Get the Crowd Going! A Collection of Fun Wedding and Reception Entertainment Ideas
It’s exciting to be asked by the bride and groom to put on a performance at their wedding reception or after-party!
But the more you want to make them happy, the harder it can be to decide what to do…
Key points to keep in mind for wedding entertainment are: avoid vulgar acts and overly inside jokes; aim for about 10 minutes; don’t exceed the allotted time; think of something the couple will genuinely enjoy; and above all, focus on “what will make the two of them happy.”
In this article, we’ll introduce entertainment ideas that convey your heartfelt congratulations!
We’ve also gathered ideas the bride and groom themselves can do, so be sure to read to the end!
- [Wedding] Ranking of Popular Entertainment Acts
- Roundup of easy party tricks. A collection of ideas that require no preparation.
- I want to copy this! Recommended ideas to try at your wedding
- Fun and engaging party acts and performances recommended for women
- A roundup of fun wedding ideas: Make your reception uniquely you with uncommon, personality-filled touches!
- A surprise at the wedding reception. Heartwarming surprise ideas.
- A roundup of recommended table-versus-table games for wedding receptions and after-parties
- Recommended entertainment ideas for a wedding reception after-party
- Recommended songs for wedding reception performance dances: A roundup of popular crowd-pleasers
- Party games that liven up the after-party. Fun recreational activities.
- [Wedding Ceremony & Reception] Performances and entertainment where children shine: wonderful ideas
- Handmade ideas for a welcome board
- Fun Question Examples for Bride and Groom Quizzes at Wedding Receptions and After-Parties
Get the Party Started! Wedding Ceremony & Reception Entertainment Ideas (41–50)
Freestyle rap battle
A freestyle rap battle where contestants compete in the art of improvising lyrics and rhymes.
It’s perfect as a celebratory message for the bride and groom, and you can even turn the couple’s gratitude to their parents into a rap.
The result: a moving thank-you and a great speech!
Get the Crowd Going! Wedding Ceremony & Reception Entertainment Ideas (51–60)
pantomime
Pantomime is a type of street performance carried out using only gestures, without words.
It’s a truly mysterious art: touching a wall that isn’t there, walking down invisible stairs, or making a bag seem to float in midair.
The wonder of pantomime is instantly conveyed at a glance, making it perfect as entertainment for a wedding, where people of all ages can enjoy it.
While it takes practice to achieve natural movements, it’s a performance well worth the effort.
A surprise video of a bouquet tracing its roots
This is a surprise video from the groom to the bride.
Without telling her, he visits memorable places where the bride was born and raised, collecting flowers at each stop along the way.
At the end of the video, the bouquet is completed from the collected flowers, and when the video ends, the groom actually appears holding the bouquet—what a surprise! The bride will surely be moved, thinking, “You went all the way there for me!?” and “You even went to meet that person!!” Please ask friends who knew the bride when she was little to help out.
Cocktail show
A cocktail show is where you toss shakers and bottles into the air and perform while making cocktails.
It takes practice for beginners, but once you can do it, it looks really cool and really livens up the atmosphere—so why not try it as entertainment? It’s also great to line up a row of glasses and set it up so the cocktail colors form a rainbow.
There are videos that introduce techniques you can use in a cocktail show, as well as classes that teach cocktail shows, so be sure to check them out.
balloon art
Balloon art, often seen at street performances, uses balloons to create all kinds of things like dogs, rabbits, hats, and swords! All you need is balloons and a dedicated pump.
With practice, anyone can make classics like the “wedding poodle.”
◯◯ showdown
https://www.tiktok.com/@artbellangenagoya/video/7167342378179923202How about holding a variety of head-to-head contests that will get everyone fired up—even the bride and groom? You could do strength-based matches like arm wrestling or push wrestling, compete to see who can hold a handstand the longest or stay balanced on one leg the longest.
Beyond physical challenges, there are options like speed-eating contests, paper airplane distance competitions, or challenges to test the accuracy of your internal clock.
Rather than something that only a few insiders enjoy, aim for a format that gets the whole venue excited and wondering, “Who’s going to win?” If there will be many children, it’s also a great idea to choose contests that are easy for kids to join.
a cappella
An idea I highly recommend when you want to create a moving, uplifting atmosphere is a cappella! A cappella performances are done using only voices, so they require practice, but if you can produce beautiful harmonies, the entire venue will be filled with emotion.
The classic a cappella setup is six people: lead vocal, chorus, second, third, bass, and vocal percussion.
Of course, it’s fine to have fewer or more members, so reach out to people who are confident singers or love to sing and give it a try.