15 wedding reception games guests actually enjoy
By the Mission Memories team · Updated
The short answer
The best wedding reception games are easy to join, don't hold up the day and get guests mixing. Popular choices are a photo scavenger hunt during the drinks reception, the shoe game during the speeches, a table quiz about the couple during the wedding breakfast, and a speech sweepstake. Pick two or three for different parts of the day rather than one big game.
Games for the drinks reception
Guests are mingling, often for an hour or more while the couple has photos taken. Games here should work for people standing up with a drink in hand.
- Photo scavenger hunt. Guests complete photo challenges like "selfie with a guest you've never met" and climb a live leaderboard. With Mission Memories guests join with a code on their phone and every photo lands in one gallery for the couple. See our 60 photo scavenger hunt ideas.
- Giant lawn games. Jenga, Connect 4 and quoits. Great outdoors in summer, but they need space and someone to set them up.
- Guess the date. Guests guess how many days the couple dated before getting engaged. The closest wins a prize at the end of the night.
- Find the guest. A bingo card of facts ("has been to Australia", "knew the groom at school"). Guests find someone who matches each square.
Games for the wedding breakfast
Guests are seated, so table games work best. Keep them short so they don't slow down the service.
- Table quiz about the couple. Ten questions on each table about how they met, their first holiday and who said "I love you" first.
- The shoe game. The couple sit back to back, each holding one of their own shoes and one of their partner's, and raise the shoe of whoever the question applies to ("who's the better cook?"). Usually played between courses or after the speeches.
- Speech sweepstake. Guests bet on how long the best man's speech will last, or how many times a word gets said.
- Table photo challenges. If you're running a photo scavenger hunt, add table missions like "get your whole table pulling their best wedding face".
- Who's at the table? A card on each table with a fact about each guest. Tables match facts to people.
Games for the evening reception
- Dance-off. A song or two for a family-versus-friends dance battle, called by the DJ.
- Last couple dancing. The DJ asks couples married for less than a year to leave the floor, then 5 years, then 10, until the longest-married couple is left.
- Evening photo missions. First dance, cake cutting and bouquet toss missions bring the evening guests into the game.
- Song request challenge. Guests request songs on a card with a reason, and the DJ reads out the best ones.
- Guestbook alternatives. A video message booth, or a "film a 10-second message for the couple" mission.
- The bouquet and garter toss. Traditional, but check your crowd will enjoy it.
Which reception games need the least effort?
| Game | Setup | Needs someone to run it | Best moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo scavenger hunt | Set missions, share a code | No | Drinks reception into evening |
| The shoe game | Write 10–15 questions | Yes, an MC | After the speeches |
| Table quiz | Print cards | No, but someone marks it | Wedding breakfast |
| Speech sweepstake | Print slips | Briefly | Before the speeches |
| Lawn games | Hire and set out | No | Drinks reception, outdoors |
| Last couple dancing | None | The DJ | Evening |
How many reception games should you have?
Two or three is plenty. One for the drinks reception, one during the meal, and one for the evening. A photo scavenger hunt can cover the whole day on its own, because guests play whenever there's a quiet moment.
Want a game that runs all day without an MC? Create a free wedding event and pick from ready-made wedding missions.
Frequently asked questions
What games do you play at a wedding reception?
Popular wedding reception games include a photo scavenger hunt, the shoe game, a table quiz about the couple, a speech sweepstake, lawn games and last couple dancing.
When should wedding games be played?
Mingling games during the drinks reception, table games during the wedding breakfast, and dance-floor games in the evening. Keep the ceremony and speeches game-free.
What is the shoe game at a wedding?
The couple sit back to back holding one of each other's shoes. The MC asks questions like "who's the better driver?" and each raises the shoe of the person they think it applies to.
What's a good wedding game that doesn't need an MC?
A photo scavenger hunt. Guests join with a code, complete missions on their phones and the leaderboard keeps score, so nobody has to run it.
Run it with Mission Memories
Free for 5 guests. Guests join with your code from their phone's browser, no app needed.