Are you looking for non-dancing activities for wedding guests to do? You’ve come to the right place! This guide will share the best fun and cheap wedding reception entertainment for guests including every popular lawn game and tabletop activity for the reception. Bookmark this and come back for weddings, parties, and summer fun! Subscribe for the latest to your inbox.
Dancing is fun: it’s one of the most popular activities at weddings for a reason! Many guests look forward to it and relish in dancing the night away. But dancing isn’t for everyone. How do you entertain guests at a wedding that don’t dance? Although it’s not your job to make sure everyone is entertained (guests typically have fun just mingling), it is a nice gesture to offer some non-dancing activities for wedding guests to participate in… if space allows, the weather cooperates, and your budget supports it. :)
In this blog post, we’re sharing the best wedding activities for guests who don’t like to dance.
From bocce ball to oversized tumbling towers, this list has something for everyone — even suggestions for activities that are strictly indoors or at reception tables in case yours isn’t an outdoor bash.
Most of these are cheap and easy to find, while a few of them are more extravagant (but still easy to source, thanks to our links). Be sure to ask any questions in the comment section and I’ll swoop in to help. I consider myself a pro in lawn games, as it’s my go-to for outdoor entertainment for guests at parties and picnics. :)
This question was sent in from bride-to-be Kendra who asks,
“What activities besides dancing can be done at an outside wedding?”
Great question, Kendra! Here’s what I found to help you out.
Enjoy!
Wedding Activities for Guests
1. Place corn toss boards for outdoor play
Set up corn toss boards like this. It’s easy to do during cocktail hour with one hand on the toss bag and the other on a beverage.
Want to play into the night? Add LED lights! Get them here.
You can get custom boards made from this awesome shop on Etsy! Click the image below to see more designs.
2. Hire a caricature to draw portraits
It’s a fun keepsake and can count as your wedding favor.
3. Play four-in-a-row, but make it larger than life
These four-in-a-row games are a lot of fun, especially for kids in attendance. Skip the tabletop version and opt for this giant style — it’s 10x more fun.
4. Blow up their phones
This is SO MUCH FUN and I wish we had it at our wedding! Get this sign and have your guests send photos of certain wedding things to your phones. When you look the next day, you’ll have TONS of photos from guests and it’ll be so memorable! Get it at PrintsofLifeEvents.
5. + 6. Break out this rustic ring toss game
This is one of the best activities for wedding guests to play during cocktail hour. It doesn’t require a lot of room to make it happen either!
Playing into the night? This set lights up with LED lights for the evening!
7. Set up this giant Jenga game
It’s official: Jenga now has made its own GIANT tumbling tower! Get it here for guests to play outdoors at your wedding reception.
8. Set up an instant photo booth
Guests love to take home photos of themselves striking a pose at your wedding. Set up a backdrop, toss in some photo props (like these), and set up an instant photo booth on the cheap with Instax camera film and this camera. Don’t forget a sign like this to instruct guests on what to do. Take it one step further and place a photo guest book for guests to snap one for you, and take another for them to take home. You’ll have a cherished photo guest book after the wedding with all the fun pictures inside!
Here’s a photo book that is perfect for the occasion!
9. Help the couple build a bucket list
Create a beautiful setup like this one by BlissfulAbodeGifts and help the newlyweds put together a fun bucket list.
10. Setup a game of croquet on the lawn
Everyone loves this classic game! It’s a perfect afternoon activity to entertain wedding guests. Get a croquet set here.
11. Set up a karaoke area
Let guests bolt out their fave tunes in a section away from the main entertainment. Great for kids!
12. Set up a candy buffet
Everyone loves candy! Create a help-yourself buffet filled with all kinds of candies in clear apothecary jars. Don’t forget candy bags for guests to fill up!
13. Provide a bocce ball set for guests to play
Bocce ball is a nice, slow-paced game for all ages. Get a set here on the cheap.
Don’t forget a scorekeeper!
14. Set up a small frolf section
Do you frolf? It’s one part frisbee, one part golf, and equal parts fun entertainment for wedding guests. Get a basic kit here that makes setup a breeze.
15. Teach linedancing
Planning a rustic wedding? Break out the cowboy boots and hire a dance instructor to come to the wedding and teach line dancing for one hour, then test out your skills on the dance floor. Sure, it’s technically dancing but it’s a fun twist your guests might like — and learn a thing or two!
16. Use conversation starters at dinner to get the convo flowing
Use these cue cards for guests to take and start some lively conversation at dinner. Great idea if you’re trying to get guests to mingle more! This dinner party version also has rave reviews.
17. See who knows the couple best with these game cards
Let guests fill these out before dinner and see who knows the couple best! Get the cards via here.
18. Get these coloring kits to entertain the kids
Entertaining guests at your wedding with kids in tow is easier with these coloring kits! Get them complete with coloring books that are wedding-themed and a fun scavenger hunt they can play. Get them here.
19. Provide guests with a horseshoe area
Make sure you allow plenty of space between the two stations so guests can really toss these far. Not a good idea in smaller settings due to the danger of flying horseshoes. ;) This set is plastic for safety and includes a ‘pit’ for each so you don’t need to dig anything out. ;)
20. Set up some backyard bowling
Knock down all the pins for a perfect strike on the lawn! Guests love to bowl and now they can do it at your outdoor wedding reception. Get a nice wooden set with rave reviews here.
21. Play ladderball
A fun game that requires a lot of room, but it’s 100% worth it in my opinion. Guests love this game! It’s easy and fun. Get it here.
22. Play giant LRC
If you’re not playing LRC on the lawn yet, what are you doing?! Reprioritize your life! Just kidding. But really, this game is super fun. Making it oversized and taking it to the lawn adds a whole new dynamic of fun for guests at weddings.
23. + 24. Get this Tic Tac Toe and Checkers mat
Guests of all ages love to play tic tac toe and checkers, especially the kids! This outdoor blanket version is fun for the wedding reception as a guest activity and you’ll love to use it again at your own picnics and parties.
Want to play tic tac toe at night? Get this LED version instead!
25. Play this outdoor washer game
This game is so easy and fun! Guests can mingle and chat while enjoying beverages while playing this washer game. A great wedding reception lawn game to play! Get it here.
26. + 27. Offer oversized cards for guests to play
Just for kicks, offer card games — but make them oversized! You can try Uno as one option:
Or go with traditional playing cards — but oversized! — for under $10.
28. Add lawn dominoes to the mix
This fun tabletop activity becomes a lawn game favorite thanks to this clever oversized set.
29. + 30. + 31. + 32. Play giant versions of board games
In the midwest, this is Ope sorry, but everywhere else it’s just the game of Sorry. ;) This oversized game is so much fun to play and your guests will love it.
Others include: Candyland, Clue, and Life.
33. + 34. Gather wedding advice from guests
Crowsource date night ideas and words of wisdom from guests with these inexpensive cards set at wedding tables. By BlissCollections.
I also love this idea as printed coasters at the bar. Get these from BohemianWoods.
35. Two words: outdoor limbo
It’s more fun in the dark! See it here.
36. Have everyone play find-the-guest Bingo
Five in a row wins a prize!
37. Print out these party games
You can print out fun (and hilarious) party games for guests to play tables from here. There’s one called Humans Against Weddings which is a funny matrimonial take on Cards Against Humanity. See it here.
38. Set up this tabletop swing ring game
Highly addictive, yet super duper easy! Guests will love this activity at your wedding. Get it here.
39. Make a mini golf area
Who doesn’t love this game?
40. Scatter throwing game
And last but not least… this game where you toss the skittles over and try to get the highest points. It’s a fun group game to play and super easy to learn (you can play from 2 to 12 players!) Plus, it’s something new guests can learn! Get it here.
And there you have it: the best activities for guests to do at weddings. These fun and cheap lawn games and wedding activities will make guests happy and take your reception to the next level! Guests will be talking about your fun wedding for years to come. :)
Which game is your favorite on this list?
