphere, particularly in the evening when they’re lit up, and provide a fantastic backdrop for photos.
If your venue has ample outdoor space, you might also consider organising an outdoor cinema. This could be set up with blankets and cushions on the lawn, offering a relaxed and cosy environment for guests to unwind and enjoy a film. It’s a particularly good option for the end of the evening, providing a quiet space for guests who prefer a break from dancing.
Children’s Entertainment: Keeping the Little Ones Happy
While weddings are often thought of as adult events, it’s important to consider the younger guests as well. Keeping children entertained ensures that their parents can relax and enjoy the day too. There are plenty of options to keep children engaged, from dedicated play areas to organised activities.
Hiring a children’s entertainer, such as a magician, clown, or face painter, can be a great way to keep the little ones happy. These professionals can tailor their performances to suit the age range of the children attending, ensuring they’re entertained throughout the day. Another option is to set up a craft station, where children can get creative with arts and crafts, making their own wedding-themed creations to take home.
If your venue has outdoor space, consider setting up a small bouncy castle or inflatable obstacle course. These are sure to be a hit with younger guests and can keep them occupied for hours. Additionally, providing a selection of outdoor toys, such as bubbles, hula hoops, and skipping ropes, can add to the fun.
For an extra special touch, consider hiring a children’s tent or tipi, filled with cushions, blankets, and toys. This can serve as a cosy retreat for younger guests, offering a quiet space for them to rest or play during the day.
The Role of Technology in Wedding Entertainment
In the digital age, technology can play a significant role in enhancing wedding entertainment. From live streaming the ceremony to interactive apps that engage guests, there are numerous ways to incorporate technology into your big day.
One popular trend is the use of wedding apps that allow guests to share photos, messages, and updates throughout the day. These apps can be customised with your wedding details and provide a platform for guests to connect and engage with each other. They can also serve as a digital guestbook, allowing guests to leave messages and photos that you can look back on after the wedding.
Another tech-savvy option is to incorporate a live social media feed into your wedding. This can be done by setting up a large screen that displays photos and posts tagged with your wedding hashtag. It’s a fun way to capture the day from your guests’ perspective and adds an interactive element to the reception.
For a truly immersive experience, consider hiring virtual reality (VR) equipment. VR can be used in various ways, from providing guests with a virtual tour of your love story to offering a selection of VR games and experiences. It’s a unique and modern way to entertain guests, particularly those who enjoy the latest technology.
Personalised Entertainment: Making It Uniquely Yours
One of the best ways to ensure your guests are entertained is to personalise the experience. This could involve incorporating your hobbies, interests, or shared experiences as a couple into the entertainment.
If you’re a couple who loves travel, consider setting up a travel-themed area where guests can explore different “destinations” through food, drink, and activities. This could include a wine-tasting station featuring wines from your favourite countries or a photo booth with props and backdrops from places you’ve visited together.
For music lovers, consider creating a personalised playlist or even inviting guests to contribute song requests ahead of time. This can ensure that the music reflects your tastes and keeps everyone dancing throughout the night. Alternatively, if you’re both fans of a particular sport, you could incorporate elements of that into the entertainment, such as a football penalty shootout or a mini-golf course.
If you and your partner have a particular skill or talent, consider sharing it with your guests. This could be a musical performance, a dance routine, or even a cooking demonstration. It’s a personal touch that adds an element of surprise and delight for your guests.
Crafting the Perfect Entertainment Experience
Entertaining your wedding guests is about more than just filling time; it’s about creating an experience that reflects your personality as a couple and leaves a lasting impression on your guests. Whether you opt for classic entertainment like music and dancing, modern interactive games, or something entirely unique, the key is to consider your guests’ preferences and interests while staying true to your vision for the day.
By offering a variety of entertainment options, from giant board games and pub favourites to themed experiences and personalised touches, you can ensure that your wedding is not only memorable but also incredibly fun for everyone involved. After all, a well-entertained guest is a happy guest, and a happy guest makes for an unforgettable wedding celebration. Find out more about the fantastic range of wedding games we have at Viva Vegas by contacting our team!!
