Wedding Games for Guests: 12 Ideas by Moment and Space

You’ve been asked to keep a wedding crowd entertained, or you’re the one getting married and don’t want the gaps between speeches, food and dancing to drag. The best wedding games for guests are simple, optional and matched to the moment. Use table games while people wait and group games after the meal. Add lawn games for the drinks reception and a hosted game for the evening. Below are 12 ideas grouped that way, with a note on who each suits.

How to choose wedding games for guests

Pick games by the moment of the day and the space you have, then check them against your guest list. If you only remember one rule, make every game optional.

• Timing: table games fill the wait for food. Group games work best straight after the meal, before the dancing starts.
• Space: lawn games need dry ground and a back-up plan. Indoor games need room to move, so check the layout of the function room.
• Ages: keep rules to one sentence. If a grandparent and a nine-year-old can both join in, it will work.
• Drinking: don’t build games around alcohol. Some guests don’t drink, and a game that depends on it leaves them out.

Table games for the wait between courses

Table games work because guests are already seated, and nobody has to stand up or perform. They’re the easiest games to prepare in advance.

1. Photo scavenger hunt

Print a list of shots, such as “a selfie with the oldest guest” or “the couple’s first dance from behind”. Guests take photos on their phones and share them afterwards. It gets people mixing across tables.

2. Couple trivia

Put a short quiz about the couple on each table, with questions on how they met, their first holiday or their worst habits. Tables compete, and the couple can read out the answers later.

3. Mad libs

Guests fill in blanks in a story, then read it aloud on the table. It’s low pressure and gets plenty of laughs from adults.

Group games for after the meal

Group games get the room involved all at once, so keep them short, around ten minutes each, and have someone confident run them.

4. The shoe game

The couple sit back to back, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s. A host asks questions such as “who is more likely to be late?”, and they raise the shoe to answer.

5. Heads and tails

Everyone stands with their hands on their head or hips to answer each round, and guests drop out when they guess wrong. The last person standing wins. It suits big rooms and mixed ages.

6. Newlywed quiz

Ask the couple questions separately, then compare answers in front of everyone. It’s gentler than it sounds when the questions are kind, and it gives guests a better picture of the couple.

Lawn and outdoor games for the drinks reception

Lawn games give guests something to do with a drink in one hand and a conversation going. They’re one of the best ways to make a long reception feel relaxed. If you’re thinking about a bigger outdoor setup, our family fun days cover inflatables, giant Connect 4 and mini golf.

7. Giant Connect 4

It needs no explanation and works for children and adults alike. People drift in and out between conversations.

8. Table football

A table football table outdoors gives a small crowd a reason to gather. It’s a good match for a summer wedding.

9. Sack race and tug of war

These sports-day classics are a regular part of our outdoor team building. At a wedding, they work best for a short, loud burst in the late afternoon, so keep them to willing guests and have a clear space.

Hosted entertainment for the evening

Hosted entertainment is worth considering when the day is long, the guest list is large or you don’t want friends running games. The same formats we run at corporate events can carry across to a wedding. See our wedding events page for more.

10. Game show

Taskmaster-style challenges, Cube-style challenges, quizzes and bingo can all run with a professional host and company-style theming, which at a wedding can mean your own names and colours. Setup is included. It suits a post-dinner slot before the band or DJ.

11. Arcade games

Retro arcade machines, air hockey, table football, darts and shuffleboard run in a free-flow, drop-in format. Guests play for a few minutes and return to the party, which makes it good for people who don’t want to dance.

12. Traitors-style evening game

Our Betrayers format is inspired by the TV show The Traitors and is adapted to the space and group size, with a professional presenter and AV included. It suits a smaller wedding or an evening gathering where guests already know each other.

Mistakes to avoid

• Too many games. Two or three, spread across the day, is enough. Guests want to talk too.
• No host. Without someone to explain and start a game, it stalls. Appoint a confident friend or hire a host.
• Forcing participation. Never pull people up unwillingly. Let quieter guests watch.
• Ignoring the weather. Keep an indoor option ready for every lawn game.
• Embarrassing questions. Keep couple quizzes kind. Check with the couple first.

FAQs

What games do people play at weddings?

The most common are table games such as photo scavenger hunts, couple trivia and mad libs, group games like the shoe game and heads and tails, and lawn games such as giant Connect 4. For the evening, a hosted game show or arcade is another option.

How do you entertain guests at a wedding?

Give guests something to do in each gap: a table game during the wait for food, a group game after the meal, and lawn or arcade games during the drinks reception and evening. Keep everything optional so quieter guests can watch rather than take part.

What are good indoor wedding games for guests?

Table games, the shoe game, heads and tails and a newlywed quiz all work indoors with no extra space. If you have a function room, a hosted game show or arcade-style games can run alongside the dancing for guests who want a break from the dance floor.

Are wedding games a good idea for mixed ages?

Yes, if you choose games with simple rules and no embarrassment. Photo hunts, trivia, giant lawn games and arcade games suit children, grandparents and everyone between. Avoid anything that puts one person on the spot or relies on drinking.

Planning a wedding and want something hosted? Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a tailored proposal.