As the wedding couple, you will probably be very busy through the ceremony and reception not thinking about entertainment. Your guests may have a completely different experience, from waiting for the caterer to serve dinner after the cocktail hour to waiting for the DJ to start the dancing. Hosting entertainment for those moments can make your guests remember your wedding fondly. Here are some of the best ideas to keep guests busy during the reception.
Hire a Petting Zoo
Even if you have a kids-free wedding, adults will enjoy getting to pet and watch animals in a petting zoo. Some petting zoos have a unique array of animals, hedgehogs, bunnies, ducks, alpacas, goats and more. The staff who come with the zoo will provide information and manage the creatures, so it’s educational and fun without a lot of extra work for anyone. Check with your venue to make sure it’s okay to have animals on site.
Table Games As Entertainment
Buy some travel games or decks of cards to place on the table to give guests something easy to do between courses or during speeches. Practically everyone remembers the classics, like checkers, backgammon or crazy eights, so you won’t need to provide instructions. Personalize the decks of cards with your photos and let guests take them home as a reminder of the wedding.
A Photo Scavenger Hunt
Give guests a list of ideas for pictures to take with their own phone or with a disposable camera. Make up two or three sets of lists so everyone at the same table has a different list. Ask them to post to social media with a unique wedding hashtag to make these photos easy to find. You’ll see much more of the reception through a different lens and get some great memories that your photographer might miss.
Hire Unique Entertainers
Your community probably has a lot of entertainers who would spend a couple of hours providing entertainment for a crowd. Think beyond musicians or circus-style performers. Hire a caricaturist, a magician or a balloon animal artist for the cocktail party in addition to any band or other entertainment. If you’ve ever been to a Renaissance faire, think about the street performers that kept you entertained while you walked around, the dancers, the bird of prey showcase or the comedians.
Set Up a Miniature Golf Course
Check with your local bounce house rental to see what kinds of games they offer. If your venue has space for a mini golf course or croquet, those kinds of games can keep old and young guests entertained for a while without wearing them out in the heat of the day. You may find some other neat game ideas as some party places rent casino games or carnival games that will keep guests busy instead of twiddling their thumbs.
Coloring Books or Advice Pages For Entertainment
On each table, place some crayons and coloring books. Adults and children alike often enjoy having something to keep their hands busy that is not mentally challenging. Give guests an opportunity to leave you a piece of wisdom or advice for your marriage by leaving special cards on the table.
Family and Guest Trivia Entertainment
Get guests to talk to each other by leaving cards with clues to information about each other at the table. Kind of like a “Guess Who” game. Or leave clues about the wedding party to see if guests can guess which person in the family can play the harmonica or some other unique attribute. You might even ask who is the oldest at the wedding or who traveled the farthest. Make sure to provide answers through the evening to see who got it right.
Give your guests a reason to enjoy your wedding by keeping them entertained throughout the day or evening.
Entertainment is a big component of your wedding reception. For some couples, the decision to book a DJ is easy. However, there are plenty of people who debate over hiring a live band to provide music for the night’s events. If this is a choice you’ve been deliberating, it is helpful to weigh the pros and cons. By poking around the ups and downs of the decision, you’ll have greater insight into how the service works and what you can expect.
Pro: A LiveBand Experience
Perhaps the biggest advantage to hiring a live band is that it is not a common decision anymore. Before the digital age, live music was par for the course at a wedding. If you’ve ever been to an event with a band instead of a DJ, you know how memorable the experience can be overall. A live band creates an electrifying and engaging performance that a DJ simply cannot compete with. While this is a great point to keep in mind, you need to base your final decision off more than just how unique the concept might be.
Con: An Expensive Decision
As expected, creating a memorable experience at your wedding is far from a cheap endeavor. The main reason people opt for a DJ over a live band is the price. With a DJ, you’re usually hiring one or two people to help provide you with music throughout the night. A live band, on the other hand, is comprised of a group of people. Unless you have a connection with someone in the band or they are very new to the scene, you can expect to put down a decent chunk of change for this service.
Pro: Guests More Likely To Have Fun
Getting some guests to get up and dance can be a serious challenge. Whether you’ve got older relatives who can’t get down with modern songs or your friends are the type who need coaxing to groove, live music makes it a lot easier to guarantee a good time. Live musicians feed off of an audience’s response. If the crowd isn’t dancing, the band will find a way to change things. When it comes to reading the room and adjusting the night’s music as needed, a live band can accomplish far more than you might expect.
Con: Playlist Will Not Be as Expansive
Ask any DJ and you’ll learn fast that requests are a huge part of providing entertainment at a wedding. Guests all have different tastes, and alcohol increases the odds of friends and family making demands of the DJ. The drawback of a live band is that requests are more difficult to accommodate. Though an exceptional cover band will be able to take on a good number of tracks, you’ll be able to provide a more robust selection of music when you’re working with an entertainer who has a laptop connected to the internet.
Pro and Con: Live Band Performers
A DJ is usually a silent fly on the wall, sometimes interjecting with messages from the couple or information about the night’s events. A live band, meanwhile, will have a bit more personality. This can be a pro or a con, depending on the band. Some performers know how to make the most of the time on stage. Others, sadly, take frequent breaks or try to outshine the happy couple in terms of grabbing for attention. Read reviews of the band in advance to get an idea of what you can expect in this regard.
Though entertainment is necessary for a wedding to be complete, you want to be certain you enjoy whichever act you decide to book. Though it might be enticing, be sure you know what you’re getting into when hiring a live band. While there is no correct answer, understanding the advantages and disadvantages does make the decision more clear.
Many people choose exotic beaches to hold their destination wedding. Generally you will want to pick a place that most, if not all of your attendees will be comfortable and will have fun.
The Destination wedding has been growing steadily in popularity for many years. At first glance, the thought of rushing away from Canada toward an international spot might be an expensive one. In truth, destination weddings are far easier to plan and do not require the same level of financial commitment. To be successful with your wedding, you will need to make sure you go about the process in the right way and consider a few key elements.
Times change and trends change along with it. While weddings have been happening all over the world for quite a bit of time, the ways weddings happen always shift in style and scope. For many years now, the trend for weddings has been to throw a large and somewhat lavish event. Even small-scale weddings can wind up costing a fortune due to the way many couples go about their events. Now, many people are turning away from this trend and opting for something more personal and affordable. Not all couples will benefit from a destination wedding but it can be interesting to learn some of the pros.
Keeping the Destination Wedding Cost Down
A wedding has a habit of being a costly endeavor. You need to rent a venue, find caterers, think about decorations, hire entertainment, bring on a photographer, and that is only the beginning of it. You might be spending frustrating amounts of money on everything from stamps for your invites to the tips you give to the servers at the end of the reception. Instead of dealing with all of that, you can condense all of your expenses in one swoop. A destination wedding limits your options in the best ways possible.
For example, if you decide to go to Costa Rica for your destination wedding, then you might want to stay at a specific resort. This resort probably sees a lot of weddings throughout the course of the year, and it may offer some excellent packages for you and your guests. This means you can find a venue, caterers, entertainment, and hotel rooms in the same place. On top of all of this, you will be surrounded by the lush views and cool breezes of Costa Rica.
Fewer Guests
Something to be mindful of with a destination wedding is that you will need to keep your guest list low. This is a perfect idea for couples who do not have extensive circles of family and friends. Unfortunately, you also need to make sure the people you are inviting are able to afford the trip. Keeping your own costs down for the wedding is one thing, but you will be asking your guests to shell out a lot more money for your event than they would have at home.
Before you start to make all of your plans, sit down with your significant other and come up with a realistic list of who you would like to be present for your wedding. Reach out to these people and speak to them about your idea. If it seems like most people wouldn’t be able to make the journey for your wedding due to financial constraints or scheduling problems, then you should probably consider another option. You could always go away somewhere tropical and inviting for your honeymoon.
A World to See
There are many different reasons to consider a destination wedding. With such a big world out there to see, you and your partner simply might want to start your married life in a new location. Before you get ahead of yourself, be sure to consider the specifics of your event and whether you’re making the right choice for you and the people you care about. In the end, make the decision that will help you and your significant other to have the special day you both desire.
As the wedding couple, you will probably be very busy through the ceremony and reception not thinking about entertainment. Your guests may have a completely different experience, from waiting for the caterer to serve dinner after the cocktail hour to waiting for the DJ to start the dancing. Hosting entertainment for those moments can make your guests remember your wedding fondly. Here are some of the best ideas to keep guests busy during the reception.
Hire a Petting Zoo
Even if you have a kids-free wedding, adults will enjoy getting to pet and watch animals in a petting zoo. Some petting zoos have a unique array of animals, hedgehogs, bunnies, ducks, alpacas, goats and more. The staff who come with the zoo will provide information and manage the creatures, so it’s educational and fun without a lot of extra work for anyone. Check with your venue to make sure it’s okay to have animals on site.
Table Games As Entertainment
Buy some travel games or decks of cards to place on the table to give guests something easy to do between courses or during speeches. Practically everyone remembers the classics, like checkers, backgammon or crazy eights, so you won’t need to provide instructions. Personalize the decks of cards with your photos and let guests take them home as a reminder of the wedding.
A Photo Scavenger Hunt
Give guests a list of ideas for pictures to take with their own phone or with a disposable camera. Make up two or three sets of lists so everyone at the same table has a different list. Ask them to post to social media with a unique wedding hashtag to make these photos easy to find. You’ll see much more of the reception through a different lens and get some great memories that your photographer might miss.
Hire Unique Entertainers
Your community probably has a lot of entertainers who would spend a couple of hours providing entertainment for a crowd. Think beyond musicians or circus-style performers. Hire a caricaturist, a magician or a balloon animal artist for the cocktail party in addition to any band or other entertainment. If you’ve ever been to a Renaissance faire, think about the street performers that kept you entertained while you walked around, the dancers, the bird of prey showcase or the comedians.
Set Up a Miniature Golf Course
Check with your local bounce house rental to see what kinds of games they offer. If your venue has space for a mini golf course or croquet, those kinds of games can keep old and young guests entertained for a while without wearing them out in the heat of the day. You may find some other neat game ideas as some party places rent casino games or carnival games that will keep guests busy instead of twiddling their thumbs.
Coloring Books or Advice Pages For Entertainment
On each table, place some crayons and coloring books. Adults and children alike often enjoy having something to keep their hands busy that is not mentally challenging. Give guests an opportunity to leave you a piece of wisdom or advice for your marriage by leaving special cards on the table.
Family and Guest Trivia Entertainment
Get guests to talk to each other by leaving cards with clues to information about each other at the table. Kind of like a “Guess Who” game. Or leave clues about the wedding party to see if guests can guess which person in the family can play the harmonica or some other unique attribute. You might even ask who is the oldest at the wedding or who traveled the farthest. Make sure to provide answers through the evening to see who got it right.
Give your guests a reason to enjoy your wedding by keeping them entertained throughout the day or evening.
Entertainment is a big component of your wedding reception. For some couples, the decision to book a DJ is easy. However, there are plenty of people who debate over hiring a live band to provide music for the night’s events. If this is a choice you’ve been deliberating, it is helpful to weigh the pros and cons. By poking around the ups and downs of the decision, you’ll have greater insight into how the service works and what you can expect.
Pro: A LiveBand Experience
Perhaps the biggest advantage to hiring a live band is that it is not a common decision anymore. Before the digital age, live music was par for the course at a wedding. If you’ve ever been to an event with a band instead of a DJ, you know how memorable the experience can be overall. A live band creates an electrifying and engaging performance that a DJ simply cannot compete with. While this is a great point to keep in mind, you need to base your final decision off more than just how unique the concept might be.
Con: An Expensive Decision
As expected, creating a memorable experience at your wedding is far from a cheap endeavor. The main reason people opt for a DJ over a live band is the price. With a DJ, you’re usually hiring one or two people to help provide you with music throughout the night. A live band, on the other hand, is comprised of a group of people. Unless you have a connection with someone in the band or they are very new to the scene, you can expect to put down a decent chunk of change for this service.
Pro: Guests More Likely To Have Fun
Getting some guests to get up and dance can be a serious challenge. Whether you’ve got older relatives who can’t get down with modern songs or your friends are the type who need coaxing to groove, live music makes it a lot easier to guarantee a good time. Live musicians feed off of an audience’s response. If the crowd isn’t dancing, the band will find a way to change things. When it comes to reading the room and adjusting the night’s music as needed, a live band can accomplish far more than you might expect.
Con: Playlist Will Not Be as Expansive
Ask any DJ and you’ll learn fast that requests are a huge part of providing entertainment at a wedding. Guests all have different tastes, and alcohol increases the odds of friends and family making demands of the DJ. The drawback of a live band is that requests are more difficult to accommodate. Though an exceptional cover band will be able to take on a good number of tracks, you’ll be able to provide a more robust selection of music when you’re working with an entertainer who has a laptop connected to the internet.
Pro and Con: Live Band Performers
A DJ is usually a silent fly on the wall, sometimes interjecting with messages from the couple or information about the night’s events. A live band, meanwhile, will have a bit more personality. This can be a pro or a con, depending on the band. Some performers know how to make the most of the time on stage. Others, sadly, take frequent breaks or try to outshine the happy couple in terms of grabbing for attention. Read reviews of the band in advance to get an idea of what you can expect in this regard.
Though entertainment is necessary for a wedding to be complete, you want to be certain you enjoy whichever act you decide to book. Though it might be enticing, be sure you know what you’re getting into when hiring a live band. While there is no correct answer, understanding the advantages and disadvantages does make the decision more clear.
Many people choose exotic beaches to hold their destination wedding. Generally you will want to pick a place that most, if not all of your attendees will be comfortable and will have fun.
The Destination wedding has been growing steadily in popularity for many years. At first glance, the thought of rushing away from Canada toward an international spot might be an expensive one. In truth, destination weddings are far easier to plan and do not require the same level of financial commitment. To be successful with your wedding, you will need to make sure you go about the process in the right way and consider a few key elements.
Times change and trends change along with it. While weddings have been happening all over the world for quite a bit of time, the ways weddings happen always shift in style and scope. For many years now, the trend for weddings has been to throw a large and somewhat lavish event. Even small-scale weddings can wind up costing a fortune due to the way many couples go about their events. Now, many people are turning away from this trend and opting for something more personal and affordable. Not all couples will benefit from a destination wedding but it can be interesting to learn some of the pros.
Keeping the Destination Wedding Cost Down
A wedding has a habit of being a costly endeavor. You need to rent a venue, find caterers, think about decorations, hire entertainment, bring on a photographer, and that is only the beginning of it. You might be spending frustrating amounts of money on everything from stamps for your invites to the tips you give to the servers at the end of the reception. Instead of dealing with all of that, you can condense all of your expenses in one swoop. A destination wedding limits your options in the best ways possible.
For example, if you decide to go to Costa Rica for your destination wedding, then you might want to stay at a specific resort. This resort probably sees a lot of weddings throughout the course of the year, and it may offer some excellent packages for you and your guests. This means you can find a venue, caterers, entertainment, and hotel rooms in the same place. On top of all of this, you will be surrounded by the lush views and cool breezes of Costa Rica.
Fewer Guests
Something to be mindful of with a destination wedding is that you will need to keep your guest list low. This is a perfect idea for couples who do not have extensive circles of family and friends. Unfortunately, you also need to make sure the people you are inviting are able to afford the trip. Keeping your own costs down for the wedding is one thing, but you will be asking your guests to shell out a lot more money for your event than they would have at home.
Before you start to make all of your plans, sit down with your significant other and come up with a realistic list of who you would like to be present for your wedding. Reach out to these people and speak to them about your idea. If it seems like most people wouldn’t be able to make the journey for your wedding due to financial constraints or scheduling problems, then you should probably consider another option. You could always go away somewhere tropical and inviting for your honeymoon.
A World to See
There are many different reasons to consider a destination wedding. With such a big world out there to see, you and your partner simply might want to start your married life in a new location. Before you get ahead of yourself, be sure to consider the specifics of your event and whether you’re making the right choice for you and the people you care about. In the end, make the decision that will help you and your significant other to have the special day you both desire.
