Team Bride vs Team Groom: Why This Wedding Quiz Format Works
When we were planning our wedding quiz, we faced a common question: Is there anything we can do to get our two (very disconnected) groups of friends and family talking? We knew that they weren't shy, but there was no overlap between them apart from us.
After some soul searching, we decided that running a quiz was an ideal solution we both liked a lot. It can happen in the background, people can easily opt-out, and it allows us to include different groups by switching questions up. In standard pub quizzes, it's normal to have one team per table, and that's a common quiz format often advertised for weddings too. Since our reception was in a pub (and people were mingling most of the time) we decided that this just wouldn't work.
We considered random assignments, table-based teams, even age groups. But in the end, we went with the most obvious choice: Team Bride vs Team Groom. And honestly? It was one of the best decisions we made for our reception.
Here's why this format works - and why I think you should try it too. If you're on the fence, stick with me for a bit, we were a bit unsure at the beginning, too.
A Word About Naming
I'm using 'Team Groom' and 'Team Bride' throughout this article, mostly because that's how we played it at our wedding. But of course every wedding is different, and if your wedding is same-sex (or the titles 'groom' and 'bride' just don't feel right), then try 'Team [First name]' or 'Team [Geographic region]'. The underlying concept of separating the room by which part of the couple they know better remains the same.
The Psychology Behind It: Common Ground Matters
Think about the last time you were at a party where you didn't know anyone. Awkward. Now imagine someone randomly assigns you to a team with complete strangers and says "go bond!" Even more awkward. We didn't want our wedding to feel like a corporate icebreaker.
Team Bride vs Team Groom works because it gives guests an instant connection:
- Uncle Bob from the groom's side immediately has something in common with your college roommate - they both know the groom (or they're the +1 of someone who does, but close enough)
- With the right questions, insider knowledge becomes somewhat of a conversation starter - you know where the bride went to school, maybe you can trade it for the groom's favourite movie?
- Asking 'are you on Team Bride?' just feels so much more casual than 'how do you know the couple?' (Ok, I have to admit, that last one might just be me making up a third bullet point. But my blog post, my rules!)
At our wedding, we watched this play out in real-time. My old work colleagues who'd never met my wife's uni friends were suddenly strategizing together, comparing notes, and yes - occasionally accusing each other of "insider trading" when someone knew a suspiciously specific answer! (This was intentional btw. It was funny to see a team trying to urgently find the right person to answer that stupid question.)
Rivalry Is Fun
Who wouldn't want to start their marriage with a family feud? Here's the beautiful thing about bride vs groom teams: the rivalry is automatically playful.
Unlike random team assignments where competition can feel a bit forced or even tense, everyone understands that Team Bride vs Team Groom is all in good fun. After all, by the end of the night, both teams are celebrating the same couple!
The best part? Even the most competitive guests kept it light. The format itself signals that this is meant to be fun, not serious.
And there's another dimension to consider - even within a single team, folks can get pretty competitive. Your team might be behind, but at least you are at the top of the leaderboard!
It Solves the "Who Do I Sit With?" Problem
Every wedding has them - those guests who don't quite fit into obvious social groups. Your work friend who doesn't know your family. The plus-one who's only met you twice. That cousin who lives abroad and hasn't seen anyone in years.
A quiz between Team Bride vs Team Groom gives these guests an immediate identity:
Instead of feeling like the odd one out, they're part of a bigger group with a shared mission. "Floaters" often are the ones getting most into the quiz - it gives them a way to engage without needing to already know people. It's an easy 'in' to join a table, or to spark up a conversation.
One of our favourite moments was watching the bar staff spontaneously form their own Team Bride squad (they claimed neutrality was impossible). They'd never met any of our guests before, but they started asking specific questions when guests were getting drinks. These kinds of dynamics are hard to generate any other way.
Teams Are More-or-Less the Same Size
Unless you're having a wildly unbalanced guest list (80% bride's side, 20% groom's), Team Bride vs Team Groom naturally creates relatively even teams.
Even if the numbers aren't exactly equal, it doesn't matter:
- Individual scores combine for team totals, so 40 people vs 35 people evens out
- The slight underdog status can actually make the smaller team more determined
- Award more points in later rounds, that way even a smaller team can make a comeback
Our wedding had more Team Groom than Team Bride, but Team Bride still won.
It Creates Story Moments
Here's something we didn't anticipate: Team Bride vs Team Groom creates natural photo opportunities and memories.
We didn't have a photographer at our reception, but our shared Dropbox folder after the event was full of pictures of teams huddling around a phone, debating questions and trying to find answers. I'm fully aware that some people might scream 'it's a wedding, people shouldn't stare at their phone the whole time', but let's be honest - it was much more fun that people were staring at the same screen together than random folks sitting on their own, silently scrolling through TikTok.
Plus, people are still talking about it. It's still the first thing people mention when our wedding reception comes up.
When Team Bride vs Team Groom Might NOT Work
There are some cases in which you should consider alternatives:
- You're having a very small, intimate wedding (under 20 people) - our wedding ceremony day was for a much smaller group, and there was no need to 'break the ice'. Your mileage may vary, but we didn't feel that would have been the right crowd.
- Your guest list is extremely unbalanced (like 90/10 split) - the dynamics are going to be a lot trickier in this case, and having two teams might feel 'unfair'.
The key is having two clear, equal-ish groups that guests can identify with. If that's not the case for your wedding, maybe this type of quiz isn't ideal.
How to Actually Implement It
Ok, I hope I've got you sold on Team Bride vs Team Groom. Here's how to make it work:
1. Make it easy to join
We had two sets of business cards with the QR codes to join. We put them next to the entrance and the guest book (together with a sign explaining the rules) and if we had been a bit more organised, we'd probably have included them in the invites. However, once folks realised that something was going on, they figured out how to get their invites quickly anyway.
2. Build the rivalry early
There's really no time too early to start the quiz. The first hour is normally the most awkward, so giving folks something to settle themselves in with is ideal. We had questions starting from the minute people arrived (even if the points awarded were minimal at the beginning). We also had a short welcome speech, where we set the stakes (there were some small prizes to win) and a sign explaining what not to do (googling is cheating!)
Since we were in a pub, we had access to a TV and used it to show the score above the bar. It gave everyone a reminder to keep playing.
3. Keep questions balanced
Mix questions that favour each side (the bride's hometown, the groom's job) and include neutral questions anyone can answer (general trivia, about the venue). Add observation questions that reward guests who pay attention. Remember that this isn't a real pub quiz, and it's best to keep the difficulty level low. Participation and fun is more important than trivia skill.
4. Make participation optional but exciting
Finally - don't force anyone into participating. Some might just not be into quizzes, some older folks are not happy using a phone that much and others are just busy dancing. It's meant to add fun to your wedding, not be the centerpiece (that's you!). You can make it enticing with prizes, leaderboards, and enthusiasm, but if for some reason folks don't want to participate, that's perfectly ok.
Did I Convince You?
I'm clearly biased, but after having Team Bride vs Team Groom at our own wedding, we got so much positive feedback that I decided to launch QuizYourGuests, so others can run their own Team Bride vs Team Groom reception quiz. I think it's simple for guests to join, fun to participate in but also not as awkward as a lot of other wedding games around.
You don't need complex rules or elaborate team-building exercises. Guests immediately understand their role, and the friendly rivalry creates the right kind of energy that makes receptions memorable.
So if you're planning a wedding quiz and feeling overwhelmed by format options, my advice? Keep it simple. Go Team Bride vs Team Groom.
Ready to create your own Team Bride vs Team Groom quiz? Check out our Tips and Tricks for Running a Quiz at Your Wedding or try a demo to see how it works!
Looking for question ideas? Have a look at our quiz blog posts: