wedding ceremony vs wedding reception melbourne

How Do You Entertain Wedding Guests Between Ceremony And Reception?

Perhaps you and the person you plan to marry have envisioned a wedding day that starts with makeup and hair at 5 a.m., continues until well after midnight, and wraps up only when the last attendee has left. Your guests, on the other hand, have a much more laid-back schedule, which likely entails a lot of waiting around: having to wait until you arrive at the church, waiting in line to welcome you after the wedding, waiting between both the conclusion of the ceremony and the opening of the reception venue for guests, and finally, sitting as well as waiting for both you and your new wife to arrive and kick off the reception.

However, more and more newlyweds are thinking of unique ways to occupy guests in the hours between both the ceremony as well as the reception.

Melbourne's Most Affordable Wedding Venue (8)

The couple can do a few things to make sure their guests aren't left in their vehicle for hours whilst still they wander off to take photos, and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money or even be close to the ceremony location. In the same way that you need a plan for everything else leading up to the wedding, you need a plan to keep your guests entertained before the reception begins.

When a wedding ends and the reception begins, the guests often feel lost in the shuffle. Many visitors get there ahead of schedule and wait in their cars or at the lobby. Some people may leave to find something more to their liking. The recent newlyweds are very preoccupied with taking photographs. Skipping this crucial step will prevent you from creating priceless memories and appreciating this special occasion to its fullest. But don't worry; there are plenty of activities for your guests to enjoy while they wait for you to arrive at the reception. A professional in the field of entertainment will be able to give you excellent advice.

As a rule, this time frame is obligatory and serves to allow guests to mingle after the ceremony before making their own way to the reception venue. There could be a long lag time between the ceremony and the reception if the event is being held in a different location.

ceremony for wedding melbourne

There is a significant amount of time between the ceremony and the reception, and guests are examining their watches and debating what to do with themselves. They might be requested to participate in one or two photos, but otherwise, they're probably thinking about how hungry they are, how bored they are, how hot it is, and how they can possibly escape as soon as possible. That's a recipe for a wedding disaster, right there! Guests at your wedding are some of the most important people in your life, so you should do what you can to ensure they have a good time as well as yourself.

It would be ideal if there were zero separation. Our number one piece of advice, if it's feasible, is to eliminate that difference. Your guests will get bored if all they do is stand about and admire your cute new SO while you and you pose for photos. However, we have gathered the top three activities that we believe have worked well for entertaining guests during that dreadful ceremony reception gap if the timetable isn't working in your favour to have each event flow from one to the next.

The Transition From Ceremony to Party

Moving guests around during the interlude between the ceremony and reception is not the only thing on the agenda. A cocktail hour is typically held after the ceremony and before the reception begins. In this area, guests can relax and have fun before the reception proper begins. Let's draw back the curtain and talk about why you need a cocktail hour as a source of wedding entertainment before we get into all the numerous ways you may show your guests a good time. You and the bridal party will only have this brief interval to shoot wedding photos without interruption from the guests.

While photographs will be taken at various times during the day and evening, the time between the ceremony and the reception is when you should take the posed photographs. These are the photographs that you will want to share on social media and keep as keepsakes from your special day.

The average time it takes for a couple to finish taking pictures is merely an hour or two. A word of caution, though: you probably won't get to enjoy your own cocktail hour with all the images you'll be snapping. Despite your feelings, the cocktail hour is there for your visitors so that they don't get bored waiting for you.

Inform Your Guests

Guests should know in advance if they will need to find their own way to the reception or if they will be escorted there. Make sure to include this information in any welcome materials or wedding favours you give out, as well as on your wedding website under "Things to Do" or "Places to Eat" to give your guests some ideas on how to spend their time while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Ways to Keep Guests Amused in Transition From the Ceremony to the Reception

Serve Drinks and Appetisers

There is a good reason why food is listed first. You don't want your party guests to get furious because they're hungry, do you? When people's stomachs are full, they don't mind what comes next. Light refreshments are appropriate if you plan to provide a more substantial meal to your ceremony guests later in the day, such as a supper or lunch. Having a little something to eat before the party!

During this time, one of the most common ways to keep your guests happy is to have a cocktail or refreshment hour. A small mixed drink and some appetisers are likely to be well received. Many engaged couples have their guests wait for them with cocktails and appetisers at a neighbourhood bar or in a separate room at the celebration location. The couple can choose to pay for the bar bill or have guests pay for their own drinks, but they will typically pay for at least some of the appetisers and, of course, the room rental. Cocktail parties provide an opportunity to experiment with different drinks.

Plan Recreational Events/Games

If you have to wait for a long time, fill the time with enjoyable pursuits. For this to work, you'll need to give guests plenty of advance notice and maybe even encourage them to form their own teams. Once you have all the information about the competing teams, you can begin planning a variety of games and activities that guests of all abilities and ages can enjoy, such as a scavenger hunt, a How Well Do You Know the Couple quiz, and karaoke.

You'd be surprised how much fun your guests have and how long they remember your party if you played bingo or any of the other simple games involving dice, boards, and cards. As a pre-reception activity, it's a wonderful way to bring together guests from different backgrounds.

Wedding games are a must if you want your guests to have a good time and enjoy themselves. The ever-growing popularity of games like bocce ball, ladder golf, corn hole, and giant jenga means that your guests will want to play them on the lawn. However, if you're a creative type, you can really step up your wedding day presentation.

Some services provide casino game options like poker, blackjack, and others. That's a great strategy for making sure everyone has a good time. If you'd like to add some nostalgia to your display, we can also arrange for the rental of vintage arcade games. You can keep guests entertained by scattering board games, puzzles, and card decks across tables.

Get Some Entertainment (Such as a Band, Comedian, Magician or Caricaturists)

If you want the party to continue after the ceremony is over, choosing an experienced entertainer is a safe bet. Intimate settings like a jazz or string quartet are nice for some couples, but if you want to get the party started early, you can always hire your wedding band for a few extra hours. An excellent strategy for keeping guests engaged for as much as you need them to stay is to have roving entertainers or to host a major event featuring a magician and comedian.

A solo pianist, a string quartet, a rock band, a mariachi band, a wedding singer, or a jazz band are all viable choices. Need some assistance but can't shell out the cash right now? Someone you know from high school or an uncle you have could have been a rock star in their day. If you ask nicely, they might even perform a demonstration of their skills as a wedding present. Maybe some undiscovered talent will be revealed at this open mic night. What I'm imagining would be an incredible experience. I want to attend the wedding so badly it hurts!

A caricaturist at your wedding is a humorous way to give each guest a unique keepsake of the special day. Your guests will be in the perfect mood to kick back and enjoy the show after helping themselves to some light fare and beverages.

Reception Wedding Melbourne

Rent a Bus or a Boat

There is more than one way to host a party. If you have a lake or other scenic waterway nearby, take them on a memorable tour of the area. You may discover a wide variety of vendors in most cities, and some of them may offer you enticing package offers based on the number of guests you expect.

If money is tight and you can't afford to pay for everyone's transportation and activities, let them know about the bus and boat trips and the cost they'll incur to participate. Your guests, if they are able to purchase the entertainment, would appreciate you arranging it for them while they wait to attend your wedding reception.

If there will be more than two hours to kill, plan a group tour of the city or a carriage ride. To ensure that your guests don't waste time while you go see the sites, consider renting a bus or boat. However, a romantic carriage ride around the venue may pique the interest of local guests.

An Engaging Visitor Register

Guests today prefer an interactive experience over one as passive as signing a guest book. Don't just set out a blank guest book and expect imaginative responses; encourage people to use their imaginations. With the questions posed and the blank spaces offered, guests are encouraged to share their thoughts, but you never know what they could reveal.

Guests can pass the time reading other entries in the guest book while they wait for you to arrive. In both the ceremony and the reception, guests are aware that their time with the newlyweds will be limited. In any case, your loved ones will want to share their congratulations with the happy couple. Guests can savour the occasion by writing heartfelt messages of support and congratulations in a guest book that the happy couple can read at their leisure.

When filling out your guest book, feel free to let your imagination run wild. The use of a Polaroid camera or photo booth has become a popular alternative to the traditional guest book. Simply have your visitors snap a photo of themselves and insert it into the book alongside their well wishes. In most cases, this concept doesn't need much of an explanation; however, a sign with a brief summary is never a bad idea.

Yarra Valley Most Popular Wedding Venue (16)

Wishing Box

In addition to the escort cards, provide a "wishing box" where guests can leave well wishes for the newlyweds. They'll be very busy, I think.

Exploring the Venue

Your guests will appreciate being able to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings if the event is being hosted in a park or on the beach. However, you should have them come back before the celebration starts.

Add Some Live Music

Most modern-day couples, living in the era of technology, hire a DD.J. for their wedding and figure that's all the entertainment they need to worry about. An excellent approach to spice up your cocktail hour is to hire a live band or provide some other form of live music.

When considering live music for a cocktail hour, easy-listening is a better option than a full band. Whatever you choose to listen to, you'd like it to be subtle and not the focus of attention. A guitarist, pianist, or singer performing solo is ideal for a cocktail hour.

Conclusion

The newlyweds are trying to come up with creative activities for their guests to do in the time between the ceremony and reception. Getting the opinion of an expert in the field of entertainment will prove to be invaluable. While waiting for you to arrive, your guests can partake in a variety of entertaining pursuits. The ceremony and the reception are separated by a long interval of time. Everyone at your party will get bored if all you do is pose for photos with your new significant other and look cute.

When the ceremony is over, it's customary to have a cocktail hour before the reception begins so that guests can mingle and unwind. Cocktails and appetisers are often served while guests wait for the engaged couple. Attending a cocktail party is a great way to try new drinks. Make sure your guests know if they will be escorted to the reception or if they will need to find their own way there. Get creative and organise a karaoke night, a scavenger hunt, and a "How Well Do You Know the Couple?" quiz.

Casino games like poker, blackjack, and more are available from some services. Renting classic arcade games is also an option if you'd like to incorporate a bit of nostalgia into your exhibit. If you want to provide your guests with a memorable memento of the event, a caricaturist is a hilarious option. If you live near a beautiful body of water like a lake or river, consider giving them a tour of the area. Visitors from the area might be enticed by the prospect of a horse-drawn carriage ride around the venue.

Add a "wishing box" for guests to leave congratulations and other messages for the happy couple alongside the escort cards. To add some excitement to your cocktail hour, consider hiring a live band or providing some other form of live music. A solo performer, be it a guitarist, pianist, or singer, is perfect for a cocktail hour.

Content Summary

  • In the same way that you need a plan for everything else leading up to the wedding, you need a plan to keep your guests entertained before the reception begins.
  • But don't worry; there are plenty of activities for your guests to enjoy while they wait for you to arrive at the reception.
  • Guests at your wedding are some of the most important people in your life, so you should do what you can to ensure they have a good time as well as yourself.
  • A cocktail hour is typically held after the ceremony and before the reception begins.
  • Despite your feelings, the cocktail hour is there for your visitors so that they don't get bored waiting for you.
  • During this time, one of the most common ways to keep your guests happy is to have a cocktail or refreshment hour.
  • Many engaged couples have their guests wait for them with cocktails and appetisers at a neighbourhood bar or in a separate room at the celebration location.
  • Wedding games are a must if you want your guests to have a good time and enjoy themselves.
  • Maybe some undiscovered talent will be revealed at this open mic night.
  • Guests can pass the time reading other entries in the guest book while they wait for you to arrive.
  • When filling out your guest book, feel free to let your imagination run wild.
  • In addition to the escort cards, provide a "wishing box" where guests can leave well wishes for the newlyweds.
  • An excellent approach to spice up your cocktail hour is to hire a live band or provide some other form of live music.

FAQs About Wedding Entertainment

Surprise Your Guests During The Wedding or Reception
  1. Perform during your reception by singing or dancing.
  2. Add a secret themed tent for your guests during the reception.
  3. Creating a fire pit where your guests can make smores.
  4. Add games to your reception.
  5. Hire a special guest to perform.
Three Fun Ways to Entertain Guests Between Your Ceremony and Reception
  1. Food. Food is number one on the list for a reason. 
  2. Live Music. Now that your guests have a small plate of snacks and a drink in their hands, the perfect segue for them is to gather 'round sit back and relax while they get entertained. 
  3. Games.

Weddings, as presented by the wedding industry, are parties with a very strict formula: Ceremony, cocktails and appetizers, sit-down dinner, first dance, dance party, send-off. But the truth is, weddings don't need any of these prescribed elements.

Being an active participant at a wedding includes hitting the dance floor, admiring the first dance and cake cutting, greeting the couple and immediate family members, and, altogether, enjoying yourself as any wedding guest should.

The dancing at the reception is often the most enjoyable part of the celebration. There's nothing wrong with a more conventional approach to the wedding dance, but some brides and grooms involve the whole wedding party in a dance spectacle that requires hours and hours of practise. Neither is wrong, but if you do anything embarrassing, it will be difficult to forget and may affect your decision.

About The Author

Google Rating
4.6
Based on 483 reviews
js_loader
Google Rating
4.6
Based on 483 reviews
js_loader
Scroll to Top