The ceremony is over, the cake is eaten, and now it’s time to let loose and celebrate! Your evening wedding reception is where the party really gets started, and keeping your guests entertained is key to making it a night to remember. But with so many options to choose from, where do you begin? In this blog, Encore Musicians will share their top evening wedding entertainment ideas to keep your party going all night long.
Traditional Wedding Evening Entertainment Ideas
Let’s start with some classic crowd-pleasers that are sure to get the party rocking.
- Wedding Band: A live band is always a safe bet. Choose a wedding band that fits your musical taste and the overall vibe of your big day.
- Photo Booth: Set up a fun photo booth with props and backdrops and let your guests get creative. This can be a great way to keep guests of all ages entertained.
- Tribute Band: If you and your partner share a favourite era or genre, consider hiring a tribute band. This can add a nostalgic and energetic element to your celebration, with familiar tunes that resonate with your guests.
- Fireworks display: End the night with a dazzling fireworks display for a truly unforgettable finale.
- String Quartet: Elevate the romantic ambience with a classical touch by having a string quartet play during key moments like the ceremony or drinks reception.
- Jazz Band: Consider hiring a jazz band to provide sophisticated and smooth tunes during cocktail hour or dinner.
- DJ: DJs are a popular choice and for good reason. They’re ideal for keeping the party going all night long and playing a mix of genres to please everyone.
Small Wedding Evening Entertainment Ideas
If you’re having a smaller wedding, you don’t need to go overboard with the entertainment. Here are a few ideas that are perfect for intimate gatherings:
- Acoustic Duos: For a cosy and intimate atmosphere, consider hiring an acoustic duo. Acoustic duos are perfect for complementing the cosy, intimate vibe of a smaller wedding.
- Bonfire: If you’re having an outdoor wedding, a bonfire is a great way to keep the party warm and cosy.
- Fortune Teller: Hire a fortune teller to add a touch of mystery and intrigue to your wedding. Your guests will be lining up to have their palms read.
- DJ with Live Instruments: Combine the best of both worlds by hiring a DJ who performs with live instruments. A saxophonist, violinist, or percussionist accompanying the DJ can bring an electrifying and modern twist to your dance floor while still not taking up too much space.
- Build a Wedding Time Capsule: Provide materials like boxes, envelopes, and writing supplies for guests to write messages, predictions, and well wishes for the bride and groom to open on their anniversary.
- Escape Room Challenge: If you have a small group, rent out an escape room or create your own with puzzles, riddles, and challenges related to your relationship or inside jokes with your guests.
Unusual Wedding Evening Entertainment Ideas
Want to make your wedding truly unique? Here are a few unusual entertainment ideas that your guests will never forget:
- Caricature Artist: Have a caricature artist draw portraits of your guests. The portraits can be taken home as wedding souvenirs and you can have everyone hold theirs up in the wedding photos.
- Folk Band: For a rustic or bohemian-themed wedding theme, a folk band can bring a laid-back and charming vibe. Their acoustic sounds and harmonies can add a touch of authenticity to your special day.
- Silent Disco: Give your guests headphones and let them choose their own music to dance to. Silent discos are also perfect for keeping guests with different music tastes happy.
- A Capella Group: Showcase the raw talent of a capella group for a unique and harmonious experience. Whether they perform popular hits or classic love songs, their voices alone can create a captivating and emotional impact.
- Fire Performers: Add a touch of drama and excitement to your evening with fire performers. This unconventional entertainment choice can create a mesmerising and visually stunning experience for everyone present.
- Live Food Stations: Turn your catering into entertainment by incorporating live food stations. Whether it’s a sushi bar, a make-your-own taco station, or a liquid nitrogen ice cream stand, these interactive culinary experiences will keep your guests engaged and satisfied.
Wedding Evening Entertainment Games
Here are some fun and engaging wedding evening entertainment game ideas to break the ice between your guests with some friendly competition:
- Wedding Bingo: Create bingo cards with squares featuring guests’ names, funny wedding-related trivia, or icebreakers like “find someone who speaks three languages.”
- Photo Scavenger Hunt: Send guests on a hunt around the venue with a list of funny photo op challenges, like “capture a selfie with the best-dressed couple” or “take a picture of someone with the best beard.”
- Giant Jenga or Connect Four: These oversized versions of classic games are perfect for groups and add a touch of playful competition.
- Guest Karaoke Challenge: Rent a karaoke machine and host a friendly singing competition. Award prizes for most enthusiastic performance, best-dressed performer, or funniest song choice.
- Giant Canvas Guest Artwork: Set up a large canvas and invite friends and family to contribute sketches, messages, and doodles, creating a collaborative masterpiece to commemorate the night.
- Lip Sync Battle: Challenge guests to perform their best lip sync showdowns, with prizes for the most outrageous, funniest, and most technically sound performances.
Additional Tips
- Consider your budget: Entertainment can be a big expense, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it.
- Think about your guests: Choose entertainment that you think your guests will love. Consider their ages, interests, and energy levels.
- Be flexible: Things don’t always go according to plan, so be prepared to be flexible with your entertainment schedule.
Hopefully, this blog has given you enough for evening wedding entertainment ideas to get you inspired. No matter what kind of entertainment you choose, the most important thing is to make sure it reflects your personality and the overall vibe of your wedding day. With a little planning and creativity, you can create an evening wedding reception that your guests will be talking about for years to come.