Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. In the months leading up to it, you and your spouse-to-be have a lot to prepare: choosing your wedding rings, finding a beautiful venue, and writing your vows (to name just a few major items on your to-do list).

But finding the right entertainment for your guests is one area you should never overlook. Friends and family are giving up a whole day, and possibly travelling far, to celebrate your wedding with you. In return, you should help make the occasion enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons.

How do you do that? Here are 15 ideas to inspire you.

 

Run a Quick and Simple Pub Quiz

 

 

A pub quiz is a fantastic way to entertain wedding guests for a little while. Questions could cover:

•  The happy couple’s shared history

•  Their favourite movies and TV shows

•  General knowledge

•  Sports

Choose the categories carefully to make sure all guests have a decent chance of answering correctly, otherwise they could grow tired of the quiz sooner than you expect. You can either host a pub quiz as a couple or leave it to the best man/chief bridesmaid instead.

 

Place Question Cards and Jokes on Tables

 

Following on from the pub quiz idea, another way to entertain wedding guests is to place trivia or joke cards on tables. This may be before the wedding breakfast to help break the ice between couples and groups who are meeting for the first time.

 

Hire a Magician

 

 

Who doesn’t love a little close-up magic from time to time? Bringing a magician along for your wedding day, even just for an hour, can wow guests of all ages.

Your magician might circulate at different points during the day, such as:

•  Before the ceremony

•  While you and your partner have your photographs taken

•  Between the wedding breakfast and evening celebration

As with everything related to your wedding, do your research and check reviews before hiring a magician.

 

Install a Photo Booth with Unexpected Props

 

 

Photo booths are popular at weddings, but many times they include similar props — oversized cardboard mustaches, top hats, etc. Why not make your photo booth more distinctive by using creative props?

Here are a few ideas:

•  Inflatable weapons to stage mock fights (e.g. baseball bats, axes)

•  Giant inflatable wedding rings

•  Superhero costumes (must be easy to pull on and off)

•  Outfits and accessories from different eras (e.g. medieval knights, astronauts)

•  Props inspired by your favorite movies (e.g. inflatable proton packs and toy ghosts if you love Ghostbusters)

Whatever props you choose, try to give your wedding guests something a little different to the others they’ve probably seen at previous events.

 

Set Up a Scavenger Hunt on the Venue Grounds

 

A scavenger hunt is a terrific idea for entertaining wedding guests of all ages. You could scatter a variety of items around the venue grounds, including:

•  Chocolates

•  Toy wedding rings

•  Goodie bags

•  Mystery boxes (e.g. filled with candies and novelty gifts)

Scavenger hunts can keep guests amused between the ceremony and wedding breakfast. However, choose where you place items carefully: the hunt should be a little challenging but still fun. Don’t make it too physically exerting or put people in a position where they could damage their clothing.

 

Bring in Fire Performers to Put on a Hot Show

 

 

Fire performers are one of the more outlandish ways to entertain wedding guests, but they can put on an amazing show. Whether they breathe fire, twirl burning batons, or perform wild acrobatic feats, these entertainers will help stop your guests from feeling bored.

However, you’ll need to clear this with your venue and wedding planner. There are serious health and safety implications to discuss, so keep that in mind before you try booking a local act.

 

Set up a Casino (for Fun Only)

 

Laying out a few casino games is a great way to entertain wedding guests while they wait for the ceremony, buffet, or ride home.

But make sure it’s for fun only — use casino chips instead of cash. You don’t know if certain guests might have a background with gambling, or if the prospect of betting money makes others uncomfortable.

 

Offer a Range of Board and Party Games

 

 

If there’s a lull in the afternoon, such as while you’re away with the photographer or videographer, provide board and party games to let guests entertain themselves.

Aim for something small, quick, and convenient — nothing that could keep guests hooked all day or create uncomfortable competitiveness between people who’ve only known one another for a few hours.

 

Provide Simple Sports Activities to Keep Your Wedding Guests Entertained

 

Even your guests who dislike sports might be persuaded to take part in a few simple activities during the day. Playing together in teams can help guests bond and reduce the risk of boredom setting in between key moments.

Here are a few ideas to consider:

•  Softball

•  Cricket

•  Volleyball

•  Badminton

•  Mini golf

Choose carefully, though — you don’t want guests to feel sweaty and uncomfortable for the rest of your wedding. Make sure your wedding rings are on tight before you join in!

 

Bring a Fortune Teller Along

 

 

Fortune tellers are one of the most unusual ideas for entertaining wedding guests, but they can be a lot of fun. But discuss suitable areas of conversation beforehand to avoid issues on the day.

For instance, you don’t want a fortune teller to inform guests that they foresee an untimely death or reveal personal aspects of their private life.

Many companies provide fortune tellers for events, so browse local services carefully and talk to your chosen professional to make sure they’re a good fit.

 

Invite an Artist to Sketch or Paint Pictures of Guests

 

Hire an artist to capture the joy of your wedding day in one or more mediums. They could create quick pencil sketches of your guests or craft more intricate paintings, depending on how they prefer to work.

Caricaturists are a fun option for wedding entertainment: they usually draw quickly and produce lighthearted pictures that guests will cherish for years to come.

But be careful with caricatures. People will go to a lot of effort to look and feel good for your wedding. If a caricaturist unwittingly draws attention to aspects of their appearance that they feel self-conscious about, that could affect their mindset for the rest of the day. Ensure that it’s all good, clean fun.

 

Use a Karaoke System to Break the Ice

 

 

What better way to entertain guests and bring a group of strangers together than karaoke?

Hiring a karaoke system or booth will give guests an opportunity to have fun and take an active role in the day’s entertainment. They might have a go-to track they always sing when someone puts a microphone in their hand, or they could be a total newcomer.

Make sure that guests pass the microphone around: if one person performs song after song, that could make karaoke more of a hindrance than a help. You might want to allocate time for karaoke during the evening only, or allow a few songs here and there throughout the day.

 

Encourage Guests to Write Absurd Stories About the Happy Couple

 

Place index cards or notebooks on tables and invite guests to get creative. One idea is to write the most absurd stories about you that they can come up with (such as how you got your wedding rings or your first date as a couple). Guests might do this solo, in pairs, or even in groups.

They may be clean and family-friendly stories, or slightly darker tales — whatever works, give it a try. You could even award prizes for the most bizarre and imaginate stories.

 

Try Cocktail Making to Help Guests Craft Custom Drinks

 

 

Hiring a mixologist to host a cocktail-making session is a fun way to amuse wedding guests. They can teach people a new and exciting skill, whatever they create.

The beauty of learning how to craft cocktails is that guests can enjoy drinking their concoction — a nice reward for trying an activity for the first time.

 

Screen Your Favorite Movies or TV Shows

 

If your venue allows it, you could screen your favorite films and TV shows throughout the day to entertain your wedding guests. Make sure they’re appropriate, though, and help put people in a good mood. Even if guests don’t focus on it fully, a little background entertainment can help establish a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

 

Conclusion

 

 

Entertaining your wedding guests is crucial to make sure your big day is special for everyone. These 15 ideas illustrate the freedom and flexibility you have, whether you want to amuse guests with a friendly pub quiz or bring in a group of performers to put on a dazzling show.

But alongside planning your entertainment, choosing wedding rings or bands is another crucial step in preparing for your nuptials. Madani Rings offers a diverse collection of elegant, modern rings for different tastes. Browse our selection today and get inspired.