What do you think of ice-breakers for the guests at the reception?

I thought about ice breaker games for family but we're having a small (less than 50 people) cocktail party reception. I would think people sitting together at a wedding would already know each other. Then again, if your guests are into games it could be something fun for them to do. I also like the idea of a picture scavenger hunt. You put things you would find at a wedding (cute couple other you and FS, people dancing, specific decoration) and people post the pics with a hashtag. You get everyone's view of the wedding, and they might enjoy the game.

I had to specifically tell our DJ to avoid "dance for your dinner" or "sing for your supper" because I find it a little cheesy at a formal wedding. I just couldn't see my parents doing that anyway so I didn't want it. I think at more casual weddings it's fine though. We personally didn't need ice breakers, all our tables were talking to each other & we did very well with our seating chart in my opinion.

I've worked as a corporate trainer, and honestly I think most people dread ice-breakers. Most people have the social skills to introduce themselves and make conversation with the people they are seated with at a wedding. If someone has a particularly difficult time in social settings, I don't think ice-breakers will make that better, possibly just more awkward for them. I'd skip it. Daughter had a couple tables with people who didn't know each other seated together and they all seemed to make it work. In the photos & video, I noticed that even people who were "strangers" before the wedding looked like they were interacting and having fun together on the dance floor. (I agree that I would HATE "competing" for line position at a buffet. I'm not a fan of buffets anyway, and that would definitely make it worse for me.)

I would also skip it. At my friend's wedding they had an mc and he did make it fun or more interactive but there were games where he needed really outgoing people and so it was kind of hard for him to get participants.

As an introvert I dread ice breakers. I would not be happy as a guest to be asked to participate like that.

Hard pass. It isnt the first day of summer camp, it's a wedding...

I'm kind of the oddball in this thread! We did a little trivia game where we supplied questions about us to our DJ and he asked them and whatever table could come up with the answer first got released to the buffet. My husband and I LOVE trivia so it was really reflective of us. We had a fantastic DJ who made the game go very, very quickly so no one felt like they were waiting any longer than they normally would to be called up to a buffet. He'd ask a question, one table would raise their hands or yell it out, and he'd let them go, easy peasy, and if anyone was stumped he was super liberal with the hints so they'd get it. I think if you have an efficient DJ/emcee and keep it simple, this kind of thing can work without people wanting to kill themselves or each other, haha!

I think this would be more appropriate for a shower. You're first thought was right - wedding guests rarely like these sort of things and just want to eat and enjoy the wedding with their partner. If that includes mingling then great but sometimes it is nice to be left alone.

I would skip this for your wedding. That seems like it would be awkward, in my opinion!

Nope. I would hate this so much and would not participate.

While I understand the desire to help people to get to know each other at your wedding I would hate an ice breaker at a wedding reception, and I think most people would end up not doing it