How do I Keep My Wedding Guests Entertained?

wedding activities for guests

You may ask, "how do I keep my wedding guests entertained?" People do crazy things when planning their wedding, and it's quite easy to forget to keep your guests entertained. Thus, finding something or someone to keep the guests entertained as you go round talking to the visitors and taking the wedding photos is essential as it livens the party.

Wedding activities are exhaustive even though you'll have all sorts of fun and emotions. While the wedding day is meant for you, remember that the guests are a special part of this momentous day. Don't let the event excitement make you forget to entertain your guest: entertainment needs to top the list of your key priorities.

You need to make prior plans, and if you do it early enough, you may identify some simple and fun ways to keep your wedding guests entertained. Remember, you'll not keep your guest's company throughout the day. The guests will have to spend time waiting before dinner, and you and your partner will be moving between the wedding venue; thus, your guests will get bored at some point.

How do you keep party guests entertained? This list of funny and unique ways of keeping your guests entertained during your wedding party is essential. Try a few wedding songs, hat tricks, and stock of games to kill the guests' boredom any time you're not with them. You want to cherish those great moments, and your guests also want to remember the day.

1. Hire Funny Audience Entertainers

fun wedding activities
Unique things to do at a wedding reception

Magicians are great at entertaining audiences. Many people think that after the guests have sat at their tables, they're okay without fun. Yes, foods and drinks may keep them busy throughout the night, and they're great wedding activities for guests, but it will be livelier with an entertainer.

Hire a magician, fortune teller, or palm reader. A celebrity impersonator, caricature drawer, or live painters are also great for the task, or you can also hire singing waiters based on how many songs you need. Such entertainers will also make the drinks reception livelier.

2. Photo Walls and Booths

The fame of the good ancient photo booth still exists, and it's not ending soon. The wedding day coordinator can step it up with fun notches matched with personalized props to narrate your life story with your partner. Old hats, clothing items, and narrative backdrops are great opportunities for this. You can also create a photo wall where visitors can take fun photos.

Consider a live flower wall with a balloon cover. A Polaroid camera for instant printouts where guests can craft a little text and put in your guest book is also an excellent option. What about setting a video area where guests can make mini-videos? Remember to create an Instagram hashtag for this day.

3. Make it Live with Drinks.

Wines and champagne receptions accompanied by open bars of beers and G&Ts are predictable and may bore your guests. Impress them with a professional mixologist to conjure up unique cocktails. A "Pimp Your Prosecco" or drinks trolley can also liven the event. Cotton candy, edible flowers, and fresh fruits will also work great. Remember to add a carnival element by giving out drink tokens.

4. DIY Foods

Guests like modern foods, and to some, they may come as entertainment. They also create a base for them to interact. Street food stations simplify the guests' navigating dietary needs. Could you also try tacos or hot stone where guests can cook their meat?

This is one of the unique things to do at a wedding reception. Snack tables piled high with sugary and savory treats such as cheese, doughnuts, and waffles can make the day memorable.

5. Contract Stage Performers

You may be faced with this critical question: "how do I keep my wedding guests entertained?" Note that not everyone likes constant interactive activities. Some would like to sit and eat, drink, and talk passively as they enjoy performances on the stage.

Stage performers such as comedians create a nice wedding mood. What about hiring an acoustic singer to sing a romantic song? Splashing the stage with acrobatic performances to give it a personal touch is one of the most excellent wedding entertainment ideas.

6. Host a Standard Pub Quiz

wedding entertainment ideas
Wedding entertainment ideas

It's high time to test if your family and friends know you. Host a pub quiz about your life, and let the guests compete. You can add a prize and give it to the winner. Such fun wedding activities create a team spirit among your guests.

7. Kids' Entertainment

The coordinator's duties are to keep both parents and children entertained throughout the wedding party. Hire a caregiver to look after children as parents relax. Organize a treasure hunt or hire someone to do face painting. This will keep the kids occupied. You could also create a glitter bar for them while you apply hair makeup. Such entertainment might also arouse interest in adults.

8. Create a Video or Slideshow

Collect videos or images from your album and have them roll in a slideshow throughout the day. They will keep the guests entertained as they'll always have something to look at, as they enjoy every glimpse of your life together. Remember to add footage of friends and family to make them feel part of your lives.

9. Group Dances

While these take time to prepare, they're worth being part of the entertainment. Get family and friends to choreograph a dance, or you can dance with a crew to accommodate some guests as well. You can try doing Ceilidh dances, although you don't need to be Scottish to enjoy them. There are a variety of dances that you can do at a wedding either with the whole group or just with your new spouse.

So What Will you Choose to do?

Are you challenged with the question, "how do I keep my wedding guests entertained?" Planning your wedding day is crucial for you and your partner, but you must also make your guests feel part of the event. Keeping them entertained is inevitable if you need them to remember your big day. Now you have a list of things to do on your wedding day to keep your wedding guests entertained.

Songs to Not Play at a Wedding

So, you are preparing for your big day. Things are all set. The guest list is ready and you have done all the arrangements to create lifetime memories. Now, this is the time to choose music and songs for your wedding.  Your main focus will be on the best and popular songs for all times to get the appreciations of your guests as well as to set their mood for the celebration. You might be choosing some popular songs for your dance floor, reception, and cocktail. However, you need to give equal importance to songs to not play at a wedding.

Songs to Not Play at a Wedding

Songs to Not Play at a Wedding

All your chosen songs might not be perfect for your wedding ceremony. You will have to make a list of the songs that you need to avoid. In fact, some of the popular songs might not be appreciated by your guests when celebrating your wedding. They might find the meaning inappropriate. Therefore, it is important to avoid all those songs that can really create an unfavorable environment.  

Are you a bit confused? Do you want to know which songs you should avoid in your wedding ceremony?  If yes, you are in the right place. In this article, we will help you with a list of songs that you can add in your not to playlist. You can also use your judgment to find out which songs will be inappropriate for your big day. Here are a few suggestions:

  • AC/DC – Highway To Hell
    • 1979, Rock
  • Aerosmith – Dude Looks Like a Lady
    • 1987, Rock
  • Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man
    • 2002, Pop
  • Aerosmith – Dude Looks Like a Lady
    • 1987, Rock
  • Black Eyed Peas – My Humps
    • 2005, Dance
  • Cole Swindell – Reason to Drink
    • 2018, Country
  • George Strait – All My Ex’s Live In Texas
    • 1987, Country
  • Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name
    • 1986, Rock
  • George Strait – All My Ex’s Live In Texas
    • 1987, Country
  • Ernie K-Doe – Mother-In-Law
    • 1961, R&B
  • Cole Swindell – Break Up In The End
    • 2018, Country
  • Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction
    • 1965, Rock
  • Journey – Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
    • 1983, Rock
  • J. Geils Band-Love Stinks
    • 1980, Rock
  • Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
    • 1997, Pop
  • David Lee Roth – Just A Gigolo
    • 1985, Rock
  • Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
    • 1978, Disco
  • Kanye West – Gold Digger
    • 2005, Hip Hop
  • Drake – Fake Love
    • 2016, Hip Hop
  • Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
    • 1980, Punk
  • Jordan Davis – Singles You Up
    • 2018, Country
  • Old Dominion – Break Up With Him
    • 2015, Country

You can consider above songs to not play at a wedding. Most of them do not have an appropriate meaning to suit a wedding ceremony.

How Many Songs Do You Need For a Wedding Reception – Perfect Amount

You’ve gone through a hectic vetting process but finally got the right DJ for your big day. Then it suddenly dawns on you that you haven’t yet picked a wedding reception playlist. Assuming your reception party lasts 4 hours, at a rate of 15 songs per hour, your playlist could easily clock 60 songs. So, how many songs do you need for a wedding reception and where should you start?

How Many Songs Do You Need For a Wedding Reception

 

Have a Detailed Discussion About Music with Your DJ

An experienced wedding DJ will be well versed in his/her trade. You can count on a savvy DJ to give you suggestions of music that will cheer up your guests. Show the DJ your playlist and ask for their honest feedback.

Select a Variety of Musical Styles

From your wedding ceremony to your reception, every small piece of your wedding has a different vibe. The chances are your reception will have guests How Many Songs Do You Need For a Wedding Receptionwith wide-ranging ages, from teenagers to older adults. The rule of thumb is to select songs that will, at the very least, cater to several age brackets. You want all guests to feel like they’re part of your special day.

Recognizable Oldies Are Excellent For Starting Dance Sets

Few tracks can beat oldies genres such as Disco, Rock, Motown or 60s rock at gaining the trust of older guests. The end game is to entice them so they can go with the flow once you switch to modern dance selections later on.

Use Non-Dance Tracks For Dinner or Cocktail Hour Music

If you’re a fan of non-dance selections such as Indie-rock, use them to set the atmosphere during dinner or cocktail hour. You want to avoid such music during open dancing after dinner unless you’re aiming for an empty dance floor.

Mainstream Selections Are Great for Open Dancing

After dinner, your DJ will have to work the crowd and engage a diverse group of guests to fill up the dance floor. The safest bet would be to use songs that most guests would recognize. For example, young adults will be familiar with classic party jams while adult guests will have heard some of the most recent popular hits.

Consider Using Line Dancers as Icebreakers

Line dancing has taken a back seat over the years but can work wonders for the right crowd. The Electric Slide or Cupid Shuffle, for example, can quickly fill up a dance floor with guests of all ages. The DJ can then gradually transition into the music you want to hear.

Ultimately, how many songs do you need for a wedding reception? The number of songs you need for your wedding reception depends on the length of the reception. However, it’s important to play your part in planning the music and work together with your DJ to make it a fun party.