What ‘fun’ wedding activities were actually fun?

One of the best weddings I attended had a team in running a murder mystery during the reception - it got everyone talking at the tables and kept everyone entertained.
We had a play money poker table and roulette running during the evening reception - in a separate space to the Dj. I had been doubtful about booking it but we have a few avid card players in the family and my husband thought they would enjoy it. it turned out to be really popular and is the part of the reception that my friends remember the most.

I think your pub quiz sounds fabulous! I wouldn't be bothered about the lawn games but they're hardly organised fun (which I despise!) unless they're forced to play which they're not going to be! Board games - yeah why not, I wouldn't play but someone might!

Listen, it's no body else's opinion that matters here Duck, it's your wedding day and if these things are something that you'd enjoy then that's all that matters! There's really only 2 people who should wake up the next day and think 'that was the best day ever', the rest are irrelevant and if the other guests have a grand time too then it's a just a Billy Bonus!

We are talking almost 30 years ago when this wasn't a thing but it was so simple. We got old photos of most of the family attending and added them to a double sided sheet of paper on each table. People loved finding themselves on it - in their 1970's get ups.

I agree that most weddings are incredibly dull so your activities sound really fun!

I went to a wedding recently which had darts set up ( away from any children) and that was a great hit.

Your ideas sound great! I've been to a couple of weddings with quizzes and they were definitely fun and good ice breakers. My immediate thought when you described the setting was outdoor giant boardgames/ lawn games. I think they're things that can be hired?

One of the most fun weddings I have been to involved a ceilidh. Not something I would have previously considered but it turned out to be exhilarating, infectious and hilarious. Really loosened people up so that the informal dancing part of the evening started off with a full dance floor. And the handful of people who weren't dancing had a great laugh at the expense of the more drunk participants. Win win.

Enough food and booze goes without saying. I have fond memories of surprise cheese and cake platters appearing late on, fuelling a second wind of fun.

I loved:

the reception that was a ceilidh

the one with a gorgeous area for drinking outside and no pressure to dance

the one that sent us up and down the river in the hotel grounds in little rowing boats

the one that had a deluxe midnight feast

the ones that didn’t have over an hour of formal photographs

the ones with a truly excellent dj

the ones where the bride and groom enjoyed every second of it 😍

What are the people who are doing lawn games wearing on their feet? I wouldn't be doing that in my dressy shoes

I think do what you like but don’t let it make you anxious if it doesn’t quite go as planned!
To all the suggestions of casino type activities or betting- please don’t do this. I have a close relative in recovery with a gambling addiction and someone in that situation doesn’t need to be confronted with gambling where they wouldn’t expect it.
A recovering alcoholic would know there’s going to be booze at a wedding and could choose to attend or not, but a surprising number of people have problems with gambling so it could be really shit for them if they were expected to “ fun” gamble unexpectedly.

Fun - outdoor evening food options. Felt nice to get fresh air, and chance for people to have a gossip. Examples - taco truck. Hog roast, with fire pit. Toasted s’mores would be amazing!

Definitely not fun - sparklers (ie to get that perfect sparkler shot for the photographer). Got barked at and the stress of all doing them at the same time - rubbish!

But it's your wedding? It doesn't get anymore personal than that, surely?

Been to some brilliant ceilidhs at weddings

Table tennis kept kids amused

I wouldn't mind the quiz thing if it is general knowledge. Wouldn't be a great fan of it all being related to the Bride and Groom.

I would enjoy the Casino thing to. I hate the disco/dancing part of the evening so actually would not mind the boardgames as long as they are something I would be familar with.

I am actually going to a wedding soon where I am going solo and will only know the Bride. I think the quiz would be a good icebreaker for me.

I'm Scottish and every wedding I've been to in Scotland or any Scottish friends/family members wedding has a ceilidh. The are the total norm for weddings up here, have been since I was a teeny tot and are absolutely brilliant fun for all ages - everyone loves a ceilidh. If you won't have Scottish guests then hire a ceilidh band with a caller.

I would go quick games hungry hippos, connect 4, jenga, ones which are easy to pick up and play without knowing rules.

I like tinderbox to, might be difficult after a few wines but I think great idea!

Would love you to! Another idea I love is that everyone's place card has 4 small cards and envelopes in of 4 different colours, and you ask everyone between courses to write their wishes for you at 5 years married, 10 years, 15 and 20 years. They seal their envelopes and then on your 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th wedding anniversaries you open the cards with wishes on. It's like your wedding lasts forever!!

I’d stick to short boardgames if I were you.

I recommend Herd mentality.

Singing waiters at dds wedding really got people going, great fun.

It sounds like fun and you are trying your best to be great hosts and give your guests a wonderful day too. As long as you are careful with your timings and explain that people who don’t want to absolutely don’t have to join in, you won’t please everyone no matter what. I went to one that had a little cake decorating stand and all the guests decorated their own cupcakes with prizes for the most creative. That was very sweet. I hope you have a wonderful wedding and an absolutely blessed marriage. Congratulations.

At our wedding, each person's place card was an envelope with their name on. Inside was a large jigsaw piece (think toddler jigsaw size). We asked everyone before the starter was served to write their guestbook message on the back of the piece, and then keep hold of it. In the turnaround of the room from day to evening, we moved everyone to the adjacent bar area where we had a big table set up and the Master of Ceremonies asked everyone to place their jigsaw piece on the table. It became quite competitive and funny with people trying to fit pieces together and work out the image, which was all our guests individual photos, in the style of the Dr Pepper Lonely Hearts Club album cover, with our wedding date in the flower bed at the bottom. When complete it was 80 pieces large, and 15 years on I still have it in a double sided frame so I can see the lovely messages on the reverse too. Great fun little activity, and I've loads of great pics of people putting it together too x

I think I've fallen in love with you!