Planning a wedding is a monumental task and once you’ve set the date, there’s more than just the big day to think about. From engagement parties and rehearsal dinners to wedding showers, each event can benefit from a touch of light-hearted entertainment. Playing games at these gatherings adds a personal touch, breaks the ice and creates memorable moments for the bride, groom and guests alike.
In this guide, we will dive into a wide variety of games that are perfect for all kinds of wedding-related events, including bridal showers, couple showers and rehearsal dinners. Our goal is to give you a comprehensive and engaging list of ideas that will take the fun factor of your wedding events to the next level.
Why Incorporate Games into Wedding Events?
Including games during wedding festivities can serve several purposes:
- Icebreakers: Games can help people who don’t know each other well bond in a relaxed environment.
- Entertainment: They provide a fun way to pass the time between formalities.
- Personalized Experience: Many games can be customized to reflect the couple’s personalities, making the event even more special.
Games to Play at a Wedding Shower for Couples
Wedding showers often bring together different groups of people: family, close friends and sometimes even co-workers. These guests may not know each other and ice-breaking games are a perfect way to set a light and festive tone. Below are some game ideas to help guests relax and enjoy the celebration.
Which One is a Lie? (With a Twist)
This classic game can be made more wedding-centric by asking guests to share three statements about the bride and groom—two truths and one lie. The rest of the party then guesses which statement is false. The twist? Add a bonus round where the bride and groom must guess the lie about each other for an extra point.
Tip: Have small prizes ready for participants to increase engagement.
How Well Do You Know the Couple?
Create a quiz featuring fun questions about the couple’s relationship, such as where they had their first date, their favorite vacation spot, or quirky habits. Guests will compete to see who knows the bride and groom best. The person with the most correct answers wins a prize.
Data Insight: Couples quiz games typically score high on engagement, especially when trivia is related to the couple’s unique experiences.
Memory Lane Challenge (With Personal Touches)
Ask the guests to write down their favorite memory with the bride or groom. These memories can be shared anonymously and the couple has to guess who shared each one. This game not only brings lots of laughter but also reminds the couple of their shared history with their loved ones.
Wedding Bingo
Bingo, but with a wedding twist! Create bingo cards with events or moments likely to occur at the shower, such as “the bride gets emotional,” “mention of honeymoon plans,” or “someone talks about wedding colors.” Guests cross off items as they happen and the first to get bingo wins.
Fun fact: Custom bingo cards for weddings have become a trending activity, especially with the addition of personalized moments specific to the couple.
Games to Play at a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner is an intimate gathering where the bride and groom’s closest family and friends come together. It’s a chance to relax before the big day, but it’s also a perfect time to include some fun and light-hearted activities that create lasting memories.
Pin the Ring on the Groom
This fun twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” adds a wedding flavor. A poster-sized image of the groom is printed and each guest takes turns trying to “pin” a faux ring on the groom’s finger while blindfolded. The closest participant wins a prize.
Enhancement Opportunity: Personalize the game by including an image of both the bride and groom, where guests can pin rings on either partner for added interaction.
Groom the Balloon
In this game, players are handed inflated balloons covered in shaving cream. The goal is to shave the balloon without popping it within a one-minute time frame. This game creates plenty of laughter as guests attempt to “groom” their balloon grooms without bursting them!
Extra Fun: To up the stakes, have a bridal version where guests apply makeup to a balloon “bride” without smearing it.
Put a Ring on It
For a quick and competitive game, hand out ring pops to guests. The objective is to see who can finish their ring pop the fastest within one minute. This game works well in larger groups and adds a playful challenge to the evening.
Bonus Idea: Create a leaderboard for all the minute-to-win-it style games during the rehearsal dinner to track who wins the most rounds throughout the night.
Love Story Charades
Create charades cards with prompts that relate to the couple’s love story or general wedding themes. Guests act out scenarios such as “the proposal,” “first date,” or “wedding planning stress.” The couple (or other guests) must guess what is being portrayed. This game is great for bringing out some laughs and celebrating the couple’s journey.
Data Insight: Charades focused on personal stories engage guests more deeply, making them feel like part of the couple’s special moments.
Games to Play at the Wedding Party
The wedding party is when the celebration really kicks into high gear. While most of the attention is on the bride and groom, adding a few interactive games can make the event even more memorable for all guests. Here are some fun and engaging games to include during the reception.
The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is a classic that never fails to entertain. Prepare a set of questions about the bride and groom that each must answer and see how well they know each other. Questions can range from sweet and sentimental (“What’s your spouse’s favorite song?”) to silly and unexpected (“What’s the strangest thing your spouse does when no one’s watching?”).
Pro Tip: Have the couple sit back-to-back and raise a shoe for who they think best fits each answer. This adds a visual and interactive element that engages the audience.
Giant Jenga
For outdoor weddings, life-size Jenga is a hit. Guests can challenge each other to remove blocks from the tower without making it fall. You can even write fun dares or questions on the blocks, making it more interactive as guests reveal their challenges when pulling a piece.
Fun Idea: Create custom Jenga blocks with wedding trivia or couple-themed questions to make the game more personal.
Wheel of Fun
A custom-made “Wheel of Fun” adds a spontaneous and festive element to the wedding reception. Each spin of the wheel offers a new challenge or task, such as “Bride & Groom Kiss,” “Show Your Best Dance Moves,” or “Pick a Couple to Toast.” The wheel can be spun throughout the night to keep guests engaged and entertained.
Enhancement Opportunity: Include more personalized options such as “Give the Couple Advice” or “Share a Memory with the Bride or Groom” for a more emotional and interactive experience.
Giant Word Search
Turn a chalkboard or large poster into a wedding-themed word search, with words related to the bride and groom’s life together. Guests can work together or compete to find words like “honeymoon,” “first kiss,” “wedding vows,” and more. Add a personal touch by including trivia or special phrases that hold meaning for the couple.
Data Insight: Word search games are particularly popular for outdoor or relaxed wedding settings where guests can casually engage throughout the evening.
The Wedding Shoe Game
One of the most beloved games at wedding receptions is the Wedding Shoe Game. It’s an interactive and humorous way for guests to learn more about the couple’s relationship and their dynamics. Plus, it offers endless opportunities for laughter.
How to Play the Wedding Shoe Game
The bride and groom sit back-to-back, each holding one of their shoes and one of their spouse’s shoes. The host or an appointed friend asks a series of lighthearted questions and the couple raises the shoe of the person they believe best fits the answer. For example, if the question is, “Who is the better cook?”, the bride or groom will raise the shoe of the person they think is the better chef.
Enhancement Tip: Involve the guests by letting them submit fun questions beforehand, ensuring a personalized experience.
Popular Questions to Ask
- Who said “I love you” first?
- Who is more likely to leave the dishes in the sink?
- Who is the bigger spender?
- Who takes longer to get ready?
- Who snores the loudest? These questions give the audience insight into the couple’s everyday life while keeping the atmosphere fun and light. The laughter and reactions from the couple’s answers make the game a memorable part of the reception.
When to Play the Shoe Game
The best time to play the Wedding Shoe Game is typically after the main course or after cutting the cake, when everyone is seated and focused on the couple. The game typically lasts about 10-15 minutes, making it a perfect mid-reception entertainment that doesn’t detract from dancing or other activities.
Customizing the Shoe Game
For an extra layer of fun, the couple can switch out their shoes for something more personalized, such as a favorite pair of sneakers or themed wedding slippers. This adds an additional visual element that guests will love and makes for great photos!
More Fun Wedding Game Ideas You’ll Love
If you’re looking to add even more excitement to your wedding festivities, consider incorporating some of these fun and interactive games. Whether you’re planning for outdoor receptions, bridal showers, or even the post-wedding brunch, these ideas will keep your guests entertained and engaged.
Outdoor Wedding Game Ideas
For outdoor weddings, lawn games are a popular choice. They give guests something fun to do while enjoying the fresh air. Consider these crowd-pleasers:
- Cornhole: Customize the cornhole boards with your names or wedding date for a personal touch.
- Lawn Bowling: Set up a simple lawn bowling area and let guests compete for small prizes.
- Ring Toss: Classic and fun, this game can be given a wedding twist with rings instead of hoops.
- Pro Tip: Make sure to have a few shaded areas set up for guests to take a break from the sun while enjoying the games.
Minute to Win It Bridal Shower Games
If you’re hosting a bridal shower, Minute to Win It games are perfect for a quick burst of energy and fun. Games like “Toss the Bouquet” (tossing small bouquets into buckets) or “Say Yes to the Dress” (where guests race to create a wedding dress out of toilet paper) are great for getting everyone involved in the fun without requiring too much time or equipment.
Bachelorette Party Games
Planning a bachelorette party? Add some spice to the celebration with these hilarious games:
- Bachelorette Bingo: Create a bingo card with tasks like “bride mentions the honeymoon” or “maid of honor tells a funny story,” and check off each one as they happen.
- Truth or Dare: Wedding Edition: A bridal twist on the classic game, where the dares and questions are all wedding-related.
- Karaoke Challenge: Rent a karaoke machine and challenge the bride and her friends to sing wedding-themed songs or the couple’s favorite tunes.
Wedding Trivia
This game works for any wedding-related event. Prepare trivia questions about the bride and groom—ranging from their first date to favorite hobbies—and have guests compete in teams. It’s a fun way to test who knows the couple best while getting everyone involved.
Enhancement Idea: You can personalize trivia cards and leave them at each table for guests to play at their leisure during the reception.
Summary
From the bridal shower to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception itself, adding games to your wedding events can elevate the fun and help create unforgettable memories. The key is to choose games that reflect the couple’s personalities and cater to the dynamics of your guest list. Whether it’s a high-energy Minute to Win It game or a thoughtful trivia session about the couple’s love story, your guests will appreciate the effort put into making the celebration more interactive.
