Any couple will most likely have a packed and hectic schedule on their wedding day. Sure, you can have a wedding planner with a team to care for concerns or family members and friends who are more than ready to assist. However, there are certain things that only you and your partner must be able to do: meeting and greeting the guests. After all, they came to your wedding to share your happiness and celebrate the milestone with you. But with so many things ahead of you on the day and probably a hundred or so people to entertain, how can you make sure they have something to do while waiting so they will stay until the end?
Keeping your wedding guests entertained is of prime importance. Having them with you will make the day extra special, knowing that some people are just as happy for you and your partner's new life together. Any wedding day involves formalities and traditions, but you must not forget that it is a day to celebrate and enjoy. Your guests are there to have fun and make memories with you, but with many of them in attendance, you may not have the time to get to them all.
Plus, it is inevitable to have a lot of lag time between key events after the ceremony or during the reception, so guests who tire easily, don't enjoy dancing, or don't know many other people there get bored and leave. It will be unfortunate for you to prepare and spend your money on great food, music, and decorations only for guests to eat and run after the day's highlights are over. Most people will not mind it until they realize how sad it is for only a handful of people to be left to send off the newlyweds at the end of the night.
With all that in mind, we understand that entertaining guests can be demanding, especially on your big day when you and your partner are most likely to have your hands full. That is why we curated these ten things your wedding guests can do while waiting, so you can plan and make merry on your wedding celebrations just as you should be.
Who doesn't love goodies? Guests love a good welcome bag. You can fill it with your and your partner's favorite mints and candies, or popular jelly beans, sour worms, and lollipops. Personalized M&Ms or chocolates molded into the shape of wedding bells or hearts are also recent trends.
But not everything in the goodie bag has to be edible. It can include little keepsakes such as custom souvenirs or simple health essentials such as sanitizers. Your welcome goodie bag can even double up to have your party favors. Be sure to include a heartfelt note in your welcome bag, as it is an opportunity to thank them and let them know you appreciate their presence on your wedding day.
A wedding is sure to last hours with all the speeches and traditional moments designed to occur before dinner is served. That being said, one of the things your wedding guest can do while waiting is sample some appetizers. you want to make sure your guests have enough energy to go through the rest of the celebrations. Set up an appetizer station so guests can have something to nibble while waiting. Remember not to put it near the entrance, though, to avoid crowding.
Cocktail bars are pretty much a wedding reception staple. Why not take it up a notch and make it a general beverage bar instead? Guests can enjoy drinks of their choice while waiting to be seated for dinner or chatting up with other guests. Ensure the bar is open and stocked, along with enough bartenders on hand. As a beverage bar, do not just focus on alcohol; it should include plenty of water, soda, and non-alcoholic punch. You can make coffee or tea available on the menu for those needing a caffeine boost.
On average, each guest will have about two drinks during the cocktail hour, and you don't want a line forming. Unless your guest list is under 50 people, have the main bar, then include another one or two bars at opposite corners of the room.
Photo booths are a hit for parties of all genres. This is a sure way for guests to enjoy while dressing up in silly hats and wigs. Getting their photos snapped automatically gives them a fun wedding souvenir to bring home! Many photo booths also allow guests to leave video messages for the newlyweds.
Some couples only hire the photo booth for the time between the ceremony and the reception. But if you are feeling generous, you can hire it to last throughout the reception instead! Who knows, maybe you and your partner can sneak in between dances and have some quirky photos taken as well.
For a milestone as important as a wedding, you would want to look back on the day knowing who was present to celebrate with you! Have a personalized wedding guestbook set up at the reception area. Guests can sign upon their arrival, or you can have it passed around by someone from your wedding party so they can fill it out. You can even opt for a guestbook that leaves enough space for a short message from the guest, not just a name and signature.
If you choose an outdoorsy venue with enough lawn space, you can draft up a series of activities that guests of all ages to participate in without getting too sweaty. Guests on both sides socialize and get friendly before the reception program begins. Popular games include a scavenger hunt, a How-Well-Do-You-Know-The-Couple quiz, and karaoke.
Whatever the occasion, fireworks are always a crowd-pleaser. Nothing says romantic and memorable more than watching fireworks light up the night sky with your new spouse and loved ones. If your budget allows, make it more fancy. A fireworks display will add more bang — literally and figuratively — to your festivities.
These days, weddings are all about having fresh and fun reception concepts. And what can be more refreshing than having caricaturists and magicians! one of the many things your guest can do is sit down for a custom caricature portrait which they get to take home as a rare wedding favor. No guest can ever claim boredom while a magician goes around with card tricks and sleight of hand.
It is no longer uncommon for men and women of all cultures and religions to marry and learn to combine their diverse backgrounds into a unified family. If you and your partner are particularly attached to your heritage, you can include it in your wedding details. Incorporate the cuisine on the menu. Put a selection of old portraits or heirlooms on display to showcase your family's cultural identity. You can also hire cultural dancers for a performance. Guests will be captivated by a performance inspired by your heritage.
Live wedding bands are still the go-to choice for wedding entertainment, so why not let the guests sing along? Most live bands prepare to perform with guests some all-time hits that are generally adored. Who knows, maybe the next famous singer will be discovered at your wedding!
Since the best Live Wedding Bands are in great demand, don't delay and book today with UK Live Entertainment. More than just an online agency, UK Live Entertainment supports every client with free one-to-one consultancy to ensure that you have all of the information you need and only the best musicians, bands, and entertainers to choose from.
UK Live Entertainment's agency staff are highly experienced and knowledgeable in the entertainment and events industry. We can help and advise on booking and staging to ensure that your wedding entertainment and music are perfect.
UK Live Entertainment handpicks musicians and entertainers that are the best in their niche and deliver quality entertaining performances. We are also constantly improving our customer service to provide topmost customer support and the most enjoyable experience for all our clients.
Weddings can involve a lot of waiting time, from the arrival of the newlyweds to speeches to dinnertime. We hope this list of things your wedding guests can do while waiting, help you keep your wedding guests feeling good even while they wait. Remember that wedding entertainment can be pretty expensive, so make sure to discuss any additions you are considering with your partner.
Nevertheless, well-planned wedding entertainment is a worthy investment for a milestone celebration. You only need some unique ideas and extra budget to achieve the perfect wedding of your dreams.
