Ideas for evening entertainment at a small wedding with no disco!

[Wedding1234]

My son is getting married in mid Feb. Small wedding in a hotel with about 28 guests. There is a no loud music rule (so as not to disturb the hotel guests) so there won't be a disco or dancing etc in the evening.

There's going to be a period from about 4.15/4.30 to about 11 to fill.

The couple have thought of doing some board games for a little bit with drinks and there will be some buffet/nibbles early evening.

Has anyone done wedding entertainment without a disco/dancing? What did you do? They would love some ideas!

Thank you!

Why can't you have low level music? They must have a Db they will limit music to, could you have a live acoustic group like a string quartet, a small speaker with background music on etc so it's not sitting in silence?

I'd probably aim to have it as a more traditional day with a lunch, speeches and tea or coffee afterwards, then people go home. If I was there until 11pm, I'd expect to dance

Surely they allow some music? I can't imagine how they could ever expect to rent a function room with a no music rule, I've never heard anything like it! Could he ask if he could have a live singer with an acoustic guitar? A lot less noise than a disco. If not I've been to a wedding that had a company come in and set up casino tables so people could play roulette and blackjack etc. Maybe something like that? I dont think I'd enjoy having to sit and play board games at all.

How about a quiz in teams - maybe with a theme or themes that relate to the couple and other guests? You could have different rounds to break up the evening with gaps in between for socialising.

Some rounds could be activity rather than knowledge based - eg the best model of the couple made by each team from play-doh or plasticine (provided by you), a Pictionary or charades round, creating the most different words out of the couple’s names, etc. Maybe have some fun prizes.

Or, if you’ve money, pay for a magician to do a couple of performances through the evening interacting with guests.

Have things like a guest book and Polaroid camera, for people to add a photo and written comment for the couple to keep afterwards

A display of photos of the couple from childhood to now, will spark conversations too.

I’d also probably spread the speeches through the evening.

I’d actually love to go to a small wedding like this rather than one where the music is too loud and my feet are killing me hours before it is decent to leave. 😊 good luck!

We got married late afternoon and went off on honeymoon about 7pm!

It's completely ridiculous that there can't be any music! I just can't imagine people hanging around playing board games etc. I'd honestly just end the evening early after the meal, or it's going to seem really weird.

We're having 15 people and worried about it being a bit flat in the evening without the usual band or dj. We're not a fan of organised fun or board games or anything so as a last minute decision, we've booked an acoustic guitar and vocalist for our first dance and evening entertainment after dinner. We hired them to create a bit of atmosphere (and to save the hassle of creating a playlist) so after the first dance, we're happy for them just to read the room and play what suits. If people fancy dancing then fab, if they don't then it'll be lovely background music. We love to dance so there will be at least two people in the middle of the floor for some of the evening. Everyone is staying at the venue the night of the wedding so we just don't want the night to come to an early end after dinner.

How about a silent disco?

@SilverHairedCat

Why can't you have low level music? They must have a Db they will limit music to, could you have a live acoustic group like a string quartet, a small speaker with background music on etc so it's not sitting in silence?

Yes they can have music, just not loud enough for dancing/disco. There will be background music.

@Tryingtohelp23

How about a quiz in teams - maybe with a theme or themes that relate to the couple and other guests? You could have different rounds to break up the evening with gaps in between for socialising.

Some rounds could be activity rather than knowledge based - eg the best model of the couple made by each team from play-doh or plasticine (provided by you), a Pictionary or charades round, creating the most different words out of the couple’s names, etc. Maybe have some fun prizes.

Or, if you’ve money, pay for a magician to do a couple of performances through the evening interacting with guests.

Have things like a guest book and Polaroid camera, for people to add a photo and written comment for the couple to keep afterwards

A display of photos of the couple from childhood to now, will spark conversations too.

I’d also probably spread the speeches through the evening.

I’d actually love to go to a small wedding like this rather than one where the music is too loud and my feet are killing me hours before it is decent to leave. 😊 good luck!

Thanks! Some really great ideas there! I like the quiz idea. They love games so wanted something like that but a quiz with different activities gives the evening a focus and structure but incorporates the games idea.

Also really like the photo display and Polaroid camera and book....

We had music on low level.
I said in the invites there was no ‘entertainment’ as such after 7pm (when meal, cake etc would all be finished) and everyone just mingled and chatted and left when they were done.
By 11.30 when the venue closed there were about 10 of us left from a wedding of around 30 people.
It was lovely as those who wanted to get off early felt no pressure to stay and everyone enjoyed catching up.

Hiring a photo booth would probably be a good shout. The one at my friends wedding was really good fun and we all came away with photos/keyrings etc as a fun momento

Some ideas here

Silent disco? (The music is delivered through headphones)

Silent disco

Beer pong

'country fete' ideas - cake show etc

I went to a similar sized wedding years ago, also with no evening "entertainment". I remember it really fondly, I had a great evening chatting to other guests that I didn't know and also to other friends who were there. It was actually great to be able to hear people and have a conversation. It was also in a hotel and the bar area was lovely to sit in. I'm sure that it will be great OP, a disco isn't obligatory.

We had a covid wedding with 20 guests. We didn't have any entertainment, we had background music on and everyone just drank and chatted. It was really chilled out and lovely. I was worried it would be crap without a disco but it wasn't.

Some friends did a pub quiz after dinner about the happy couple.

It was really cute.
Your team were the people on your table.
Questions were things like:

what was the bride's favourite boy band when she was a teenager? (Take that)

What did the groom used to always insist on wearing to school when he was 3yrs old (His big sisters orange tuttu)

Where did the happy couple meet / go on their first date .. etc

It was a good icebreaker for the tables & fun.

A good magician can be really good fun. That would work really well with your guest numbers.

Friends had a cartoonist at their (much larger) wedding, who went round doing 5 minute cartoons of everyone for them to keep.

They saw him drawing on the street and asked him if he would do a wedding.

Silent disco and magician are what sprung to mind.

Where will it be? I know a great magician.

@Muchtoomuchtodo

Silent disco and magician are what sprung to mind.

Where will it be? I know a great magician.

New forest.....

@HoliHormonalTigerlilly

Some friends did a pub quiz after dinner about the happy couple.

It was really cute.
Your team were the people on your table.
Questions were things like:

what was the bride's favourite boy band when she was a teenager? (Take that)

What did the groom used to always insist on wearing to school when he was 3yrs old (His big sisters orange tuttu)

Where did the happy couple meet / go on their first date .. etc

It was a good icebreaker for the tables & fun.

That's a really nice idea.....

Another vote for silent disco. I’d be worried people will wander off well before 11 if it’s just board games and quizzes