What ‘fun’ wedding activities were actually fun?

My sister has an idea that she didn’t end up doing at her wedding but I’d have done it at mine if we weren’t already married.

She thought that instead of small favours for everyone spend the whole favour budget on two or three big prizes. Then on the inside of everyone’s place name write a unique number.

Then at the top table draw the numbers and then people have the surprise of looking under their place name and then winning a decent prize. Bottle of champagne or whiskey even flight vouchers.

She went with traditional favours in the end

At our wedding we got married at a venue similar to yours in the summer. We had an evening hog roast and unfortunately after all my wife’s effort it’s what people remember the most. Not exactly a fun activity but appeared to keep the men entertained on the lawn.

my sisters wedding, in the church, the vicar did a game of Mr & Mrs after the service before they did the signing. They both sat back to back with one of their shoes and one of the other persons shoes and then depending on their answer held up the corresponding shoe. It was more like who made the first move, who said I love you first, who snores, who's always right, who is the best cook etc. It was fun.

I think it sounds great OP. Never been to a wedding with a pub quiz but would love it. Presumably it will be pitched at the right level so that most people have a reasonable chance of getting a least a couple of answers. And I think most people seem to have overlooked that you said the games would be for those who don’t fancy dancing, rather than instead of dancing. From some responses you’d think that you were planning to tie your guests to chairs with no food or music and force them to play board games.

I think your plans sound great and really not forced fun at all. Enjoy your day!

I agree with a pp that the only good group activity at a wedding is a ceilidh.

I went to a wedding with a quiz, it was annoying—and I absolutely love a quiz (my pub quiz team are reigning champions). Everyone was pissed and not at all in the mood to focus on questions when we just wanted to chat and catch up with family.

Just provide plenty of food and drinks, have a good DJ, and it will all flow from there. The board and lawn games for people who want them are a good idea, but not a big group quiz.

I love the pub quiz idea. I think that would fit well into a wedding and be a good icebreaker at tables of people who may not know each other.

I love a ceilidh at a wedding (or any occasion).

Sadly I haven't been to many weddings and none with activities apart from a disco.
I think your wedding sounds lovely OP as long as nothing is compulsory.

Two of my uncles spread a rumour that my DH's aunt had recently won the Euromillions when I got married. The wedding was a weekend affair and it was hilarious.😆

Probably not the kind of thing you're looking for @Blinko. My advice to you would be to enjoy your guests and enjoy the day. It passes so quickly. Congratulations on your forthcoming nuptials.😊

I hate pub quizzes so much. Intensely. But I'm an immigrant so mostly don't understand any of the questions.

I think lawn games are super fun actually so would definitely play some of them. You should get good versions though - or have a company do it - as the ones you get at the shops are a bit rubbish. What about something like archery / axe throwing if you want to go all in on it?

Instead of board games what about quicker things - Jenga type options? Things you can abandon halfway for a drink and doesn't require everyone to be quiet. I think that might be fun for a wee corner of the quieter space. Personally I just want an excuse to dance and have a few drinks but appreciate there are plenty who prefer the chatting (or not chatting!) option.

I had a line dancing instructor teach us some dances for a little while at my milestone birthday party and that went down really well. Lots of people joined in, some people watched.

I loved the Photo Booth with props etc at a couple of weddings that I’ve been to. Especially as you could take the photos away with you there and then

Absolute number one priority: FOOD. Lots of it. Good quality. No waiting for ages to get it. No going up 'table by table' to get it (the last table just gets the dregs).

Any games on tables should be extremely simple and quick to play, and most people should know them already, so stick to old favourites. Connect 4 would work, most board games would not, as they are too complicated and take too long. Also, expect lots of pieces to get lost, so the sets won't be much use afterwards.

Some things on the lawn might work, e.g. bowling, but a proper game of croquet would tie up both guests and equipment for too long.

Likewise, a pub quiz would have to be short and simple, no more than 10-15 minutes - can you amend the usual format to make it short?
Then take the sheets away to mark, as marking and finding the winner is boring and takes too long.

People don't need much 'entertaining' at a wedding - chatting and catching up with friend or relatives they haven't seen in a while is the actual entertainment.

Sorry I would hate a pub quiz and board games, but it’s part of your theme so roll with it.

One of the best weddings I went to had crazy golf, lawn games and fun fair sort of games outside, plus a bouncy castle for kids. It was done by a proper company who came and set it up and staffed it.

I'm sorry OP but none of these things would appeal to me in the slightest.

I think it might be a cultural thing as I'm not British & weddings where I'm from are big, lively affairs with all generations there, big emphasis on good food & drink & much dancing & they go on till the early hours.

I simply can't imagine playing board games as an adult at a wedding

I've noticed that a huge proportion of people on MN seem to detest weddings & the weddings described are v sedate affairs....all over in time for cocoa in bef at 10pm type thing

Its totally alien to me...

Honestly MN is full of people with 9,000 reasons why they can’t just shut up and grit their teeth during an inoffensive - if not their ideal activity - bit of a wedding. Presumably your guests aren’t all victims of a pub quiz massacre that’s left them with PTSD, so will all be fine with it. And if they’re not, they can smile politely and let others take the lead. And I say this as someone who dislikes organised fun and has either put up and shut up at weddings, or smiled politely and opted out with a drink at the bar.

Croquet on the lawn. Or skittles inside.
A photo booth kept the kids occupied for hours.
An artwork where everyone can contribute.
A quiet area with nice music for cups of tea etc.

I've been to a wedding where we played bingo with the groom calling out the numbers.This was followed by a pub quiz.
It was all good fun and a good way to fill in time before the meal and dancing.

I do like a photo opportunity at a wedding. Have been to ones with Polaroid type cameras and photo booth, so people can take a physical print home. Most pictures are never printed these days, so this can go straight on the fridge.

I've heard of weddings with a lottery scratch card at each place setting which sounds fun. Pub quiz is fine but keep it short!

Yes I’m really extroverted and I don’t want to be forced into “fun” at weddings. Fun comes naturally from being with others

Any type of ‘fun’ activity would just fill me with anxiety. I’d be so uncomfortable in any situation like that. I just want to eat nice food and maybe have a bit of a dance.

Drinking wine and chatting to friends.

Seriously no one wants forced fun at a wedding. Don’t bother - just make sure that people are well fed and watered

I'm just interested in the ceremony and then food and drink.

I'd actively avoid having to do something like a tug of war.

I do enjoy one of those silly photos booths though. They are fun and my kids love them.

For kids they've enjoyed a bouncy castle at a wedding and an Easter Egg hunt.

I would probably have a go at some lawn games so long as they were just available to play as and when people fancied.

A quick pub quiz would be OK.