23 Fun Ways to Entertain Your Guests (Including the Little Ones)
Advice 11.03.2024
Of course your wedding is about the two of you. But you’ll want all your guests to enjoy your big day too. So here are our favourite ways to keep your nearest and dearest entertained throughout your day and create #thebestweddingever
Live music
Chances are you’ll have a DJ or live band in the evening. But how about during the day when your guests are mingling and enjoying a canape or two? Have a jazz band, string quartet, solo guitarist or even a shanty band to entertain them while they chat.
Old photographs
Having a wall full of old photographs of you as a couple, or pictures of your guests and family members over the years is bound to keep everyone entertained. They’ll be lots of squeals and finger pointing and ‘oooh remember THAT holiday!’
Garden games
A lawn needs lawn games, and these games are guaranteed to keep the smallest guests entertained for half an hour or so while everyone chats. Giant sized Connect Four or Jenga always go down well.
Colouring in
But if you’re looking for something for small guest to do inside, set up colouring station complete with pencils, crayons and lots and lots of paper. Did we mention you needs lots of paper?
Crisp Walls
Crisp walls and crisp tables have become really popular and we’re completely onboard with this trend. And it’s not just kids that love it. We’ve seen plenty of adults sneaking off with a packet of Monster Munch too.
A photobooth
Everyone loves a photobooth because where else will you get the opportunity to don a fake moustache, a silly hat and a pair of comedy glasses? And your wedding guests get a fun memento to take home with them too.
Dressing up
But don’t just limit dressing up to photo booths. Hats, wigs and other fun paraphernalia on the tables are a sure fire way to get everyone into the party spirit.
Tattoos
Ok, so not a real tattoo. Although how cool would that be? There are plenty of places where you can have customary temporary tattoos made that feature your faces, or wedding date or wedding flowers. You can even get glow in the dark ones.
Glitter face paint
A glitter bar is a must if you’re staging a festival-style wedding. Little wedding guest love having their faces painted. But we guarantee the adults will be queuing up get a face full of sparkles too.
Ice cream stand
Having a summer wedding? An ice cream van or stand is an essential. We're seeing more couples skipping dessert and offering up ice cream and wedding cake instead. We've even seen ice cream stands during the cooler months too because who doesn’t love ice cream?
Candy station
If your guests didn’t get enough of a sugar hit with the ice cream, set up a candy station, and let them help themselves to old favourites including penny chews, jelly babies, space ships and rhubarb and custards.
Popcorn bar
Or for those guests who like their snacks a little saltier, have a popcorn bar instead. Hire a popcorn machine for the day plus a scoop and a ton of cartons and let guests of all ages tuck in.
Food truck
To give your guests a boost of energy and keep them dancing all night, get the food trucks in during the evening reception and let everyone get stuck into pizza, tacos, hot dogs or the perennial favourite – fish and chips.
Tikki bar
For a taste of Polynesia, set up a tiki bar and serve up specially crafted cocktails including banana daquiris, mai tais, Singapore slings or pina coladas. Guaranteed to get the party started and perfect for a summer or festival style wedding.
Champagne wall
Or opt for a Champagne wall instead. Filled with glasses of crisp, cold bubbly, Champagne walls are always fun and the perfect way to ensure everyone can easily get a drink on arrival. It’s also a great photo op too.
Casino
Bring some high stakes Las Vegas glamour to the proceedings with a casino set up and let your guess enjoy the thrill of black Jack, poker or roulette. You can decide whether to play for pennies or just for the fun of it.
Live artist
Having a live artist at your wedding is big trend for 2024. Have a painter capture all the excitement of the ceremony as it happens. Or have an illustrator on hand throughout the reception to make drawings of your guests. These are great keepsakes too.
Quizzes
Having a quiz sometime between the speeches and the cake cutting is always a fun way to test your guests’ knowledge about you and your partner’s relationship. Award prizes for the winners.
Crosswords
Or see who knows you the best with a giant sized crossword that your guests can fill out throughout the reception.
Lottery ticket
If you don’t want to do wedding favours, put a lottery ticket or a scratch card at each place setting instead. Imagine if one of your guests won a whole load of cash? They might even contribute to the wedding.
Bucking bronco
Yee-haw. A bucking bronco is guaranteed to be the talking point of the whole wedding. May not be suitable for your gran, but everyone else will think it’s a hoot.
Bouncy castle
Or for something 'slightly' gentler, opt for a bouncy castle instead. Perfect for little kids and grown-ups alike, trust us when we say everyone will want to have a go. And a bouncy castle provides a fun photo op too.
Fireworks and sparklers
And finally. End the day with a bang and entertain your guests with a fantastic firework display and whole load of sparklers.