What ‘fun’ wedding activities were actually fun?

[Blinko]

I am in the throngs of planning my wedding and trying to think of fun activities my guests can enjoy. It’s a late Summer wedding in a country house.

We are doing a pub quiz (teams will be the tables) as that’s how we met. There will be a prize as I just think that gets people actually into it.

There is a very pretty lawn so we will be putting out croquet, boulles, quoits etc.

And setting up board game (along with some of our fav snacks) on each table as that’s a big part of our family get togethers.

What fun activities have you ACTUALLY enjoyed? I’ve personally enjoyed tug of war at barn wedding but that wouldn’t exactly fit our vibe.

I know some will say all these games and stuff are just not necessary butI personally enjoy them. And just want the option of doing them

For my parents' ruby wedding party we did a pub quiz and all the questions related in someway to them with lots of multiple choice questions so that people could make a stab at an answer. Questions like "which of these singers is the same age as dad?", "what did they do on their first date" etc. That went down well and because the guests had different connections with them (friends, family etc) it made it a more even contest. Needless to say mum scored more than dad!

The only wedding activity I have ever experienced was a ceilidh, and that was really good fun. I had no idea wedding activities were even a thing????

I love this. Thanks for sharing

What I find fun is plenty food (not just enough for the top table), plenty drink that’s either free or not too expensive ( not just for the top table ), places to sit away from the band , a ceilidh , no or very few speeches and very little standing around waiting.

I had a gameshow night for my 50th as I am not fussed about the usual drinking/dancing party.

It was great, the man who runs them has podiums and a screen and its really good fun to join or just watch. we had a massive queue of people wanting a go! I got lots of good feedback about how different and fun it was. Happy to pass on his details, he runs pub quizzes too and is very very popular.

A ceilidh is timeless so it can never be passe! I think you need a Scottish connection though.

to the other poster who said ceilidhs “aren’t inclusive”, what do you mean by that? By their very definition they are.

sorry OP it maybe “opt-in” fun but it’s still planned ahead which is offputting. What if the people not joining in feel awkward about not doing it?

Went to a wedding where they'd hired black jack and roulette tables and it was brilliant! Great way of mixing with other guests!

I think it could work but the timing would be crucial and I’d worry about it interrupting the flow of the day. You don’t want to be doing it before dinner as everyone will be hangry and then after dinner people generally like to mingle/get away from the table/vape/go to the bar etc.

Oh yes please!

Your wedding sounds lovely and folks will recognise what you've chosen things e.g. the pub quiz.
Ours was a reunion of three different groups of friends who tend to meet in person once a year or so, plus assorted relatives. So it was really a huge reunion with a wedding thrown into the mix. We also had a board game option. People liked it as it gave tacit permission to sit, have a drink, catch up, in a room where they weren't competing with music/dancing.
Have a smashing day when it comes!

Okay but on the other thread about weddings on AIBU there are TONNES (if not the majority) of posters complaining about how boring it is just standing around at weddings with nothing to do.

That's because most weddings are far too long. If anyone is leaving their guests for literally hours while they go off for a photoshoot, consider if this is enjoyable for guests. A much later ceremony would be better.

A few years ago my friend's son had his late summer wedding party in a country house setting with croquet on the lawn etc.

The most fun activity was a black taxi where you and a couple of friend's got in the back and put on various rubber animal masks and posed for photos! The guy just had a laptop and send the photos to your phone.

It was hilarious and even the most straight-laced of guests joined in

Thanks for sharing, this was exactly the type of thing that I was hoping people would post.

We had adult (as well as kid) sized space hoppers. They were a hit and we had some great photos of the bridal party racing them!

I think it all sounds like fun. Board games that don't take long or can be stopped if wanted would be fun. Boggle and checkers are two that come to mind.

I would love to go to a wedding like that. More fun than just drinking, eating and dancing.

Have a wonderful wedding and a blessed marriage. 💖

Can't think of any activity that was actually fun at any wedding I've ever been too. However the best weddings where the ones where you could just wander from table to table and catch up with people or meet new people cos they were sitting at the same table as people you already knew at that table. Even better if there was a nice garden so you could go sit outside and be away from the noise.

Disco's are the absolute worst thou as you can't talk to people over the loud music.

We gave the men toy glider planes as wedding favours, there are lots of pictures of people playing with them and having fun. We also had some lawn games.

I would love to go to a wedding with a a pub quiz, I think it sounds great fun.

Don’t understand why anyone feels they have to make sure the guests aren’t bored by entertaining them like a bunch of infants? They are there to celebrate the joining of two people in marriage, with other people who presumably care about the couple too. They’re being fed and watered and get to meet/catch up with other guests. If they can’t pass the time amicably for a few hours over a meal, the bar and the evening dance, that’s their problem, surely?

Honestly, the wedding industry has made this so complicated (think £££) when it really doesn’t need to be.

And no, I wouldn’t be providing board games.

Sorry but nothing you've written sounds fun to me. It sounds like a team build event. Good food, good music and good company make fab weddings

When ds1 got married last year we had some games outside including cornhole, swing ball and axe throwing (plastic ones!!!)

they were very popular especially swing ball which was a last minute panic buy from me

I'd love a quiz, it's a nice idea IMO

A great band or decent DJ has been the highlight of loads of weddings. I'm in the MN minority in that I'm not a fan of a ceilidh though they remind me of school.

One wedding we went to had a village fair type theme and had a helter skelter dodgems and a carousel, games like splat the rat, hook a duck, that game where you hit the thing with a big hammer and try and ring the bell etc as well as candy floss, popcorn, a cake stall, hot dogs and burgers etc the favours were tombola tickets for various prizes that was really good fun one of the best weddings I've been to.

One we went to had a magician going round the tables who was very impressive.

'The most fun activity was a black taxi where you and a couple of friend's got in the back and put on various rubber animal masks and posed for photos!'

Sounds like that dogging documentary that was on Channel 4 a few years ago 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️

I can't imagine there being many takers for boards games at a wedding. However, air hockey, fussball, pinball machines and the like might draw in a few people. They would be great for kids too, if you have some at the wedding. You could maybe have a few gaming consoles set up.

As for "tradional" board games, perhaps Twister?

Giant Jenga is always the best and gets quite funny to watch too! Been to several weddings with this

Twister is also fun once people have had a few drinks

I would hate all the things you have suggested and would not participate.
They're not my idea of fun at all, nor what I would expect at a wedding.
Sorry if that's not what you want to hear.