Copyright 2010 WeddingForEveryone.com
If you are at a wedding do not dance
and do not know too many people at
the wedding reception other than the
bride or groom, weddings can quickly
become somewhat dull for many
guests. It can get very expensive to
let all of these people who do not
know anyone else but the bride or
groom bring a guest so that they
have someone to talk to. Instead,
consider putting that "and guest"
money to use of finding ways to
make guests interact more and have
fun. If your wedding is this summer or
fall, there is still time to implement
most of these ideas. Here are some
ways to keep your guests entertained
without spending a fortune.
1. Hire dance instructors to teach
guests how to do certain dances like swing, meringue, polka, and the
tango. This allows people who do not know each other to meet and
interact instead of hanging out at the vegetable dip. It allows means more
people will be up dancing later. Having the instructors available early in the
reception allows for some practice time.
2. Have the bar set up with some interesting interactive drink, like a vodka
ice shoot or have a chocolate fountain to dip fruit, pretzels and pound cake
on a round table to guest can interact while dipping their treats.
3. Hire a caricaturist so your guests can post for him/her to do draw
pictures of your guests for them to take home.
4. If your guests do not seem like they have that much of a sense of
humor, consider having a photographer take posed photos of guests that
they are involved in and can keep. This can be a college student or
someone who has a knack for photography but not necessarily your bridal
photographer. Since they are already all dressed up, it is a good time for
them to have a more formal, professional photo taken.
5. Rent a photo booth so guests can take home an amazing personal
favor and take pictures with old and new friends.
6. HP sells a great portable printer for less than $75 that can download
camera phone photos or digital photos and print out pictures on the spot.
Set up a table so guests can take pictures and print them right then. Don't
forget to ask for them to print a copy for you to keep as well.
And don't forget supplies like photo paper, ink, and of course some
batteries or station it by an electrical outlet.
7. Have some entertainment at about the middle of the dinner when things
get a little slow and people are somewhat hungry between courses, such
as a singer, a local band, a magician, dancers, something reflective of
your heritage or background. Many college students can work this type of
event cheaply and are happy to work for a reasonable fee.
8. If you have many sports fans amongst your crowd, and if they actually
choose to attend your wedding instead of watching a big game that day,
consider renting a projection TV in an out of the way corner of things so
that they can keep up with the game and still enjoy the wedding.
9. Children who are bored are often a source of trouble, so it is best to
keep them entertained with crayons, coloring books, toys, puzzles, games, etch-a-
sketches, and similar items that can be a special favor for them to occupy themselves at a
table full of adults, or if you are brave, at a special kids table that can be monitored by a
responsible teen. A portable DVD player with a movie or two or another room with a movie
playing might keep kids happy while other more grown up activities are going on that they
are not participating in.
10. If you plan something for entertainment - allow at least twenty minutes between the
entertainment event and a wedding related event such as your first dance or cutting the
cake so that the events of your wedding don't just blend into the hired entertainments.
