Casual Wedding Reception Entertainment: Beyond the DJ
Don't get me wrong - a great DJ can absolutely make a wedding. But when you're planning a casual reception (especially during daytime or at a relaxed venue like a pub, garden, or brewery), you might want entertainment that feels less "Saturday night club" and more "fancy garden party."
Here are some ideas that might work for your wedding:
The Beauty of Lawn Games
If your venue has any outdoor space at all, lawn games are an absolute winner. They're low-pressure, naturally encourage mingling, and create fantastic photo opportunities. Also, if you got little ones invited, they'll love it!
- Cornhole/Bean bag toss - Easy to learn, fun to play, works for all ages
- Giant Jenga - Always creates a crowd when the tower gets tall
- Bocce ball or Pétanque - Surprisingly competitive, especially with drinks involved
- Ring toss - Simple but addictive
- Croquet - Perfect for garden venues, bonus points for vintage aesthetic
- Giant Connect Four - Instantly recognizable, quick games
Set these up in visible but not central locations. You want them available without blocking main pathways or creating "you must play this" vibes.
Indoor Games That Don't Require a Lawn
Not everyone has access to outdoor space, and even if you do, British weather has opinions. Here are indoor alternatives that work brilliantly:
Table games:
- Foosball table - If your venue has one, it'll be in constant use
- Table tennis - Foldable tables work great
- Board games corner - Set up a few tables with classics
Standing games:
- Limbo - Surprisingly popular with all age groups after a few drinks
- Mini golf setup - You can hire portable indoor courses
The beauty of these is they're completely self-service. Set them up, maybe put out a sign, and let guests discover them naturally. There are companies where you can rent these that take care of delivery, setup and collection, but keep in mind that this can get a bit pricier.
Interactive Activities
These require a bit more setup but create memorable moments:
Scavenger hunts work brilliantly for casual weddings:
- Create a list of photo challenges ("Take a selfie with someone who went to school with the bride")
- Hide items around the venue
- Use it to encourage guests to explore the space
The clothespin game actually comes in two different versions:
Option 1:
- Everyone gets a clothespin when they arrive
- If someone catches you saying a forbidden word (usually "wedding" or the couple's names), they take your pin
- Person with most pins at the end wins
Option 2 (this went viral on TikTok recently):
- Clothespins are available at some place (for example in a bucket at the entrance)
- Guests can take them and try to secretly attach them to other guests' clothes
- Watch guests walk around with many clothespins attached to their clothes!
Photo Entertainment
Photo booths are everywhere for a reason - they work. But for casual weddings, consider:
- Instant cameras left on tables
- Polaroid guest book stations - you can get Polaroid printers on Amazon. However, be aware that the actual Polaroid papers can get quite expensive, especially if you have many guests.
- DIY photo backdrop with props
- Professional photographer doing quick portrait sessions
The instant camera approach worked wonderfully at our reception. We bought a bunch of disposable cameras and left them on tables. The photos we got back were hilarious and genuine - way better than posed shots.
Entertainment Focused on the Couple
These put you and your partner in the spotlight (briefly!):
The Shoe Game is a classic for good reason:
- Couple sits back-to-back
- Each holds one of their shoes and one of their partner's
- MC asks questions ("Who's the better cook?")
- Answer by raising the appropriate shoe
It's funny, revealing, and over in 10 minutes. Perfect for casual weddings.
Other couple activities:
- Quick Q&A session
- "How well do you know each other" quiz
- Predictions about your marriage (guests guess, you answer)
Keep these short and sweet. Nobody wants a 30-minute interrogation of the happy couple.
Professional Entertainers
If budget allows, bringing in pros can elevate a casual wedding:
Magicians circulating between tables are brilliant:
- Close-up magic feels personal
- Works great during dinner
- Creates conversation starters
Sketch artists or caricaturists:
- Guests get a unique keepsake
- Creates a queue that facilitates mingling
- Makes great photos
Live music alternatives:
- Acoustic guitarist
- Jazz trio
- String quartet (yes, even for casual weddings!)
The key is choosing entertainment that matches your vibe. A magician at a brewery wedding? Perfect. At a black-tie ballroom affair? Maybe not.
Paper-Based Games (The Good and the Bad)
Traditional wedding games often involve paper, and honestly, they're a mixed bag:
Speech Bingo - Tick off common phrases during speeches ("When we were kids..." "I've never seen them so happy")
Guest Bingo - Find people who match descriptions ("Has known the couple over 10 years," "Traveled from abroad")
Wedding Crosswords - Custom puzzles about the couple
The problem with paper games? Someone has to collect them, score them, and announce winners while also trying to enjoy the wedding. Plus, they end up scattered across tables or stuffed in bins.
The solution? Go digital.
The Modern Alternative: Digital Wedding Quizzes
This is obviously where I'm biased, but hear me out. We ran a digital quiz at our wedding reception, and it solved all the problems of traditional paper games:
Why I think it works better:
- No collection or scoring needed - everything's automatic
- Guests can opt in or out easily
- Works on phones they already have
- You can schedule rounds throughout the day
- Live leaderboards keep things exciting
- Zero waste (environmental bonus!)
We set up Team Bride vs Team Groom, scheduled questions to drop during natural lulls (cocktail hour, between courses, post-speeches), and everything just worked on the day.
The best part? It got people from different tables talking. "What university did the groom go to?" became a legitimate conversation starter.
Questions worked across different moments:
- During arrivals: Venue trivia and icebreakers
- At dinner: Couple facts and general knowledge
- After speeches: "Were you paying attention?" questions
- Dancing time: Music trivia
If you're considering a quiz for your wedding, QuizYourGuests lets you set this all up in advance with scheduled rounds, team scoring, and zero day-of management. (Yes, I built it because we couldn't find anything good for our own wedding!)
Tips for Getting It Right
1. Match entertainment to your venue
- Pub wedding? Bar games and quizzes
- Garden wedding? Lawn games and croquet
- Brewery? Cornhole and casual activities
2. Consider your crowd
- Mixed ages? Offer variety
- Mostly young crowd? Can go more adventurous
- Family-heavy? Keep it G-rated and inclusive
3. Make everything optional
- No forced participation
- Clear but casual signage
- Multiple options so everyone finds something they like
4. Think about timing
- Some activities for early arrivals
- Quiet options during dinner
- Energetic stuff for later
5. Keep it low-maintenance
- You're getting married, not running a sports day
- Choose things that don't need constant supervision
- Delegate to wedding party or let things run themselves
What Actually Matters
At the end of the day, the best wedding entertainment is whatever gets your guests talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves without feeling like they're at a mandatory fun activity.
We've been to weddings with elaborate entertainment that fell flat because it felt forced. We've been to weddings with nothing but a playlist where everyone had a brilliant time because the vibe was right.
The goal isn't to create the most Instagrammable wedding or the most unique entertainment. It's to create an atmosphere where your guests feel comfortable being themselves and connecting with each other.
Lawn games, quizzes, photo booths, entertainers - they're all just tools. Use the ones that match your style, your venue, and your budget. Make them optional. Keep them casual. And for the love of all that's holy, delegate the management to someone else.
Then relax and enjoy your own wedding.
Planning a casual wedding quiz? Check out our guide to running a wedding quiz without annoying your guests or learn about the Team Bride vs Team Groom format.
Still deciding on entertainment? The key is knowing your crowd and your venue. When in doubt, provide options and let guests choose their own adventure!