Bored with the traditional bouquet and garter toss? We are in the day and age of old traditions getting transformed into something new and different. Trends are popular, but traditions are forever, right? Some couples, may find the idea of a bouquet toss and garter toss not something they want to incorporate in their night (which is totally ok!). Especially when a single older aunt may have caught the bouquet, and a younger groomsman may have caught the garter. Lucky for that aunt she will get the garter up her leg, but may make the groomsmen feel a little uncomfortable! If you want to incorporate something different into your night and still involve the crowd here are some fun games that have been popular the past couple of years.
- The Shoe Game! To set up the game, you just need two chairs and the groom and brides’ shoes. The Bride will hold one of her shoes, and one of the groom’s shoes. Same goes for the groom. He will hold one of his shoes, and one of her shoes. The Bride and Groom will be sat on the dance floor with their backs to each other. The Dj asks a series of questions like, “who asked who out on the first date” or “who made the first kiss” or “who cooks better”. The bride and groom will lift the “his” or “her” shoe to each question without looking at each other. It’s funny if they don’t match up and if they do match up, well we know it was meant to be!
- Who takes the Cake! This is a simple and easy way to get that honeymoon fund built up if you know your family and friends like to gamble, or “make bets”. It’s straight forward whoever has the most money in their jar will “take the cake to the face”. Of course, the bride and groom DON’T HAVE TO smush it in the other one’s face (unless you want too). You can always just take the money and run and still have a classy and elegant cake cutting, feeding opportunity.
3. Lawn games for outdoor weddings. This is starting to grow more and more popular. If your cocktail hour/reception is held out doors like the beach, gardens, or a simple backyard barn bring out the games! Games like cornhole, big jenga, ring toss, and even a big connect four are some popular games you can find at your local sporting store or Amazon. It’s a good option to offer for guests that may not want to dance all night long, or for the guests that need to break their dancing feet for a bit. Did I mention that this will also keep younger kids busy and occupied too!
4. I Spy Camera Game: This is good to include your wedding hashtag in, and a great way to collect photos from friends and family. Brides/Grooms can make their own list of some fun photo ideas to capture. No need to copy the list here, or any other list found on pinterest or etsy. Incorporate what you think your guests will be doing and want to capture that! This is also an easy sign to make and place on a welcome table, or insert at each table for guests to get involved.
5. Centerpiece give away game: Most of the time Brides will purchase these beautiful centerpieces from a florist, or make centerpieces! Yes, you should keep at least one or two, but when you may have up to 12-15 centerpieces that is a lot to take home and figure out what to do with. If you have a fun DJ/MC they can get the tables involved by playing a game to give away your centerpieces. Here are some fun ways to do that:
- Before the party begins, have your event coordinator, or a friend place a sticker under one chair at each table. When the time comes for the centerpieces to be given away the DJ will tell your guests to look under their chairs and the person with the sticker under their chair is the winner.
- The DJ will play an upbeat song or music playlist and ask one person at each table to take out a dollar bill. He will then tell the guests to pass the dollar around the table. If your DJ wants to really get it going, they may make the direction of the dollar bill change a few times, and then much like musical chairs, when the music stops, the action stops. The DJ will have the person holding the dollar bill stand up. The guests standing must give the dollar back to the person who took it out of their wallet, and that person wins the centerpiece! There are other versions of it where the person who is holding the dollar wins the dollar, and the guest sitting across from them wins the centerpiece.
