What to do at an intimate reception with no dancing?

Why thank you for the indirect compliment, muriel!! OP - your wedding sounds exactly like mine, we hosted 44 including us. We had the reception in a private room, from noon-ish to 3pm. Lunch was served, buffet style around 12:15 or so. We had a guitarist playing in the background that everyone loved. After folks were done eating, or towards being done, we had three short toasts. People mingled a bit more, then we cut and served the cake around 2:15 or so, everyone was gone by 3pm.

Skip the games - I am from a game playing family but it would be odd to see people playing checkers, UNO or cribbage at a wedding reception.

It was perfect and we would both do it again the same way. Plenty of time for photos out on the patio and for thanking everyone!

Thanks for this. I think it is just perfect for us.

I really like your timeline!

I don't have many suggestions for this, but it makes me glad that I am not the only one doing it this way. I am also having a luncheon in the banquet room of a restaurant that is just the meal, no dancing for a group of about 50 (which is actually nearly double what I originally anticipated). So I am eager to see what suggestions folks are making about this.

I am also having an intimate reception with about 50 people. I have the option of a dance floor but I feel like I may leave that part out because I don't have any interest in doing any "first dances"

I too have been having a lot of problems figuring out the timing of everything. As of now this is how I plan everything to go down.

4pm-cocktail hour with apps

5:30- Plated dinner will be served

6:30- Toast

6:35- Cake cutting

I will have "backyard games" like cornhole, oversized jenga, oversized checkers and pin toss out side for anyone that wants to play games. Oh and I will most likely have a DIY photobooth or selfie station. I am hoping these things will be a good substitute for the typical reception activities.