DIFFERENT Ideas 4 Fun Reception!

Personally I would leave the games out. Games are not good for wedding receptions. You`ll play some at your shower. After two or three hours of dancing, once the DJ shuts down people are ready to go home.

I kind of thought the same about games, but im hoping to do some marriage related ones in a tasteful way. I only have family coming so maybe I can get away w/ it. If I do , do I mention it on the invites?

I second not having games at the reception. But are you asking if you should mention on your invitation about playing games? No.

I agree with everyone else....I wouldn`t want to play games at a reception. You can have a special dance and eliminate by years of marriage. I`ve seen this done and it is usually the bride or grooms grandparents who are last dancing.....very cute. But games no, at least not for me. I even hate playing games when I go to pampered chef parties etc.

OK, Does anyone like the idea of games? What else can I do? I need ideas, most of the people are older and wont dance that long. Its a nice place I have it for over 5 hrs, Its a sit down dinner,pretty elegant. To be honest ,ive only been to in house weddings, So im not sure what to do to fill up the time. Ive heard them do at upscale weddings this thing where you put 1 penny under a plate at each table and that person gets the centerpiece,how about things like that? Im really interested in knowing peoples opinion,so please all opinions are welcome. Im going to have a dj and I see they advertise "props" anyone know what thats about? thanks
Stacy

That penny thing that you described at "upscale weddings" doesn`t seem upscale to me. It sounds more like a door prize at charitable function. I`ve never been to a wedding where they`ve had contests to give away table decor.

Maybe you should just cut down on the length of your reception, since you say that most of the guests are older (I`m assuming that means elderly). Or better yet, since you seem to think that they won`t dance that long, break up the dancing into segments. Do your introduction of the bridal party and first dance, bridal party dance before dinner. Have dinner served and then get everyone up and dancing aftwards. When the guests are ready for a dancing break, do the cake cutting, toasts, bouquet tosses, etc. More dancing after that and then a nice "rest" again while dessert and coffee are served.

I`m not saying to necessarily do those specific things or even in that specific order. But the idea is to break things up so that people don`t get worn out or bored.

Stacy,
You seem like you really want to play games. It`s your wedding, do whatever you want to do. You and your guests are there to celebrate the union of you and your husband. Everyone should be there because they love you and want to share a special moment with you.

Well, Its not that I was set on doing the game thing. And I knew my choice of words "upscale wedding" was going to end up in quotes. I meant upscale as in $35 per person and up.I guess you can look at it as a doorprize, but what does that make dollar dances? No, my guest are not elderly, I know I may have sounded like they were. I have the unfortunate kind of guest who will come just to see what kind of wedding i`ll have. Some will be truly happy for us. Most,, well who knows what theyr`e thinking. I just was trying to look for ways for less talking and more fun in spite of everything. In the end I will go traditional. But as I said, iv`e never attended a traditional wedding. Im an only child and my parents are dead.Im kind of a "keep to myself" type. So not to sound dumb,but what are the traditional reception things to do in a small wedding? Anna, thank you for your support:) stacy

Hi,
I`ve recently been to a wedding, wherein the dj announced asked for the first person(per table) to pull out a dollar bill. The DJ starts the music and the bill gets passed around. Whoever the bill stops at gets to assist in making sure the rest of the table is accomodated. The person that presented the bill just bought himself/herself a centerpiece.
Also, another wedding i`ve been too gave the centerpiece to the person with the closest birthday.
-Rhea-

Most of the "traditional wedding" things that I`ve seen done are schmoozing with other people during cocktail hour and after dinner, tossing of the boquet and garter, cutting the cake, first dance, and dancing. It shouldn`t be to hard to fill up 5 hours. For the first hour or so you`ll probably have a cocktail hour with drinks (alcoholic or not). Usually this is a time when the bride and groom meet with guests to do small chatting (boring and sometimes scary I know!). For the second hour you can do dinner. During these first two hours I would suggest just playing taped music in the background. It can be jazz, classical, whatever you want! This way you don`t have to pay for a dj and you still get calming music. After dinner you would have cake cutting, the first dance, boquet and garter tossing and then dancing.

I would suggest getting a DJ for the time that people are dancing. If you have a good DJ they can get anyone dancing! There are dances such as the anniversary dance where you start off with all married couples on the floor. The DJ eliminates couples by saying "those married for less than 24 hours please exit the floor" "those married for less than 5 years please find a seat" ect. Until you are left with one couple on the floor (the ones that have been married the longest). They may offer you a piece of marriage advice or something along those lines. You may have the guest book be something different such as the guest having their picture taken and writing you a letter instead of their name in a book.

These are just some ideas to keep guests intertained. Overall you want your guests to have a good time but really, this is your day. Above all you want you and your fiance to have a good time. You are in love and that`s what this day is about, to celebrate your love, not to try to make sure each guest attending is content. Good luck and congratulations!

Marie

Ladies, Thank you all for the ideas and advice! Keep em coming! I am now going to do as much traditional as possible! Im not sure what you meant by whoever gets the dollar assist in accomadating everyone at the table. But it sounds fun!!! Stacy

I attended a small wedding recently that featured a really fun activity at the reception. A date or future event/holiday/occasion was printed on the back of the guests placecards. Going around the room, each guest had to guess what the couple would be doing at that time in the future. It was a way for the guests to wish the couple well in a fun and creative way. I really liked it, and I`m not much for games.