How to Keep Wedding Guests Entertained During Photos

Lawn games are a fantastic and versatile choice for outdoor weddings, providing entertainment for guests of all ages. Classic games like cornhole, horseshoes, ladder toss, ring toss, bocce ball, croquet, and giant Jenga offer light-hearted competition and fun. These games create a lively atmosphere where guests can mingle, bond, and enjoy some friendly rivalry.

Not only do lawn games offer hours of entertainment, but they’re also budget-friendly. Games like giant Jenga are an inexpensive way to keep your guests engaged and entertained during the event, especially while you’re busy taking photos.

3. Rent a Bouncy Castle

Renting a bouncy castle is a fun and unconventional way to keep your friends and family entertained while you’re taking photos. It’s a great option for outdoor weddings, offering entertainment that appeals to both kids and adults. If your venue has enough space, setting up a bounce castle creates an unexpected twist that’s sure to bring lots of laughs. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for guests to relax, break the ice, and enjoy some lighthearted fun together. Plus, it’s a great way to add an extra burst of energy to your reception!

4. Get Everyone Laughing with Mad Libs

Mad Libs are a fun and interactive way to get everyone laughing during the photo session. 

The bride and groom can add a personal and interactive touch to their venue by providing handmade Mad Libs at each place setting. While guests sip their cocktails during the event, they can fill out the Mad Libs and share their hilarious creations with others at their table. Laughter is guaranteed!

To make this activity seamless, ensure there are enough pens or pencils for everyone to get them talking. This simple idea can elevate the atmosphere at the reception venue itself, encouraging fun and connection among your guests. Looking for something even more unique? Consider hiring a caricature artist to distract your invites while adding a fun, artistic element to local attractions of the event.

5. Hire a Caricature Artist

Hiring a caricature artist for weddings is a unique and festive way to entertain guests while the bride and groom take photos. Not only do caricature artists provide a memorable keepsake, but they also entertain visitors, who can watch their own fun and quirky portraits come to life. Each drawing typically takes only a couple of minutes, ensuring that all of your friends and family have the opportunity to get a personalized drawing of themselves.

For an added touch, encourage everyone to sign their caricatures, creating a traditional guest book with a twist that captures the spirit of your celebration in a playful, artistic way.

6. Hire a Tattoo Artist or Set-Up a Tattoo Bar

If you and your bride are big on getting inked, hiring a tattoo artist could be a fun and unexpected idea to entertain everyone while you step away for photos. A skilled tattoo artist giving small designs adds a touch of personalization and edge to your wedding. It’s a memorable activity that creates lasting impressions, and it’s perfect for couples who want to infuse their love for tattoos into their big day.

For a less permanent option, you can also consider setting up a temporary tattoo bar for the event. Etsy allows you and your fiancé to create your signature temporary tattoos for a personalized touch your guests will love. Alternatively, if you want a more mystical vibe at your celebration, offering tarot or palm readings could also occupy everyone while adding a touch of intrigue.

7. Offer Tarot or Palm Readings

Spiritual couples wishing to provide a unique experience to their wedding guests might consider offering tarot readings at the event. A tarot card reader or palm reader will set up a small table and offer personal readings to everyone interested in getting a reading. Even if they aren’t believers in what the cards say, the stories of their potential futures are sure to entertain the party and keep them occupied as the happy couple are busy for at least an hour.

Incorporating activities like astrology or aura readings alongside tarot cards adds a mystical touch to your wedding and will get visitors talking. Everyone can enjoy personalized horoscopes or aura-based color analyses, offering fun, interactive keepsakes. To make your invites enjoy your event with elegance, you can also create a whiskey and cigar bar at your venue.

8. Set Up a Whiskey and Cigar Bar

If you and your significant other are whiskey or cigar fans, putting together a DIY sampling bar at your reception venue is a popular way to express your interests and entertain your guests. They will love being able to partake in a whiskey and cigar bar. 

This involves setting up a bar cart or table with decanters of a variety of scotch and whiskey, glasses, and ice, as well as several boxes of cigars, cigar cutters, and lighters. You can even add custom cigar wrappers or matchbooks for your guests to keep. Your guests will enjoy perusing the different options and lighting up a tasty cigar while chatting with friends and family. You can also hire trained cigar rollers to roll handcrafted cigars on the spot for guests

9. Surprise Performers

Surprise performers that can mingle amongst the waiting crowd will delight your guests. This can include fire eaters, jugglers, magicians, a mariachi band, acrobats, and contortionists are all bound to make your wedding cocktail hour a memorable experience for your guests. You can also hire dancers who have connections to your culture.

10. Host a Marshmallow Roasting Session

Set up a cozy marshmallow roasting station for guests to enjoy while waiting for their photos.

Roasting marshmallows over a bonfire is a classic and relaxed way to keep your guests busy while you and the groom are away taking photos or enjoying private moments. This nostalgic activity creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for guests to relax and rest as they wait. Whether your wedding theme is rustic or beachy, a bonfire adds charm to the evening event. To continue enhancing your guests’ experience during cocktail hour and events, why not feature a live wedding band to add vibrant energy to the mix all night?

11. Keep Guests Busy with a Live Wedding Band

A common way to entertain wedding guests during photos is to provide them with a fun cocktail hour with a live band. If you’ve opted for an open bar, your guests will be able to grab a cocktail of their choice. This is also an opportunity to provide your guests with a unique signature cocktail or two that has special meaning to your relationship. 

While guests enjoy their cocktails, you could add an extra level of entertainment by hiring live musicians like a string quartet to play. From cellists and violinists to small ensembles, you can find a variety of musicians and styles of music to entertain your guests with live entertainment. If you aren’t sure your budget is big enough to accommodate live music, consider hiring a DJ for your big day.

12. DIY Cocktail or Mocktail Station

Couples looking to give their guests a fun and interactive experience can set up a DIY cocktail or mocktail station. Provide a variety of mixers, garnishes, and spirits, or non-alcoholic options, for guests to craft their own drinks. Even those who aren’t seasoned bartenders will enjoy experimenting and chatting as they create personalized beverages while you’re busy capturing your wedding memories.

13. Organize a Mini Dance Off

Get everyone moving and laughing by hosting a mini dance-off. A small area or pop-up dance floor encourages guests to show off their moves, try simple routines, or compete in lighthearted challenges. You can even offer small prizes or fun titles like “Best Freestyle” or “Most Dramatic Move” to spark friendly competition and add extra excitement. This energetic activity keeps the mood lively and ensures your guests are entertained while the photographer works with the wedding party.

14. Plan a Wedding Scavenger Hunt

A wedding scavenger hunt is a playful way to keep guests engaged during your photo session. This activity encourages friendly competition while also creating a natural way for guests to mingle and bond. And as a bonus, it produces plenty of candid photos and laughter for everyone involved. All you have to do is come up with a list of things to find or tasks to complete around the venue, from spotting hidden decorations to taking selfies with certain guests.

15. Mini Arts and Crafts Station

This hands-on option is perfect for guests of all ages, offering a creative outlet that keeps them occupied and adds a personal touch to their wedding experience. Activities could include painting, decorating keepsakes, or creating small wedding-themed crafts. The finished projects can even double as memorable take-home souvenirs.

16. DIY Flower Crown or Boutonniere Station

Gives your guests a chance to bring out their inner florist by creating their own flower crowns or boutonnieres. To get started, provide fresh blooms, greenery, and simple tutorials so everyone can assemble their wearable floral pieces. A boutonniere station not only entertains but also provides guests with a keepsake to wear during the ceremony or reception. It’s a fun, crafty way to involve everyone in your wedding’s aesthetic while you’re busy capturing key moments.

17. Dessert Decorating

Delight your guests with a hands-on dessert decorating station. It adds a playful, interactive element to the celebration that’s both delicious and memorable. This activity is especially popular with children, keeping everyone entertained while allowing them to enjoy a tasty creation they can savor immediately. All you need to do is offer cupcakes, cookies, or mini cakes alongside frosting, sprinkles, and other toppings so guests can design their own sweet treats.

Should You Hire a DJ for Your Wedding Party?

When deciding between a DJ and a live band for your wedding day, you should weigh the pros and cons of each option. While both of them have what it takes to make your ceremony unforgettable, the final choice depends on your preferences, budget, and the overall atmosphere you want to create.

Compared to live bands, DJs offer a wider range of choices when it comes to music. A DJ brings virtually any song you would like to the table and adjusts to the mood of the crowd seamlessly, working their way from one genre to another, all the way to tempo. DJs can engage with the guests through announcements or live requests, which creates a more dynamic atmosphere. The DJs are a bit more budget-friendly, even with very tight budgets, and take up less space and time to set up.

In the end, choosing between a DJ or a live band comes down to the type of vibe you envision for your wedding. If you’re looking for an entertainment option that is both flexible and affordable, with a larger range of music, then a DJ may be the most suitable option.

Keep the Party Going While You’re Away for Photos

Your wedding day is a momentous occasion, not just for you but for your loved ones too. While you’re off capturing timeless memories during your photos, ensuring your guests have an equally unforgettable experience is just as important.

Simple yet entertaining touches like lawn games, a photo booth, and light bites are great ways to keep your guests as immersed in the celebration as you are. The right music can do the same by setting a lively or relaxed vibe that keeps everyone engaged and enjoying themselves while you’re busy capturing your wedding photos.

At LIV Entertainment, we understand the importance of creating an atmosphere where everyone feels included and where the fun never stops. Let us help you turn your wedding day into an unforgettable celebration, ensuring that both you and your guests enjoy every moment. Contact LIV Entertainment today. Let’s bring your vision to life!

Frequently Asked Questions

In the past 8+ years, we’ve seen many couples struggle with not knowing how to keep their wedding guests entertained while they’re off capturing their special moments. To help, we’ve compiled quick answers to some of the most common questions. If you don’t see the answer to your question, don’t hesitate to reach out.

How Long Do Wedding Photo Sessions Usually Take?

Most wedding photo sessions take about 2-3 hours to complete. It could be more or less depending on the size of the wedding party and how many family combinations you want photographed.

What Are the Best Activities to Keep Guests Busy During Photos?

Activities such as lawn games, a photo booth, cocktail hour, and a memory or guestbook station are popular and easy ways to keep guests busy while you’re taking photos. You can also try live music if you want your reception to feel more lively, or light snacks and drinks if you’d rather keep things simple and relaxed. Whatever you decide to go with, just make sure it keeps guests comfortable and engaged so the wait doesn’t feel long.

How Can I Keep Children Entertained During Wedding Photos?

The best way to keep children entertained during a wedding photo session is to set up a children’s activity corner. This can include simple activities like coloring books, small toys, bubbles, and snacks. It’s important to have someone appointed as a sitter to watch over the kids and ensure they stay safe while the rest of the group focuses on getting their pictures taken.