Wedding Reception Activity Ideas

Okay, now this is just wierd! *hahahahaha* My mother's name is Mickey (spelled different), I'm getting married in May 2001 and I'm not having a dance at my reception either!

We decided to cut costs and are making our own CD's for music instead of hiring a band or DJ. After asking around to a few brides/grooms that have done something similar I have come to the conclusion that "activities" aren't even really necessary! 7 of the 9 folks I asked didn't do anything and in 6 of those cases very few people left before the Bride & Groom and no one even really missed the dance!

I'm sure if people really want to dance that they will, but we aren't organizing one. Since most of our guests will be out-of-towners we figured that the reception can be a time where everyone can catch up! I have been assured that this works out just fine.

If, after my blurb, you are still looking for some sort of activity, you could always do something like a giant game of twister... I can't even imagine how funny that would be! I think I asked the same question a few weeks ago, I'll go look for it and post the link here so you can read the replies I got... You'll have to cut and paste:

Http://www.partypop.com/forums/general/m10442.htm

There it is! My favorite is still the karaoke... Which we may end up doing if I can talk my FH into it *haha* Hope this helped!
~L

TWISTER!!!!!!! TWISTER!!!!!!!! Girls, THINK! How many
People are going to participate at all, let alone in dress
Clothes! I'm sorry, but, if I got all dressed up & came to
A wedding & someone had this, or any other 'game'-I
Would leave!
An idea might be to have a videographer, since you will
Have out of town guests, go around & get interviews
From them. That is what I am doing. This way, it is kind
Of an activity of sorts & a sentimental keepsake for you!
Good Luck!
Princess
(I don't mean to offend you, but, think about how you
Will feel when you look back on this 25 years from now-
Will you laugh or regret it!)

Princess,

I think that your opinion should have been expressed with a little more tact. Also, regarding your interview idea-boy that is creative. I think that the gal who had the twister idea also had a bit more creativity than you.

I think that people may dred having to be interviewed. Ever think that some people really could care less about wishing you well at the wedding. Selfish idea.

Well, Ladies, the wedding is three weeks away and here's what we decided to do: Since the wedding chapel is in the same building as the reception, people will go right to the reception area and wait while the B&G take photos. We are having a hostess take pictures of people as they arrive with disposable cameras (cheaper than putting one on each table). Since this will be one of the few times entire families will be together, we have one of the photographers taking family "group" photos of specific family groups. The B&G will send a copy of these special photos to the matriarch or patriarch of each family when they send out their thank-you notes. After dinner, we plan to have all the married couples stand up and by process of elimination (and with some funny ad-lib from the MC), narrow down to one couple who has been married the longest and give them a bridal bouquet and the groom's garter. (It's probably been years since they've had that moment!) . Then we are going to pick 5 or 6 couples in the group to play the "Oldy-Wed Game" (the Newlywed Game for those married longer than a year). We'll give a small token to the winning couple. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks for all of your suggestions!

Excuse me, but, I thought I WAS using tact when I said
To think of how you would feel later!
It is NOT selfish to have people wish you well or what
Ever they want to say. They are there to do that & I
Would MUCH rather have my grandparents & parents
On tape to view after they are gone from us so I can
Remember them by watching them on a video. The
Game 'Twister' has no memories-fun or otherwise!
I think it is selfish to think that just because YOU want
A 'game' that EVERYbody is all gung-ho for it! Oy!
(They don't have to say anything on the video if they
Choose not too. That is ok.)
I also told you that I didn't mean to offend anyone! You
All want our opinions & I have found a lot of great help
On this & other websites, but, I have found this one to
Have a lot of immature brides-to-be that have some
Rather odd ideas of how to conduct a wedding recep-
Tion!
Since you think I am 'tactless'-how about going all the
Way & hiring a clown & have him give everyone candy
& make them balloon animals!
I just want everyones' guests to go away with great
Memories-not laugh behind your back!
But, if 'Twister', etc. Is what makes you happy, that is
Most important. I will keep happy thoughts for you re-
Gardless.
I am truly sorry for hurting your feelings. I just hate to
See you regret something later in life!
Good Luck!
Princess

I have to agree with Princess. It was not fair for you all to jump down her throat for not thinking Twister is a good reception game. I'm a theatre major, super thilly and everything, and I would not want to play such a game at a reception...it's like blindfolding the B and G and having them feed eachother chocolate pudding...just not a good idea for this situation. I think Princess did use tact, and in fact covered her tail by apologizing in advance. Maybe we could all cool down and read the entire post before we begin to tear our dresses to shreds, hmm ladies? lol

To: Mc-
Thank-you so very much for your sweet reply! I was in
Tears when I read it! I have never had anyone 'standup'
For me like that-except my parents, so your support
Means so much!
I just don't want someone doing something they may
Regret & something that people may laugh at them be-
Hind their back over. As much as we are investing in
This wonderful milestone in our lives, I want everything
To be perfect-for everyone! Even those immature brides
To be who ask for our honest opinions & can't seem to
Take constructive criticism when given.
I have been given honest opinions from this & other
Wedding message boards & it has helped me. I have
Never had a reaction from the other boards like I had from this one!
I guess from now on, I will tell all who ask for an 'honest' opinion that they have the best idea in the
World. I guess that is really what they are wanting.
Oh, well.
Again, thank-you for supporting me. You will never know what it means to me!
Good Luck!
Princess

"Ever think that some people really could care less about wishing you well at the wedding. Selfish idea."

Um, if the guests aren`t there to wish the bride and groom well, why the heck were they invited, and why the heck would they care enough to show up? I agree that some people may dread being interviewed on camera, but I would hope, since they are invited to the B & G`s most special day, that they at least care about wishing them well! The fact is that a wedding IS all about the B & G, so I guess you could say the whole idea is selfish, or, you could look at it as a unique opportunity for friends and family of the couple to support their love and show their own. I don`t see how it is selfish to want to hear a few special words from your loved ones on your big day if they are brave enough to do it on camera.

I too am having a smaller wedding without dancing and a few of the ideas we have come up with to keep our guest entertained (aside from the event) are.
1) a easel with our engament photo with a large boarder matte and have all the guest sign it (too keep later for our frame)
2) we hired irish dancers to perform for 1/2 hour,,, it was relatively inexpensive check schools they love the chance to perform
3)we have arranged a photographic family tree that has some humor too it....and also includes our friends in the role they played in our union

Hello, ladies........I must agree with Princess on this one. We have all agreed to participate in this message board because we are interested in other people`s ideas and opinions. It was very rude to degrade her simply because she made her feelings known. I assume that everyone on this board is a civilized, sane adult that is capable of determining what advice to take and what advice to disregard; therefore, no one should have any reason to intentionally insult another. If you do not want other people`s opinion, this is definitely not the place for you.

If you want Twister at your wedding, so be it. It`s your wedding and you have the right to do whatever makes you happy on that day. I, personally, wouldn`t want to see my family and friends make spectacles of themselves as they waddle on the floor like children playing in their Sunday`s best after church. Just as I would like to sit back and display my best manners on my wedding day, I would expect my guests to do the same. Twister is for the honeymoon. LOL

And as for your guests thinking you to be selfish because you would like for them to wish you well on your special day......if they can`t find it within themselves to wish you and your new spouse a happy life together, perhaps, you should find some new friends. If their intentions are not to wish you well, they shouldn`t be there. And if you think that`s being selfish, then shouldn`t you also think it to be selfish to expect people to purchase gifts to help you decorate and furnish a home in which they will not reside?

Now, that`s this woman`s opinion.....take it or leave it.....it`s just that simple. I just wish you all the best in all your future endeavors.

Sincerely, KS

I do believe she is being a little rude. Yes they want an opinion and that`s great she gave one. But just because they have a unique idea doesn`t make them immature as she likes to put it. She apparently likes formal and traditional. Not everyone likes traditional. I know I certainly don`t. But you don`t need to put those unique people down by calling them immature.

Wow, this is my first time here,lookin` for some ideas for my cousins upcoming then later my wedding, and I was bustin` up out loud....I`m sorry but Princess that was funny, I was feelin` ya` on how you was comin` off. I know you wasn`t bein` mean, you was just bein` straight out.That`s how me and my cousin and my peeps like it. I would rather have someone tell me somethin` straight out than sugar coat it or not say it, then I have a choice what I want to do or think myself.Yea, twister sounds like a fun thing but in actuality, it wouldn`t even work.No way.I agree, it sounds better for the honeymoon.
I also wonder why so many aren`t having dancing.If money is an issue,I have actually been to a wedding where they only had a boom box and cds(which you could burn to have the songs you want all in a row and just put it on) and people can dance or socialize. I have also heard of having a wishing well type thing or just a pad of paper fixed up with ribbon at the tables with pens so people can give you good marriage tips and well wishes-which of course is the reason why they are there. Oh and possibly at the kids table to have a paper tablecloth or coloring books or pads of paper and crayons or activity books-maybe tell them to draw the bride and groom or things they want them to remember so that they can feel important that you want to keep something they did, to keep them occupied. I look forward to hearing more ideas.Peace.

Personally I do not intend to have any dancing at my reception because I can`t think of anything more dull. I`m not going to have `games` as such (although I did recently go to a very good wedding reception where there were games of giant connect four and pick up sticks etc) but various entertainments such as close up magic, improvisation etc.

Now this is hilarious! I`m not trying to offend, but this last post gave me a huge chuckle. To think that people out on the dance floor kicking up their heels is dull but sitting around at a wedding playing pickup sticks is entertaining. Now I understand that some people don`t like to dance and that`s cool (I`ve been to weddings where there is no dance and it was fine) but to have pickup sticks and connect four as dance alternatives just threw me for a loop. I`m sorry, again I`m not trying to be rude, it just struck me as very funny!

I believe she was kidding. And so was the girl talking about playing twister at the wedding. There are some people on this board that have absolutely no since of humor. Sarcasm completely goes over thier heads. And that is what causes alot of arguements on here.

They were kidding? Really? It`s hard to tell here. I`ve read so many off the wall "wedding" ideas in the past few weeks, that I wouldn`t know if twister and pickupsticks were jokes.

Aside from twister :-) , I have a few ideas to entertain guests during the reception

Have a table or album with pictures of the bride and groom growing up. Those always get a few laughs and awww`s.

Have a video of the bride and groom made. These usually include pictures of them as children and while dating. Show it during the reception.

I still like the idea of getting several disposable cameras and passing them around to the guests to capture parts of the reception. They usually get pictures a photographer would never consider.

Along the lines of the video "best wishes", you could always have a guest book made up with empty pages for your guests to wish you well on. Like we all did with our high school yearbooks.

Hope this helps!

PLEASE PLEASE stop posting dumb remarks about other messages and give us some IDEAS!!! This is turning into an Urban Legend!!! Isn`t this whole message board about IDEAS??? I have been bored out of my mind reading pointless replies about the SAME TWO IDEAS (twister & interviews)!
I was LOOKING for WEDDING ACTIVITY IDEAS. So does anyone have any WEDDING ACTIVITY IDEAS PRETTY PLEASE????? I don`t care if they sound dumb, or if they are immature, or if they are traditional or modern, I just want WEDDING ACTIVITY IDEAS!!! ANY ideas!!! I would really appreciate it. =)

Thank you =)

And for ALL IDEAS...THANK YOU,

I hope I got my point across....LOL = P

Yes I agree, I am also one trying very hard to find some fun, non corny ideas to make my wedding reception fun...without a dance. We are thinking of having a quiz type thing with 2 teams, bride and groom.. Like a trivial pursuit. (Sorry, my spelling is aweful!) Or maybe a snowman making contest outside, but that is on the edge of being corny I think. Otherwise we might rent a hottub somewhere and go out of the reception hall, put on some casual clothes and GO OUT! Im still looking for more ideas so keep`m posted!