A major factor that determines the success of your wedding is the entertainment. Get this right and you can send your guests home glowing, with unforgettable memories of the fun and excitement! While the conventional disco and wedding bands are classics, don’t feel they are a necessity. Rules are made to be broken and throwing some creativity into the mix can make your special day, so much more special. After all, the wildest ideas are often the most fun!
Here some carefully selected entertainment ideas that your guests will love:
Bobbing apples with prizes
Evoke the child in everyone with fun games such as bobbing apples. Alternatively, set up a beer pong table or flip cup (they don’t have to involve alcohol). After everyone is settled, and a few drinks, it might be an idea to set up small teams for those wanting to take part. Prizes for the winners!
Set up a beer bar
Get hold of a few kegs of beer, cider and ale, so guests can grab a pitcher and get stuck in. The men will appreciate this one, I’m sure. Real wooden kegs will add a fantastic rustic quality to your theme, not to mention getting kegs can actually work out cheaper too, so you can save your pennies for even more fun activities.
Create a cozy corner
For those guests that want some space or to relax in the evening, or for couples that want sneak off for a few moments of privacy, set up a little cozy corner. If it’s a warm night, set it up outside below the stars. A couple of hammocks, cushions, bean bags, candles in jars, and gentle music on a speaker to set the mood. Add some fairy lights to really set the scene for when it gets dark.
Appetizers & Canapés
There are literally thousands of ideas for appetizers and canapés to treat your guests with. Also, be sure you don’t forget the drinks; send out some waiters with pitchers of freshly made lemonade, Pimms with fruit, and the canapés of your choice.
Photo booth
To create long lasting memories of the evening for you and your friends, it’s a fun idea to set up a photo booth with a box of dressing up clothes. Your guests can even take the pictures home, and enjoy the memories. An alternative to this, is to hire a quick-drawing sketch artist, that can sketch pictures of your guests throughout the evening.
Enlist your grandmas to be your flower girls 
To add some fun and humor into your wedding, why not ask your grandmas to be the flower girls? Ideas like this will create a fun and relaxed atmosphere for your guests to feel more at ease and make your grandma feel special too. Consider having them taken to get their hair done with you before the ceremony. If you haven’t got to that part yet, here is everything you need to know about bridal hair.
Historical Feasts
The food is a major part of the wedding success. Why not make this also part of the entertainment? For a fun and romantic wedding why not play with a historical theme, such as a medieval feast. Hire some costumes and props, such as swords and knight’s helmets to hand to the guests as they come in. Sit your guests around one or two long wooden tables in a beautiful stone floored barn. The tables can be laid with metal plates, goblets, fruits, candles with wine and mead, to set the atmosphere. To really set the scene a few simple sides and vegetables will make a fantastic accompaniment to a delicious “do it yourself” hog roast, roasted traditionally over coals and flames. This will provide a truly special wedding like no other. You can set a spit roast up yourself, or even hire someone to set it all up for you.
Wake your guests up with fun coffees
After the meal, your guests may be feeling a little stuffed and lethargic. To reset a lively mood, it’s your responsibility to wake everyone one up and get the party started. Create a coffee menu with fun names and ideas that people just can’t resist. Some of our favorite examples “The Dirty Harry” for a double shot mocha with cream!
Old fashion sweets table
A sweets table is always fun. Adults and kids alike love to have a table with lots of old fashioned jars of sweets to help themselves to. It’s a cheap and fun way to add to the atmosphere of the wedding. To add to the fun, why not set up–at a safe distance–a giant Jenga game?
Crayons
Make sure the little ones are happy! Provide lots of crayon and paper for them. If it’s outside where there is a lot of stone flooring, chalks are also fun and wash away in the rain. Don’t be surprised if you see mom and dad getting in on the coloring action.
Ball Pit/Bouncy Castle
Hire a bouncy castle or a ball pit for the kids. This is very exciting for kid of all ages, where I’m sure later on in the evening after a few drinks some of the adults with also be bringing out their inner child.
Water slide
If it’s likely for hot weather (and when isn’t it in Texas?) why not consider setting up a water slide for the kids, especially for weekend weddings. It’s great fun, and adds a spark of excitement into the wedding. Remember to warn the parents beforehand so that everyone brings along swimwear. It may also be an idea to bring a few precautionary spare T-shirts and shorts so no guests are left wet and cold.
Dance instructor
Lots of people find dancing embarrassing and awkward because they just don’t know what to do on the dance floor. To get people dancing, hire a dance instructor to get as many people up and dancing. Teach some easy and fun dance moves, such as salsa.
Karaoke
After everyone is feeling relaxed why not have a few rounds of karaoke to spark up some fun! This doesn’t have to be done one at a time, choose a few classics to sing from, and get the whole crowd singing along. Get any of the little ones involved that would like to sing to lighten the mood and get everyone interacting.
Cocktail hour
Cocktails are trendy and a must have at your wedding. Instead of just offering a few cosmopolitans, hire a couple of cocktail experts to make some fun and delicious drinks for the guests. An added section of whisky and cigars for the men certainly wouldn’t go unrecognized. Why not set up a casino table as well?
Petals for confetti
For a more tasteful send off, why not give flower petals to the guests as confetti. It’s more environmentally friendly, less messy, and the sweet fragrance of flowers will fill the air, adding to the atmosphere.
Finishing with a bang!
Finish the wedding reception by handing out a few sparklers, and setting off a mini fireworks display. This is a nice visually appealing, fun and romantic way to finish the wedding. Even a small one can make a big impression, and is a nice conclusion to a wonderful day.
Party bag hangover kit
After such a fantastic wedding, I think it’s safe to say more than a few of your guests are going to be waking up with a hangover. Why not give little party bag hangover kits for your guests, filled with vitamin drinks, green tea, fruit, a mini hangover cure guide on a piece of card, along with a few other bits and bobs.
You don’t have to stop here, the more creative you are, the more fun you and your guests will have. Have a brainstorming session with a couple of your friends, you will be amazed what you might come up with.
