Wedding Trends: Reception Games

It's time for the reception after that beautiful, tear jerking ceremony... but some of the guests don't look to enthused to hit the dance floor. How can you get them in a party mood? Pep up your guests with some of these fun games at your reception:

Table Games

Wedding I SPY - Not only is this fun for kids and adults alike, but it's a wonderful way to get extra photos from your wedding. Ask your guests to use their digital cameras or smartphones to capture the moments even the best photographers sometimes miss. Add a line on your 'I Spy' card with an address where guests can upload photos. Bonus: with digital cameras, you don't have to worry about wasting money developing less-than-stellar photos from disposables. photo credit: weddingvibe.com

Booklets - Come up with a question for each  table, and put a mini booklet and pens for guests to add their ideas. Some suggestions: What should we don on date nights? What should we name our first child? How should we celebrate our first anniversary? What's the secret to a happy marriage? photo credit: Captured by Aimee

Yard Games

Ring Toss - What could be more perfect for a wedding than a ring toss? Paint used bottles in your wedding colors, arrange in a wooden crate, and decorate embroidery hoops with pretty fabrics. photo credit: Two Shades of Pink 

Giant Jenga - An over-sized Jenga game is a cinch to create - all you need to do is take a trip to the hardware store for some lumber and have each cut to same length (a traditional Jenga set uses 54 blocks) photo credit: Young Hearts Photography

Group Games

The Shoe Game - This hilarious game is a great way for guests to get to know you better as you learn how much you really know about each other. Place two chairs back-to-back on the dance floor. Remove both of your shoes, then trade a shoe with your new spouse so that you're holding one of each. Then, have a designated person ask a series of questions about the two of you and your relationship (get sample questions here). After each question, hold up the shoe of the person you think has the best answer to the question. photo credit: Katelyn James Photography. 

The Kissing Game - There's always that one guest who expects the newlyweds to kiss every time he or she clink a glass. And while we know every bride and groom love smooching, kissing on command gets old - fast. Why not make it more challenging? In a fishbowl, add tasks a guest can perform to get the Just Married couple to kiss, from easy to wacky. Some suggestions - Kiss your significant other. Show Off your best moves on the dance floor. Tell a joke that'll make us laugh. Get your table to play duck-duck-goose with you. photo credit: Blue Bird Creative

While you're planning your wedding, don't forget about your guests. There are so many games and activities you can add to your reception so everyone can join in on the wedding celebration.