Wedding Reception Games and Traditions
1. Bouquet and Garter Toss
Arguably one of the most well-known wedding traditions is the bouquet toss. In this tradition, the bride tosses her bouquet of flowers, and a group of single ladies attempt to catch it. It is said that the lady who ends up with the bouquet will be the next to get married or will receive good luck. This tradition is somewhat infamous as the bouquet toss can sometimes end in injury as the group of women scramble to catch the bouquet. Similar to the bouquet toss, the garter toss involves the groom removing the brides garter from under her dress and tossing it into the air for single men to catch. This tradition is entertaining for guests as they watch the groom struggle to remove the garter but what is sometimes more entertaining is the look on the father of the brides face when more daring grooms attempt to remove the garter with their teeth.
2. Date Night Suggestions/ Guestbook
Guestbooks have been a common sight at weddings for years. However, over the years creative couples have found different ways to record the attendees of their wedding. Some couples opt for polaroid cameras where guests can take selfies and write their congratulations on the back of the photo, others opt for tokens where guests can write a note and place the token in a frame or box, and some couples opt to remember their wedding guests by asking them to write them date night ideas followed by the name of the guest that they can keep and use for dates as a married couple.
3. The Shoe Game
At first sight this game is quite unusual but is a great way to get the reception talking and learn more about the newlyweds. For this game, the couple take their shoes off and each hold one of their own shoes and one of their partners shoes. They are then asked questions such as “Who made the first move?” or “Who is the messiest?” by a chosen wedding guest, DJ, or MC and must respond by holding up either their shoe, or their partners shoe depending on their answer to the question.
4. Outdoor games – Giant Connect Four
Outdoor weddings tend to have more space for guests to move and mingle meaning there is more room for outdoor games that can be enjoyed by all ages. Some of the most common outdoor games include giant Connect Four, giant Jenga, croquet, and ring toss. These can be played at anytime during the reception and are perfect for adding something a little bit different for guests to enjoy.