Dancing and Alternative Entertainment

I'd guess people will mingle and do a pretty good job of entertaining themselves, but games aren't a bad idea to have available if that's something your guests would be interested in. I'd definitely try to include more party games, and less games that take a long time to play. And even if you don't want dancing, I'd try to get some background music playing just so it's not quiet/talking. Overall, I think this is definitely a know-your-crowd kind of deal. If dancing really isn't going to go over well, and games will, go with games.

I am having the same issue. We will have music playing, but I don't anticipate a ton of dancing. Our reception will only be about 3 hours long, so I understand not wanting FH to get sucked into an hour long card game... I am considering doing something like giant yard Jenga so many people can play at once and it's usually over pretty quickly.

We're doing a brunch wedding and FH and I are awkward AF when it comes to dancing. We're hand-picking all of our songs and plan to have the playlist run as background noise. There might be some dancing, but overall I think people will mostly mingle.

I hand made a few chalk-board games (connect the dots, word search, hangman, tic tac toe) and plan to put out jenga and a deck of cards. I'm hoping this will be enough to satisfy all of our guests as they can choose between talking, dancing, and games.

I had games at mind available if people wanted but I'd say only the tables with kids really used them.

Mine* I think people would mingle amongst themselves just fine

These are the Chalkboard games btw!

My personal opinion is that I would find it odd to play games at a wedding reception. I might instead hire some form of entertainment...a comedian or a singer to do a little concert or a group that does something like dueling pianos. This way they guests can enjoy a set scheduled event after the cocktail hour and dinner wind down. Alternatively, maybe hire someone to do a group trivia game like quizzo that gets the whole crowd involved.

I think board and card games take a long time to play thus, less socializing. But it would still be a good idea to have some music in the background. Let those who want to dance, dance. And the rest, let them do their thing.

View Quoted Comment I went to a Christmas party/event where they did a 3 hour murder mystery and had guests involved. It was pretty cool. My FH's friend was the killer, so our table had the killer lol.

Why can't you have both? Let your mom hire a DJ, and set up a small dance floor. AND set out some board games. That way your guests have options.

View Quoted Comment That sounds like fun!

I think DJ to keep the mood is a good idea. I'm also stumped on what to do with not many dancers. Our guests are mostly family so they'll be older, a lot are trying for kid #2 or #3 so theres a good change there will tired pregnant women. I'm trying to think of something aside from the shoe game that's funny but possibly seated.

View Quoted Comment Ours is six hours we're having dueling swords habatchi for dinner so that'll kill some time. But they'll still be like three hours after that. It's an intinate indoor venue so I'm not sure what party games there are that would work well in our space.

View Quoted Comment Idk our venue is very cosy and our budget is pretty tight. It'd be for after dinner. We're having dueling swords hibachi for dinner so that will kill time. I'd almost do trivia but I'm the nerd of the family so I feel that would alienate my family just as much as the board games.

View Quoted Comment I feel like my friends would get very into something like that and my family would be weirded out. Also the murder mystery parties I've been too take up hours so I'm not sure about it logistically.

View Quoted Comment Then, I would suggest to not worry so much about games and allow your guests to mingle and talk with each other. A little music in the background would be perfect.

Just my honest opinion but I think there should be some kind of music. You never know, if the mood is right and people are having fun then there might be some dancing. I think if your mom wants to hire a dj you should go for it! I don’t think there is anything wrong having games on hand for those who wanted to do that as an alternative but I wouldn’t chose that as your main source of entertainment. Again just my thought on it, you know your guests best! Congrats 🎈

View Quoted Comment We can have both a dance floor/ music and the games but I wouldn't want anyone to pay big money for a DJ when they'd only really be used for an hour or two. Seems a silly expense and depending on their set up would take up a lot of room in the venue for something less than half the guests would use or enjoy. I'm mainly concerned FH won't interact with my family if they're dancing and he's playing cards with his buddies.

View Quoted Comment They're well be music and dancing either way. I just planned making a playlist and putting and using my karaoke machine as the speaker and microphone for announcements. It's loud enough trust me. My mom's on a super tight income and already has gifted us so much for the wedding. I'd hate for her to spend big money hiring a DJ just for them to turn on a list and sit there the whole night. Like I said my family will dance to like seven songs and be done with it and that's 30 people out of 100.

View Quoted Comment

The DJ does more than play the dancing music. They also play dinner music, grand entrance music, cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc. Regardless, it's nice to have music in the background. If your mom is offering, then that means she is okay with the expense. None of your guests are going to be one big cohesive group at your wedding. There will be some people dancing, some hanging outside, some hanging at the bar, some sitting at their tables all night, etc. But it's nice to have the option. My FH doesn't dance, so he never went out on the dance floor except for our first dance and mother / son dance. Honestly, I'd feel weird as a guest if there was no music and only board games. BUT you know your crowd, and I don't. Board games seem like they'd be more apt to segregating everyone and preventing people from mingling. And I probably wouldn't let your FH play any games, because it's y'all's job as the B&G to go around mingling with everyone as much as possible.....and your family won't be dancing the entire time, so he can interact with them when they aren't dancing.