Inside: Fun Wedding Reception Games and Ideas.
So you put a ring on it? Now it’s time to play the big day! Once you have the wedding party, guests, and food planned, it’s time to plan the reception.
There are a few things that are a MUST when it comes to an unforgettable reception full of fun. First, good music and dancing, get everyone moving and grooving! Second, food, duh. Third, FUN for your guest, this is where we come in.
Planning the ultimate night for your wedding guest is as simple as a few group games planned throughout the evening, or having fun board games scattered throughout the room.
Here are our favorite wedding reception games and ideas.
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Fun Games to Play at Your Wedding Reception
The Shoe Game: In this game, the couple sits back to back and exchange one shoe each so they are each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s shoes. The game host will read out a series of questions such as, “Who is the better cook?” and the couple will have to decide (by raising the shoe of the person they pick) without seeing who the other person has chosen. This game often gets lots of laughs and is enjoyed by both the guests and the couple.
Photo Scavenger Hunt: Send your guests on a digital scavenger hunt by creating a list of 20 wedding moments for them to capture with their phones, such as the newlyweds kissing; someone cheers-ing; a group selfie; etc. Not only does this give your guests a fun activity, but you’ll also end up with even more pictures at the end of the day.
Large Word Search: Transform a chalkboard into a creative word search that your guests can try their hand at all evening long. The trick to DIY-ing this word search game is to write the individual letters in permanent paint and provide chalk only for circling words. Get creative and include personal trivia about the two of you as a couple for guests to find.
Photobooth: Dressing up is technically a game… isn’t it? Regardless, guests of all ages love a themed photo booth! There are so many ways to get creative with how your guests to take selfies and group shots together. And when it comes to props, the more, the merrier, of course!
How to Incorporate Board games into Wedding Reception?
Take a playful—and colorful—approach to your centerpieces by using board games as mid-table eye candy. Dominoes, decks of cards, Trivial Pursuit, Life, and Yahtzee all make for crowd-pleasing wedding games guests can play.
Wedding Table Game Ideas
- Dominoes
- Deck of Card
- Apples to Apples
- Yahtzee
- Uno
- Skip-bo
- Life
- Sorry
Outdoor Wedding Reception Games and Activities
Tic-Tac-Toe: It’s simple and fun, and an extra-large version will add an unexpected twist to the classic game.
Cornhole: Cornhole is the perfect lawn game for couples that want to make extra activities feel like a cohesive part of the overall wedding décor. This creative couple painted and personalized their boards and the beanbags, too.
Dice Games: Shake things up with a jumbo set of dice! This unexpected wedding reception game is perfect for bringing guests together.
Giant Checkers: Simple and fun, get the party started by ordering a checkers mat so large it can double as a picnic blanket—or DIY your own.
Jenga: Who doesn’t love the classic block-stacking game Jenga? The traditional tabletop version adds a dose of fun and whimsy to any tented or outdoor reception area.
Giant Connect Four: An oversized version of this classic game is sure to garner attention from adults and kids alike.
Wedding Games for Kids
Donut Bobbing: As if we needed another excuse to eat doughnuts! This outdoor wedding game is both delicious and fun. Tie each doughnut on a string and hang from a tree. Your guests then need to keep their hands behind their backs and use their mouths to retrieve the doughnut (and eat it afterward, of course).
Build with Legos: Have lego blocks on the table and you have to build with the pieces – come up and share what you made.
Chalkboard Games: Turn the games you’d find on a children’s restaurant placemat— tic tac toe, hangman, dots, and squares—into fun wedding games by creating erasable chalkboard versions so kids can play, wipe away and start again.
Mini I Spy: Create an I Spy Wedding Game just for the kiddos by creating scavenger lists filled with pictures instead of words. Pictures can include the wedding cake, a ring, shoes, a dress, balloons, and food. Supply them with disposable cameras and watch the hilarity ensue!
More Fun Games You’ll Love
- Minute to Win It Bridal Shower Games – Have you jumped on the Minute to Win It craze yet? If not, you are definitely missing out. They are such fun and simple games to put together and a blast to play. From tossing bouquets to saying yes to the dress these Minute to Win It Bridal Shower Games are a blast!
- Bachelorette Party Games – Planning a bachelorette party can be super stressful because there are so many things to think about. But girl, I’ve got you covered with the games and activities. Here you’ll find twenty-five printable bachelorette party games.
- Boozed Up Drinking Games – Oh we have all had “ONE OF THOSE” nights. You know what kind of night I’m talking about, the ones where it just seems like you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Surrounded by friends, laughing all night, cheering to the best days of your life. Those sweet, sweet nights. I love night like that. These boozed-up party drinking games are the perfect way to celebrate the best nights of your life.