Entertainment options at weddings have come a long way over the years and are often the deciding factor for guests. Aside from keeping your guests entertained for the duration of the reception, quality entertainment can also serve as a great icebreaker. There will likely be people at your party who don't know each other, so planning some exciting activities will help get people mingling. So how do you ensure that everyone in your group will enjoy the show without having to compromise on quality?
Weddings are wonderful celebrations, but the days leading up to them can be exhausting. It's important to keep in mind that your guests will have a lot of free time during the course of a 10-hour wedding.
On the other hand, this doesn't have to be the case. Your wedding, with some preparation, can be the talk of the town. The key is to give visitors plenty to look at, listen to, and interact with while they're there.
The ones that stand out in my mind are the ones where guests are provided with entertainment or activities. Relaxation throughout the day is always welcome, but if you put these ideas into practise, your guests will be eternally grateful.
Wedding preparations can seem like a full-time job in and of themselves. You want to throw a party that your guests will never forget, but you also want to show off who you are as a couple and the happiness that comes from being in love. This is why fun and games are so essential! Looking for the best Wedding Entertainment to put the rhythm into your special day. Look no further, Vines of the Yarra Valley has you covered.
People will remember your wedding for a long time if you have memorable entertainment. Here are the top picks for wedding entertainment of the year, whether you're looking for a more traditional wedding band or something completely off the wall.
Table of Contents
Top Wedding Entertainment Ideas of the Year
Balloon Darts
Upgrade your standard dartboard with a homemade paint balloon version. The game is cheap, easy to set up, and loads of fun for everyone involved. Nail colourful balloons stuffed with different paints to your board, ideally in colours that correspond to your wedding's theme. The end result of this activity can be viewed as either a beautiful, whimsical splatter or a daring piece of modern art.
Bands
Wedding bands are a standard because reception dances are enjoyed by all. Pick a group that plays the music you love and is versatile enough to play everything from old standards to current hits.
Beer Pong
You may be familiar with the name "beer pong,” but have you ever actually witnessed a game of beer pong being played at a wedding? It's a great icebreaker and leads to some belly laughs among complete strangers. Get some exercise and have some fun if a ping pong table is available at your wedding venue. An excellent way to pass the time!
Bonfire
It is not possible to hold a wedding at any time that includes a bonfire, but if you can, that would be fantastic! The perfect ending to an action-packed day is a gathering of friends and family around the fire. It's a good idea because fire is magical.
Bouncy Castle
Having a bouncy castle outside to keep the kids entertained is a great idea if there will be any young guests at your wedding. Pretty soon, you'll notice that not only do kids but also adults enjoy it immensely. Yet another option for the reception's entertainment.
Check out some of Melbourne’s best Wedding Singers to help you celebrate on your special day.
Caricaturist
Caricatures are a great memento because they allow the subject to see themselves as others do.
You should hire a caricaturist to entertain guests for a few hours at the wedding reception. It also gives your guests a unique memento of your wedding day that they can take home with them right away.
Casino tables
Ready to take a chance on luck? Put together a casino night for your reception and fill the prise envelopes with amusing items.
Champagne skirts
At your reception, a hostess dressed in a custom champagne skirt will circulate and fill everyone's glasses.
Children’s performer
If you're inviting kids to your reception, it's a good idea to have something fun set up for them to do. While the grownups have a good time at the party, the kids can enjoy a children's performer.
Cigar bar
Put a little old-school elegance into your reception by setting up an Instagram-worthy cigar bar. The bar should have a wide selection of ingredients so that each guest can create a personalised drink. If you want to impress your friends and family even more, hire a bartender who is knowledgeable about cigars and can recommend drinks to complement their smoke.
Colouring booth
Do something bold and colourful by incorporating the revival of colouring books into your nuptials. Different challenges at different levels will test the creativity of kids and adults alike and provide hours of fun. You can give out wedding colouring books that have already been made, or you can make your own and draw inspiration from pictures you've taken together.
Dance-Off Competition
Nobody can say they wouldn't enjoy watching a dance-off competition.
Dance-off competitions between male and female guests, as well as between groomsmen and bridesmaids, are a fun addition to a wedding reception featuring a live band. Witnessing this at a wedding, were some seriously impressive moves on display.
We were even expected to determine the victor. It got the party started and had everyone in stitches. The best part is that this concept won't set you back a dime!
Flash Mob
Have you ever watched a YouTube video of a flash mob and wished you could have participated? The spontaneous appearance of dance routines featuring the same moves is thrilling to observe.
Can you picture a flash mob performing at the wedding to surprise the bride and groom? Alternately, you could involve them as well as the rest of the wedding guests in a pleasant surprise! Some fantastic responses are guaranteed, I'm sure of it. The expression on the bride's face when she realised she was about to live out a childhood dream was priceless.
Fireworks
Fireworks are fun for everyone. The location and time of year of your wedding both play a role in determining whether or not fireworks are a good idea. People have a great time responding to it, and some beautiful pictures come out of it. It's not cheap, but if this is something you've always wanted to do, go for it! In this one instance, you have complete freedom to do as you please. We can also assist you with the planning of a wedding cocktail hour if you wish to host one prior to the reception proper.
Choosing the right entertainment or activity that fits with your wedding's theme and atmosphere can be challenging. If you simply can't choose just one, select several that are affordable and suitable for the specific setting you have available. Make sure the entertainment, in whatever form it takes, is something that your guests will remember fondly for a long time to come.
Foosball
Table football, also known as foosball, is a fun game for everyone at the wedding and is especially appealing to your more competitive guests. Arrange three or four tables in a row at the reception, and get the party started with a bride-versus-groom grudge match. Then, open up the competition to your guests, either for fun or with a grand prise at the end of the night.
Glitter bars
Get a glitter artist to sprinkle enough glitter on your guests to make them look like they're on their way to a music festival.
Glow Sticks
It's great when couples get creative with the activities at their reception, and sticks are a blast to use. Makes for fantastic photo ops and lively entertainment at the evening reception.
Heads or Tail/Answers Fun Questions
We also enjoyed the heads or tails game that was played at many a wedding reception. Get the tables to take turns flipping a coin under the watchful eye of an organiser. A reward is awarded to the person who survives the longest. Since many of the guests will be meeting for the first time, a simple and inexpensive way to keep them entertained and interacting is to give each other small gifts, such as champagne or a box of chocolates.
Hire a Magician
Getting a magician in is a must. A necklace being stolen in front of so many amused and delighted onlookers is an experience that can only compare to a comedy routine. It's a fantastic plan, and we know just the guy you'll want to hire for your wedding reception's entertainment! What a fantastic guy!
If you need a magician for your big day, we know a great one! Try out Matthew Le Mottee, an incredible magician whose tricks we witnessed firsthand and still can't explain.
Ice Cream Truck
Is a Summer nuptial in your future? Would you say that ice cream is one of your favourite treats? Any sane person would immediately accept this, of course. Then, having an ice cream truck on hand is a good idea.
Magicians
An unexpected and exciting option is hiring a magician to entertain your guests while they eat, drink, and dance. The right magician can adapt their show and props to fit in with your wedding's aesthetic.
Make Your Wedding Cake
The chef bringing out the wedding cake components for the guests to assemble was also a novel and entertaining twist on the traditional wedding cake.
Of course, there were gloves involved, but it didn't take long for some of the guests to revert to childlike behaviour as they played with fruits and cream to construct a cake that looked too good to eat, all the while snapping photos and sharing them on social media. Amazing idea to get people talking about your wedding or reception location! Another one of my favourite ways to keep the guests entertained at the wedding reception!
Marshmallow by the Fire
Everyone, of any age, appreciates a sweet treat by the fire, regardless of the scale of the event. Having a fire outside when it's warm is a great idea for any wedding, but especially one in the summer or fall.
Invite more people to show their affection at your reception. Start up the campfire and have some treats ready to tempt your guests of all ages. Making s'mores over a fire is a great way to unwind at a wedding reception, especially for a late fall or winter wedding.
Photobooth
There's a good reason why photo booths are always a hit at formal events like weddings and parties. They give your guests a reason to let loose and a memento to remember the occasion by.
Pizza Van
Having a pizza truck at your wedding might not be a game or an entertainer, but it's sure to make everyone happy and even serve as a unifying factor!
Pizza should be served from a mobile kitchen at every wedding, in my opinion.
Props For Your Guests
Your guests share a common goal: they want to have a good time.
Whether you're planning on taking some silly photos with the wedding party or having them dress up in elaborate costumes for the dance floor, having a bunch of masks and other props on hand is a guaranteed good time and will result in some fantastic keepsakes.
ideas for wedding party entertainment using wedding masks and other props party favours for the newlyweds to use on the dance floor
Role Play
What a fantastic concept! Do you come from an artistic family? If so, or if you know any talented "actors," have them put on a play for your guests! The story can be a slightly exaggerated account of the couple's typical day together, the tale of how they first met, or anything else the couple finds amusing. Everybody will be crying with laughter at that. Such a game is perfect for breaking the ice at a cocktail and canapés hour.
Sax players
Who doesn't want to let out some "Careless Whispers" every once in a while? A saxophonist is a great way to incorporate jazz into your special day.
Scavenger hunt
Create a digital scavenger hunt at your wedding reception by listing 10-20 photos that guests should take with their phones. To keep everyone updated on the festivities, suggest that guests take photos of their favourite centrepieces or "new friends selfies" with people they don't know. In order to avoid having guests snap photos during the ceremony, you should restrict this activity to the reception.
Selfie Stick On Dinner Tables
Will there be a large number of young guests at your wedding? Then have a selfie stick at each place setting and designate a hashtag for your wedding so guests can tag you in their social media posts. In this way, guests at the wedding can enjoy a wide variety of amusing and silly poses.
Slideshow Sing-Along
Singing along to slideshows is another one of my favourite concepts. This is a great plan for the groom, as it is the last time he will have to face his future wife and her family and be embarrassed by his college years.
Involve the people closest to the groom in creating a slideshow of embarrassing or humorous photos from his youth, and have them write a poem or song to go along with it. It has endless potential and always delights an audience.
Check out our post on What are the wedding DJ packages and specials?
FAQs About Wedding Entertainment
- Create Photo Ops. While you're having pictures taken, create opportunities for your guests to take a few photos of their own.
- Let Them Play Games.
- Interactive Guest Books.
- Interactive Drink Stations.
- Don't Forget the Little Ones.
- The Shoe Game. This is one of our favourite games to play at wedding receptions!
- Wheel of Fun.
- Word Search.
- Poker Station.
- Dart Art Station.
- Themed Photo Booth.
- Create a Custom Snapchat Geofilter for Your Reception.
- Board Game Station.
Background. Today the term "elopement" is colloquially used for any marriage performed in haste, with a limited public engagement period or without a public engagement period. Some couples elope because they wish to avoid parental or religious objections.
- Hire food stations.
- Encourage some friendly competition.
- Think beyond a photo booth.
- Consider your venue.
- Mix it up!
- Encourage some DIY.
- Go all out with the favours.
- Start conversations.
Wedding photos can be a great time to let your guests mingle while enjoying some drinks and appetizers. Some ways to do this effectively could be with a cocktail hour, a food truck on location, or a delicious buffet. Music is another way for guests to enjoy the break during your photography time.
Conclusion
The wedding entertainment industry has come a long way since the days of the jukebox. The right kind of entertainment can also help your guests feel more comfortable around one another. We've compiled our favourite wedding entertainment ideas of the year, such as paint balloon dartboarding and decorating a cake to match the wedding theme. It's considerate to have a special activity planned for children who will be attending your wedding reception. Spend a little extra on a caricaturist to keep the guests amused at the wedding reception.
Have a casino night and put funny things in the prise envelopes. As for the entertainment, it could be anything from a dance-off competition to a flash mob to fireworks. The entertainment your guests enjoy should be of the highest quality and leave a lasting impression. It can be difficult to find wedding entertainment that fits with the style and mood you want to create. Under the supervision of an official, have each table take turns flipping a coin.
Alternatively, you could hire a magician to keep your guests entertained between courses and during the after-party. One of my favourite reception activities is cutting the cake. For any wedding, but especially one in the summer or fall, having a fire outside when it's warm is a fantastic idea. Relaxing by making s'mores over a fire at a wedding reception is a fantastic idea. Hiring a saxophonist for your wedding is an excellent way to add some swing to the proceedings.
As an added activity, guests can snap some "new friends selfies" or pictures of themselves with their favourite table decorations. Choices in wedding reception entertainment are frequently the deciding factor for invitees. The right kind of entertainment can also help your guests feel more comfortable around one another. Use the groom's closest friends and family to compile a slideshow of awkward or funny photos from his youth, and commision them to write a poem or song about it. Paintball is a tonne of fun for a small investment of time and money.
Get a wedding caricaturist to keep your guests laughing for hours. Put together a bounce house or casino night for the kids to enjoy while you relax outside. Bonfires are the perfect way to unwind after an eventful day. Employ a bartender well-versed in cigars so that visitors can mix their own drinks to complement their smokes. Have the attendants at the wedding, both the bridesmaids and the groomsmen, participate in a surprise flash mob for the happy couple.
Having a magician perform at a wedding reception is a fantastic idea for keeping guests entertained. Guests will also have a great time with photo booths and pizza trucks. Treat your guests to s'mores cooked over an open fire and other tasty treats.
Content Summary
- Aside from keeping your guests entertained for the duration of the reception, quality entertainment can also serve as a great icebreaker.
- People will remember your wedding for a long time if you have memorable entertainment.
- Get some exercise and have some fun if a ping pong table is available at your wedding venue.
- Having a bouncy castle outside to keep the kids entertained is a great idea if there will be any young guests at your wedding.
- You should hire a caricaturist to entertain guests for a few hours at the wedding reception.
- Do something bold and colourful by incorporating the revival of colouring books into your nuptials.
- Nobody can say they wouldn't enjoy watching a dance-off competition.
- Can you picture a flash mob performing at the wedding to surprise the bride and groom?
- Getting a magician in is a must.
- Having an ice cream truck on hand is a good idea.
- Having a pizza truck at your wedding might not be a game or an entertainer, but it's sure to make everyone happy and even serve as a unifying factor!
- Pizza should be served from a mobile kitchen at every wedding, in my opinion.
- Your guests share a common goal: they want to have a good time.
- Aside from keeping your guests entertained for the duration of the reception, quality entertainment can also serve as a great icebreaker.
- Your wedding, with some preparation, can be the talk of the town.
- People will remember your wedding for a long time if you have memorable entertainment.
- Upgrade your standard dartboard with a homemade paint balloon version.
- Get some exercise and have some fun if a ping pong table is available at your wedding venue.
- Put a little old-school elegance into your reception by setting up an Instagram-worthy cigar bar.
- Can you picture a flash mob performing at the wedding to surprise the bride and groom?
- Choosing the right entertainment or activity that fits with your wedding's theme and atmosphere can be challenging.
- An unexpected and exciting option is hiring a magician to entertain your guests while they eat, drink, and dance.
- Create a digital scavenger hunt at your wedding reception by listing 10-20 photos that guests should take with their phones.
- Singing along to slideshows is another one of my favourite concepts.
