Fun ideas for sober receptions

I can't imagine needing/wanting alcohol so much that I sneak it in anywhere.

View Quoted Comment It happened at FH’s cousin’s cash bar wedding a few years ago. People kept leaving the reception to go out to their cars and drink out of full bottles. Everyone got hammered because there was no bartender to cut them off when they’re tailgating, and the bride and groom ended up with a lot of problems because there was underage drinking going on in the parking lot. And that was just for a cash bar! I can’t imagine an alcohol-free wedding and how many problems that could cause. I didn’t have a sip of alcohol that entire night, and I felt so bad for the bride and groom. Even their closest family members (I’m talking VIP table people) missed important parts of the reception because they were in the parking lot.

View Quoted Comment That is so sad that those people are so dependant on alcohol that they felt the need to not only leave an important event to consume it, but allow minors to consume it as well. I have been to dry weddings, and there was no clandestine drinking, so it is definitely something particular to the people at each function as opposed to a correlation with the type of function.

I mean this in a very curious way and not mean at all...I truly want to know!

I have read the CGs many times. Every time a poster asks nicely for everyone to give her ideas and not bash (whether it be alcohol, money dance, catering) someone brings up that the poster can not say this. I truthfully can not see where exactly in the community guidelines it says that a person can not make this request. Please someone help me because I am truly lost. Maybe it is right in front of my eyes and I am just missing it.

View Quoted Comment

Mrs BdeG, I have a hunch what "you do you" means.....

OP - Have a dry wedding. Let people know, and be prepared for it to be a short wedding reception. I am sober myself (yay me) however we keep alcohol in our home but that is our choice; I am not tempted in the least. We are serving it at our wedding because to me, that is proper hosting. I would not NOT serve drinks because a few folks have an issue. It seems a lot of posters want to have a dry wedding as a cost cutting measure and that is where trouble can come from. If people want to drink trust me, they WILL find a way. Many a dry wedding has been ruined from Uncle Ernie still getting hammered and tipping over the wedding cake. He drank before showing up!

Find a caricature artist, a magician, something along those lines.

View Quoted Comment Do a consumption bar instead of a cash bar. It's rude to have your guests pay for anything at an event your hosting.

I am having a dry reception as my wedding and the reception is at the church I grew up going to even though I now attend elsewhere and no I did not inform my guest of that. I would assume they would know that since it is at the church. If someone has an attitude about that it ket’s me know that is what they were there for and not to celebrate our day.

View Quoted Comment "Deprive" just the word choice alone is troubling to me. No one is being "deprived" if they don't have alcohol.

View Quoted Comment In what way is it troubling? Please explain

View Quoted Comment Again, the definition of "well hosted" I'm sure does not include alcohol.

View Quoted Comment I’m sure “well hosted” does include alcohol.

View Quoted Comment I think I just did. The fact that it is assumed people are being "deprived" if they don't have alcohol. It's not food or water. It's alcohol. JMO. Not asking you to agree.

View Quoted Comment Please quote me your source.

The shoe game can be really fun. The DJ puts you and your FH back to back and you each have one of the bride's shoe and one of the groom's shoe. They then ask you questions, and you raise the shoe for which one of you you think answers the question the best.

I saw one wedding that put different board games out at each of the cocktail tables, that could be a fun way to entertain people.

View Quoted Comment Well you are calling the rule of etiquette troubling...so okay?

Since you're specifically asking about games... this is perhaps more of a bridal shower type thing - that's where we played it. But it was the only game I've played at a shower that I thought was really fun and we all died laughing while doing it.

The bride and groom wrote out the story of their first date prior to the shower. They then took out specific words in the story to make it like Mad Libs. We each filled out the sheet of blank words and the bride picked from them and ended up reading three different versions of the story out loud based on our responses. Probably too complicated for a wedding but just throwing it out there. It was a really cute thing and the three different stories were hilarious. You could always just have people shout out words and pick one to fill in the blank. It could be first date, how you met, first trip together, whatever.... Have someone keep the actual story separate so you don't know which one you'll be reading.

**PS - those of you passing judgment on a dry wedding should really be ashamed of yourselves. Alcoholism is a serious disease and damages more families and relationships than anything else. If people want to have a sober wedding due to issues surrounding alcoholism (or any other reason for that matter) then it's their choice and as such should absolutely be respected. I'm a drinker with the best of them and prefer alcohol as a guest but I would *NEVER* presume to bash someone for maintaining sobriety and doing what they need to do either for themselves or their loved ones in order to support that - at THEIR wedding.

View Quoted Comment Where does it state that? Is it this that you are referring to, because I think the intent is for supportive and informative content.

...conduct themselves with a high degree of integrity, decency, and respect in order to ensure that all Community voices can be heard and everyone can find the support and information they need.

I saw where it states that you can not post content that is disrespectful.

• This is an inclusive community - you may not post anything that is abusive, threatening, slanderous, profane, disrespectful or belligerent against any individual or groups of individuals for any reason.
  
  I think asking for an opinion on something, and only asking for what you want to hear is one thing. She already made a decision for a dry wedding, and made a point to say it is not up for a discussion. She is asking for people to stay on topic. The question was asking for activity ideas for a dry wedding, not what do you think of a dry wedding. I have friends who are not providing alcohol due to their and their family's religious reasons. My opinion about what the intent of these forums are versus yours are just different. I guess defending people who wants "to bash" other people's idea is more important than providing helpful information that Suzie asked for.

A good DJ is a must, they can keep a party going.

I love the board games on cocktail tables idea! Also along that theme, giant chess is always fun. (And I've played in my formal wear, its even more fun, makes it feel like Alice in Wonderland).

Everyone suggests crayons for kids, but for adults to! Have a "Adults as Kids" Table, where everyone can draw on the (paper) table cloth, and play with glitter glue and stuff.

Have glow sticks, and necklaces, so when it gets later and the dancing gets going you can turn the lights down even more and everyone can glow in the dark.

A late night snack of an ice cream bar, or something sounds AMAZING. I love the lemonade bar idea, but I'm also all about lemonade in all its forms.

If you have outside areas lawn games can be really fun, and a bonfire with roasted marshmallows! Pull the theme in and have a s'mores wedding cake earlier in the evening.

People will have fun if you're having fun and inviting them to celebrate with you.

THIS. This this this this this.

While I don't agree with not having alcohol, it's your wedding and not mine.

Ideas

Lawn games (we are having cornhole, ladder toss, giant jenga and giant connect 4) during the cocktail

I spy on the tables (there will be disposable cameras at each table and a I spy card that says things like take a photo of someone kissing, the best dancer, a funny face, take a picture of whose at your table). It's just a fun way to capture your wedding through your guests eyes...and it's something for them to do.

Ice Cream bar or churro station (we are doing an ice cream truck, maybe there's someone local in your area that does something like this).

Photobooth and props for fun pictures

Sorry I'm just giving you ideas for what we're doing, lol I can't think of anything else so hopefully that helps!