How To Keep Your Guests Entertained
The biggest concern we always hear from our Brides is in regards to having guests wait around too long before the reception. “Do we really need an hour for pictures?” “We don’t want to keep our guests waiting.” Family and Bridal party photos are essential to the wedding day, but we do have some helpful tips to make that needed photo hour more fun for your guests and not as time consuming for you on your day!
Charcuterie Table
Work by The Charcuterie Sisters - @the.charcuterie.sisters
Providing guests with a grazing board is a great option to keep guests from getting hangry and it is such a fun addition to your day! Having a charcuterie available is an aesthetic, trendy, and functional treat for guests to enjoy! One of our favorite vendors for charcuterie boards is the Charcuterie Sisters!!
Live Music
Photo: Faith Tiger with DJ Blonde Beats - @djblondebeats
Live music adds an ambiance to the cocktail hour and sets the tone for your wedding. The ways to personalize this time are endless, from an unplugged acoustic session, live jazz, or a string quartet. Having a DJ that can do both; play live music and sing is a budget friendly option! Check out our talented friend and wedding vendor DJ Blonde Beats for a unique twist on music during this time.
Immediate Family Pics Early
7.8.22 Smith Wedding
Photography: Melissa Hailey Photo - @melissahaileyphoto
A way to trim down your time pre wedding photos is to take immediate family photos prior to the ceremony. This eliminates time for not only your guests to be waiting but will allow your family to head into cocktail hour and socialize instead of standing outside longer. With the hot Texas summers, this is especially great for older family members to head inside earlier and great to eliminate time outside for the Bride and Groom.
Signature Cocktails
7.8.22 Smith Wedding
Photography: Melissa Hailey Photo - @melissahaileyphoto
Having a menu of fun signature cocktails is a great way to personalize your day! This allows you to tie in your wedding colors, make a tribute to friends, family, or even honor a pet! The names and look of your cocktails make the hour personalized to the Bride and Groom and are even fun for photos later in the night!
Lawn Games
7.8.22 Smith Wedding
Photography: Melissa Hailey Photo - @melissahaileyphoto
Lawn games provide entertainment for both the kids and the kids at heart. From massive connect four, giant jenga, to cornhole painted to the theme of your wedding guest love a good competition and allows for the time to pass by even faster!
Interactive Guestbook
Having an interactive, nontraditional guest book is a great option to keep guests entertained and for the Bride & Groom to be able to have something fun to look back on!! Having guests take and sign a polaroid, a game piece, an album of your first dance song, color by number artwork, or even leave a voice memo over the phone are creative ways to execute this!!
