40 Fun Wedding Games Every Guest Will Enjoy Playing at Your Reception

Once the couple of honor finishes attending to the traditional formalities at their wedding reception, like the first dance and speeches, their post-ceremony party usually transitions to a less structured and more social vibe. Dancing is the primary way newlyweds set the energetic tone for this second phase of festivities, but this isn't always—and doesn’t have to be—the case.

Some couples find that spending the bulk of the post-ceremony party hitting the dance floor isn’t inclusive to all of their guests, particularly children (if invited) and anyone who feels uncomfortable letting loose in the presence of others. To make sure everyone feels welcome, some newlyweds choose to supplement an upbeat dance floor with other entertaining experiences. There are those who kick off the celebration with wedding games to help break the ice before the DJ or live band puts on a soundtrack. Then, there are others who decide to nix dancing altogether in favor of crowd-pleasing alternatives. 

If you’re hoping to make your reception truly unforgettable—whether or not a packed dance floor is part of the equation—consider incorporating a few wedding games into your reception. There’s an activity out there for everyone, whether that be a classic lawn game that’s brimming with nostalgia, an interactive scavenger hunt focused on collaboration, a challenging word game that stimulates the mind, or a coloring-book activity that engages the kids’ table. 

Before creating your itinerary, we recommend taking your venue into account first: While bocce ball, croquet, and drinking games are best for outdoor functions, Mad Libs, trivia, and casino games will work for indoor soirées. Whatever you choose, wedding games will definitely make your celebration one of a kind.

To help you jumpstart the brainstorming process, here are 40 fun wedding games that all of your guests will enjoy playing. 

Lawn Wedding Games

If you have an affinity for corn hole, croquet, and life-size board games, these classic lawn games will keep your guests entertained throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

Jenga

Who doesn't love the classic block-stacking game, Jenga? The traditional tabletop version will bring a dose of fun and whimsy to any tented space or outdoor reception area. Alternatively, you can upgrade to a life-size set of blocks that friends and family can build and destroy (and build again) together.

Ring Toss

A carnival classic, ring toss is a wedding game that deserves a spot at any reception. This activity will bring nostalgia and friendly competition to your affair, especially if you incentivize players with a prize table. For an extra ounce of fun, assign teams and turn it into a tournament with multiple rounds.

Connect Four

Connect Four is another timeless activity that will grab everyone's attention—both adults and kids—at your wedding reception. Not only is this wedding game fun for all ages, but it's also relatively easy to play, given the straightforward instructions. Stick with the standard tabletop iteration or an oversized version (such as the one pictured at this exotic affair in California, planned by Harutyunyan Events) for groups of two to play. To avoid long lines, you can even set up multiple games throughout the space.

Croquet

Who can resist a round of croquet? Invite your guests to grab a mallet and get a match started on the lawn at your venue. We love this wedding game for locales with spacious outdoor areas and upscale aesthetics.

Corn Hole

Corn hole is the perfect lawn game for couples who want to make any additional activities feel like a cohesive part of their décor. At this personalized wedding weekend in Philadelphia, the team at Mindy Weiss set up wooden boards on the lawn—and each featured custom illustrations of the bride and groom, which reinforced their relationship-focused wedding theme.

Badminton

If you have the space, consider setting up a badminton court. This wedding game is a seamless one to pull off because the equipment is light and portable. Plus, without complicated instructions, guests of all ages can play.

Bocce Ball

If your venue has ample outdoor space, you can easily make a bocce ball area. An actual court isn't necessary—just set up balls and score cards and let your guests have at it. At this Western wedding on a Wyoming ranch, the couple's wedding planner, Lauryn Prattes Events, installed a makeshift court with a patch of mulch and colorful bocce balls.

Giant Dice

For wedding games that are unexpected and attention-grabbing, shake things up with a jumbo set of dice. Create teams who will compete with one another to achieve the highest score, which players can earn by rolling certain combinations, like three of a kind or full house.

High Striker

Take a stroll down memory lane and test your guests' physical strength by installing a high striker at your wedding reception. This old-fashioned carnival game will have friends and family clamoring for their turn to strike the mallet. Whoever uses enough force to hit the bell at the top, wins.

Giant Checkers

On the hunt for wedding games that are simple and entertaining? Try Checkers—specifically, giant Checkers for outdoor nuptials. An oversized version puts a unique spin on a beloved board game, which will surely draw guests of all ages to play.

Archery

Archery is a wedding game that requires a bit more skill, but it’s not one to overlook. Hire an instructor to teach your guests how to shoot a bow and arrow before letting them try it out themselves—while providing hands-on assistance. For her vow renewal in the English countryside, which Broughton Hall Estate coordinated, designer Sarah Flint invited her loved ones to enjoy a bit of archery on the lawn. To prevent injuries, make sure there's a properly mapped-out range and supervision onsite.

Group Wedding Games

It doesn't matter whether you're hosting an indoor or outdoor wedding reception; there are plenty of group games that will keep the party going.

The Shoe Game

The Shoe Game is one of the most popular wedding games that newlyweds incorporate into their receptions. To play, the couple takes a seat with their backs up against one another, as their guests gather around to watch. The emcee or a member of the bridal party acts as the host, asking the couple a series of questions, like "Who said 'I love you' first?" or "Who has better style?" Each partner has one of their own shoes in one hand and one of their partner's shoes in the other hand, and after each question, the couple simultaneously responds by holding up the shoe that corresponds to their answer. Although your guests won't be playing, their presence and engagement will enhance the game, tenfold.

Wheel of Fun

To encourage guest interaction, create a custom wheel of activities for players to complete during the wedding reception. Anyone who's interested in playing will spin the wheel (once it's their turn), and wait for the marker to land on a certain activity, whether it's "Pick a couple to kiss" or "Show us your best dance moves." Whichever action item it lands on is the one that they'll have to complete.

Pool

If your wedding venue has a pool table, make it accessible to guests during the reception. Those who are interested in playing this wedding game can form teams or battle it out one on one. Since players will gather around the table and wait for their turn to shoot the ball, this activity will generate an informal atmosphere that allows conversation to naturally flow.

Word Search

Wedding games with word searches will challenge your guests' minds. For a charming idea that you can do yourself, transform a chalkboard into a creative word search that your guests can complete together throughout the evening. Personalize the game by including trivia about your relationship.

Poker

Turn your wedding reception into a swanky casino with a poker setup. This is the ideal wedding game for indoor receptions, especially ones with a late-night end time. Take cues from these grooms who played poker with custom card decks (at their opulent affair in Michigan with casino rentals from U.S. Casino Event Planners) and let winners pick a prize from a counter inspired by Chuck E. Cheese.

Dart Art

For artsy couples and guests, a dart art station will bring a whole new level of fun to a daytime wedding reception. For the canvas, attach a couple dozen of water balloons (that are partially filled with paint) to a large, blank canvas that's suspended on a wall. Set up a dart-throwing station at a safe distance (no one wants paint splatter on their formal wear, after all), and have friends and family throw darts at the balloons, which will pop and splatter paint, creating a one-of-a-kind work of art for you to keep.

Themed Photo Booth

While posing for photos might not technically be a wedding game in the traditional sense, putting on costumes and snapping group shots is an engaging activity for all ages. If you do want to introduce a competitive element to your photo booth, incorporate a theme and distribute prizes (or offer bragging rights) to the group who dresses up the most.

Video Games

Video games aren't just reserved for late-night sessions with friends at home; you can also bring these entertaining digital games to your special day. Include a station stocked with your favorite video games at your reception. We especially love multiplayer classics that get guests up and on their feet, like Dance, Dance Revolution, Rock Band, or Guitar Hero, but feel free to pick any ones that strike your fancy.

Mini Basketball

For athletic couples (like these former college athletes at their Napa Valley nuptials), bring a smaller-scale sport to your reception, like mini basketball. We recommend renting this well-loved arcade game with multiple nets, so several players can compete at a time. With a multiplayer game, whoever earns the most points before the timer is up will be crowned victorious.

Board Games

Another station to include at your wedding reception? A table brimming with board games. Offering a selection of quick, multiplayer board games will entertain your more introverted guests throughout the evening. Traditional games that appeal to a large audience, like Yahtzee, Uno, Scrabble, and Life, are all great options.

Drinking Games

For a more relaxed, casual wedding, you might want to set up stations with drinking games, like beer pong or flip cup, so your loved ones can relive their college days. If you met your partner as an undergraduate student, this wedding game will have sentimental value, too. To manage everyone's alcohol consumption, consider substituting water for beer.

Shuffleboard

Transport guests to a laid-back, fun-filled game room with shuffleboard. Your friends and family will team up in pairs, taking turns sliding their weighted pucks across the table and trying to accumulate the highest score. This wedding game is also appealing because attendees can play at their leisure or in a more heated match. An official shuffleboard also isn’t a requirement; you can convert any wooden table into one.

Roulette

Another casino-inspired wedding game to add to your reception is roulette. Since this activity is one of chance, anyone—even the younger guests, like the kids at this outdoor soirée in New Hampshire that White Jasmine Weddings planned—can participate. Plus, by recreating your own casino, you won't have to turn down anyone who doesn't meet the 21-years-or-older age requirement. Set the mood with dim lighting and music, too.

Table Wedding Games

Another entertaining option to consider? Wedding games for guests to play while they're seated at their reception tables. Table games will help break the ice among attendees who don't know one another, and they'll also help loved ones pass the time while they wait for your grand entrance.

Wedding Mad Libs

Customize free-to-download wedding Mad Libs for loved ones to complete while sitting at their assigned seats. Participating in this activity will encourage interaction among the group and lead to many laugh-out-loud moments. To make this wedding game even more personal, consider creating stories that relate to your relationship. After everyone completes theirs, you can have your emcee read off some of the best answers. Be sure to collect the finished products to look back on (and laugh about) later on.

Dare...or Dare

Bring some excitement to your wedding guest tables by daring your guests to take some risks—a spin on the classic Truth or Dare. On the back of each place card, include dares, such as "Take a shot with someone you don't know," or "Take a selfie with the cutest person at your table." This activity will challenge your more reserved guests to get out of their comfort zone, possibly leading to new connections.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Send your guests on a digital scavenger hunt (such as the one that this couple created for their farm fête in Virginia) that they can partake in from their reception seats. To pull off this wedding game, come up with a list of details (like a pink flower or a glass of Champagne) or moments (such as the newlyweds sharing a kiss or dancing with one another) that each attendee can capture on their phones. This activity will give guests something to do, and you'll also end the night with more visual keepsakes.

Newlywed Trivia

Another idea is completing each place setting with a sheet of paper that's filled with trivia questions about the two of you and your relationship. The questions can take on any format of your choosing, whether that be multiple choice, true/false, or fill in the blank. Enlist a member of your wedding party to tally up the answers, and whoever answers the most questions correctly will be the winner.

Couple's Crossword Puzzle

Like a game of trivia, a couple's crossword puzzle (such as the one that the groom designed himself for his exotic destination wedding in Mexico) will also test your guests' knowledge of your relationship. Find an online template and fill it in with clues that relate to your love story, such as how you met, when you first fell in love, and where you got engaged. To win this wedding game, a participant will have to guess the most questions correctly.

Cads About Matrimony

A love-focused iteration of Cards Against Humanity, Cads About Matrimony is an apt wedding game to have on your radar. After one person draws a card from the deck and reads it aloud, the other participants will submit their answer with a card from the hand they’ve been dealt. The best answer will win the round. Whether you order this game online or create your own version, this activity will provide plenty of comic relief.

Kids Wedding Games

If you've invited children to your reception, keep your youngest guests entertained with wedding games and activities just for them. Read on for a list of our favorite ideas for kids.

Coloring Books

Distributing coloring books and crayons to each child at your wedding reception will keep them entertained for hours. Not to mention, this activity is mess-free. Go the extra mile by customizing coloring books with photos of you and your partner, which is what this duo did for their romantic, European-inspired affair in California that Sparkling Soirées planned. For a no-stress option, you can even cover the kids' table in butcher paper, so they can doodle directly on the table.

Hopscotch

If you're looking for a way to distract your younger guests during an outdoor cocktail hour or the formal dances at the wedding reception, entertain them with hopscotch. Draw your own grid with chalk on the pavement outside of your venue, or use foam tiles or removable paper tape for indoor setups.

Crafts Station

Keep the kids at your wedding preoccupied with a crafts station. You can either set each place with an individualized art project that they can work on as they sit through the dances and speeches, or you can install a separate station that they can flock to when their parents hit the dance floor. Some ideas include decorating a door knob hanger with stickers or creating stick-figure clothes pins that resemble the couple.

Lego Centerpieces

Another great option for the kids' table? Have them build centerpieces made of Legos. Scatter the colorful blocks down the length of the table, so the children on your guest list can construct their own or work together to design one. With this wedding game, the kids will let their imaginations run wild.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Delight the kids at your celebration by offering tic-tac-toe as a possible activity. Pass out sheets of paper with a few grids printed on each one, so the children can play from their seats. For an unexpected twist at an al fresco reception, introduce an oversized version that comprises a wooden frame and wooden blocks painted with Xs and Os (which also happen to be symbolic of your love) that your younger attendees can enjoy on the lawn.

Hula Hoop

If there's a large, spacious area available at your venue—whether it's outside in the yard or inside of an unoccupied room—stock it with hula hoops to give the kids something to do. The group of little ones will burn off some energy without disrupting any of the day's activities.

I Spy

If you’re looking for wedding games that are easy to implement and fun for the kids to play, consider I Spy—but with a wedding-inspired twist. Create a visual list of items, like a long dress or a slice of cake, that the children will then try to find throughout the course of the reception. To make the experience a humorous one for you, you can even give them disposable cameras as a way to document their discoveries. 

Puzzles

Kids can also spend the evening working on jigsaw puzzles, which are guaranteed to capture and hold their attention. We recommend smaller-sized puzzles with 12 or more pieces to use as place settings. For a personal touch, customize each puzzle with a photo of you and your signifiant other. These wedding games can even double as favors.

Piñata

Who doesn't love a piñata? Stick with the theme by buying one shaped like a giant wedding cake, a heart, or another symbol of your love, and stuffing it with your favorite candies. When it's time for the cake cutting, let the kids have at it—just make sure that each swing is supervised.

Bowling

A wedding game that will enliven your younger guests is bowling. Create your own version with plastic bottles or empty tin cans (that you decorate accordingly) or purchase a foam set to put on display outside. Give the kids a foam ball to roll, aiming to knock down the stack of "pins" in as few turns as possible. For an extra dose of fun, award the winners with a prize.