Recollect the last wedding reception you attended. What is it that you remember distinctly about the function? Was it the invitation? Was it the menu? Was it the entertainment? Honestly, we believe, entertainment is something that makes any event enjoyable and memorable for the guests. In a country like India, many cultures follow different rituals during weddings. The concept of entertainment in the form of traditional games during the functions has been present from ages. Therefore, it is not new but you can always try these unique and creative ways to perk up the mood at your reception.

1. Play with photos

Picture this. You guests being welcomed by lots of old pictures of you with each of your guests on different occasions. As they enter the wedding reception venue, they would begin with good memories thus setting a happy mood for your occasion. Such an initiative also encourages conversation among your guests as they would feel like sharing their memories of good times with each other. To add a little element of excitement, you could request your guests to click any pictures they feel like at the event and upload it on a link you provide them with. Announce a surprise for the best picture. This way your guests feel good to be involved in your event and you get great images that your photographer could have missed.

By a side of the reception venue, have a large backdrop decorated creatively for photo sessions. Discuss with your decorator so that you can personalise it your way. Provide a variety of props so that you guests can have fun clicking funny pictures and you get an album full of creative and fond memories.

2.  Initiate the dance

Plan and book a reception hall or lawn with enough space for dancing and activities. You may find many such reception venues in Mumbai with large spaces. Put this space to good use. Do not let your guests sit idle and get bored. Get things moving by initiating the dance yourselves. Encourage your guests to dance. Request your choreographer to be available at your reception for some time to coax your guests to dance. He could teach them a few steps to motivate even the shy ones. It is said that dancing liberates the soul. Some great music and a little persuasion and you will have all your guests tapping their feet on the dance floor. Surely, it is bound to leave your guests feeling exhilarated.

3.  Play games

You can request your wedding planner to organise games and activities to keep the guests entertained. You can have games like-

· Stand-up sit down.

Ask all your guests to stand up and then have a friend read out a few statements like “if your birth month is a prime number sit down”, “if you are wearing a watch sit down, if you can cook Maggi stand up, if you have ever slipped on a banana peel sit down and so on. This game will definitely warm up your guests for more games.

· Paper dance.

Couples dance on a paper which is folded at intervals to make it smaller. The objective of the game is to dance with the feet always within the paper. It gets more fun when the paper gets smaller and the couple is forced to dance closer in order to stay on the paper. The last couple to dance without stepping out of the paper wins. The last lady almost always will have to be carried by her husband to be able to win.

· It’s my wife’s!

A single item is collected from each of the ladies like a purse, watch or ring and put together on a table and the husbands are asked to identify their wife’s belonging. The one who knows his best wins.

· Couples quiz

The partners are asked questions about each other separately. Then the answers are tallied and read out. It can be quite entertaining when the answers do not tally.

These are sure-fire ways to make your guests have fun and remember it for a long time to come.

4.  Entertainment

Have a live band or orchestra playing music for your guests. Live music is always more entertaining than a recorder belting out popular numbers. After their performance, have them invite your guests for a karaoke. Many music enthusiasts would love this opportunity to sing with a live band. Alternatively, get your DJ to play some good music for the dance as well as background music in support of the karaoke. Ask your wedding planner to call for tarot card readers, magicians, stand-up comedians or traditional dancers. Tarot card results would become a topic of conversation among many of your guests. Magicians and comedians can charm adults and children alike. While magic can keep the kids enchanted for some time, laughter is contagious and nothing better than that to elevate the mood at your reception. To watch folk dancers perform the traditional dance of your region can be quite entertaining, as it has become a rare sight these days. You can also consider some crazy walkabout characters like a wicked witch, talking Tom, the seven dwarfs, kung fu panda, angry bird, singing waiters and living statues to mingle with your guests and coax them to participate in some activities, click pictures with them and basically keep them entertained while you have your photo session done.

5.  Wedding wishes

To give your guests short breaks from the physical activities, request them to fill up short wedding advice forms for humour sake. On the tables, keep printed booklets or forms in which you may include questions like what to name our first child, how should we celebrate our first anniversary, what’s the secret to a happy marriage, where do you see us in 20 years, what will you remember most about our wedding day and what’s your best advice for us as parents. Your guests will have fun filling it up and you could be surprised with some funny answers. Also, include a mini card for their wishes for you on your 10 anniversary, which you would open only on your 10 anniversary. Imagine what a treasure of good wishes you would be opening on that day.

Food can be entertaining too. You may consider live chef stations like a coffee lounge, salad bar, dessert buffet and barbeques. Talk to your caterer about it. To leave your guests with some sweet memories of your wedding reception, surprise them with a little gift box of chocolates and a thank you note for sharing your big day with you. You could make your wedding reception unique in numerous more ways. You may take some inspiration from the ideas above to add some laughter and make sweet memories to cherish for your lifetime.