Leigh Hanley
Leigh Hanley 9 Apr 2019

Entertaining a small wedding?

Hello. Me and my fiance are planning a very small and intimate wedding. 28 people, including us and three children. I'm wondering what to do for entertainment. It will be a late afternoon ceremony, followed by drinks, canapes and photographs and then the wedding breakfast. The rest of the evening will be drinks, all very casual. I'm worried it will be boring? While I want it to be a relatively relaxed affair, I still want it to be fun. Has anyone else done this? Was it awkward, do you wish you had a bigger wedding? Thank you for any replies. (New member x)

37 Comments
UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

I went to a small wedding last year and another one a few years ago. Last years they did a small Buffett for later in the evening and had a local band play as entertainment which was great fun as everyone was up dancing. The one a few years ago they had a dj for music but also had a Punch and Judy show on which everyone loved

Kayleigh E Alman
Kayleigh E Alman 10 Apr 2019

I wish I had a smaller wedding... I didn’t have time to talk to everyone or even see everyone.. I had a photo booth at my wedding which went really well and the guests loved it.. do you have a bit of space at the venue to have giant garden games like genga or connect 4 etc? Can get them in the range (if you have one near you) or on eBay or groupon. My guests loved them to!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

I have attended all sorts of events and the best sort of entertainment is music which can be amped up or down depending upon the time of day. The washboard resonators were amazing for this at a friends wedding something similar would be nice and unusual but enjoyable to all

Kirsty Neilan
Kirsty Neilan 10 Apr 2019

I'm planning the same. 30 people ceremony drinks reception and buffett. It's only over 4hrs in the afternoon with no official sit down meal but plenty food n snacks and a bar. I'm not having entertainment just music in the background. Hoping it gives people chance to mingle n catch up in a relaxed atmosphere.
I'm still unsure if it's appropriate to have wedding like this and how my guests will react to no evening reception. I'm just doin my way that will make me comfortable. Hope that leaving guests to spend their evening how they wish is not seen as rude. Just feel that the older ones want home n chill n young kids don't like long days. Leaving the younger ones to hit town n enjoy their nite.

Catherine Wright
Catherine Wright 10 Apr 2019

Were having a small wedding too. Getting married at 12pm and having a bbq afterwards in a pub / there will be kids there but it’s not formal. We haven’t arranged entertainment, but the kids have got Activity packs. The kids will be leaving around 5 anyway and then we’re staying as long as we want x

Laura Stewart
Laura Stewart 10 Apr 2019

Ok so my dads wedding a few years ago was smaller still, there were 10 of us and it wasn’t boring, we had the service, drinks in a local pretty pub then dinner at another country pub Resturant, it was all relaxed and just perfect

If you are concerned you could try a few things

You could do a quiz just about you and your family members or if it’s easier, general knowledge

You could get a duo to play you music so you can all sit and chill out and listen

There are those characteristics people that do the drawings, have a number of those done and ends up being part of your wedding album

Go and do something, it’s your day and you make it how you want, you could all go for a game of bowling or something that you enjoy

A wedding walk, so depending on where you are and time if the year, if you are near the beach or a lake, go for a little wonder so you have either eaten and gone or are working up a a need to food

That’s a few ideas 😀

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

We are doing the same, hoping that because it’s small it will be more intimate and we will have time to spend with everyone.
But with you on that, half thinking of something to add during the wedding breakfast but unsure!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

I had bey similar to you. But only 16 guests, that’s even including me and hubs! We had a great time and had NO evening entertainment. We had 2 toddlers there who really livened the spirit in the room. We had music played through our iPod and it was great fun. Everyone danced, got merry, had a sing song. Definitely not boring! So don’t worry too much! Xx

Leanne Evenson
Leanne Evenson 10 Apr 2019

Were the same not got budget to add things like magician etc we've pushed budget to a magic mirror for evening but that is all with DJ x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

I think if its more intimate you don't need to have entertainment as people will be content just being with each other, we had a very small wedding fue yo it being in lapland and once the wedding was done our guests went anf had hot juice and a snack while we had photos done then we went straight for the meal, after that we disappeared to our igloo for the night and the guests went to the hotel bar. I think the bigger the guest list the more people get lost in the crowd and get bored, but that could just be my antisocial tendencies

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

We had 14 people at our wedding including ourselves, 1pm ceremony then onto a lovely restaurant for a meal, lovely and intimate everyone had the chance to talk with each other, no stress for us and everyone said it was one of the best weddings they’d ever been to, so relaxed! I wouldn’t ever change it it was beautiful xx

Hayley-Marie Roberts
Hayley-Marie Roberts 10 Apr 2019

We had a DJ and a dance floor, 50 guests admittedly but I'd say 10 of those were children. Everybody seemed to enjoy the dancing!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

What about a live band

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

We had 30 including us, it was lovely, it was at my mum in laws, we had my sons fiancée sang for us and we had fireworks, everyone commented how lovely it was and how relaxed it was

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

There were 28 of us including us and 4 kids, just had music on in the background and it went so fast. Admittedly we hadn't seen each other for a couple of years mostly beforehand but still. We bought individual gift bags for everyone and some of those were things like decks of cards or a mini pool table from the pound shop and the kids had games and coloring books so that was entertaining enough. Maybe could have got something like giant jenga or something to do something all together rather than individual tables but was still great.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

I was at a similar size wedding. They had s playlist in, everyone was up dancing.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

I had my wedding in the morning wedding breakfast in the afternoon and finished about 6pm I think we had about 50 people and it was lovely not rushed very relaxed not boring either. Had my own music in the background during the wedding breakfast. Wedding was 11am. Did themed wedding as well plenty on the table to entertain yourself with.️

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

Ours was a very relaxed affair. Midday wedding and lunch and dinner (and a free bar! Thanks dad!) in the same venue. No one was bored as they were too busy chatting. We turned the music up after dinner, so people could dance, but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other speak. Informal weddings are much nicer. I can't stand all that forced jollity.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

It will be perfect - we had 31 (including us) at our wedding as we married in Italy, but it meant that we could actually properly speak to and spend time with all of our guests. You won't need a lot in the way of entertainment, as people will mingle and enjoy catching up with each other - we had a pair of guitar & mandolin players during the drinks & nibbles, then just music playing after dinner. Our reception was at a farmhouse so there were a few animals around for everyone to go and look at (some donkeys & chickens!) and we did have some fireworks at the end of the evening, but for the majority of the time everyone just enjoyed having a few drinks and a good chat together. It was wonderful!

Tracy Battershill
Tracy Battershill 10 Apr 2019

Hi I'm only having 20 at my wedding I will have 3 boys there so I've got them some stuff to make colouring books in the evening I've book magician and photo booth

Lauren Nother
Lauren Nother 10 Apr 2019

I had a big wedding we had 90 day and if I could I’d of had everyone from the evening there too but when you’re enjoying your day you’ll own remember the ones on the dance floor with you x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

Maybe some garden games? Something like that? You probably wouldn't want a DJ for such small numbers
Maybe get a speaker and play some music?

Lucy Anderson
Lucy Anderson 10 Apr 2019

String quartet for background noise! It's nice and peaceful and relaxing and not too loud for a small group xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

A wedding is about the bride and groom. The size doesn't matter. Worrying about the occasion is senseless. It is being witness to the ceremony. It can be stressful. Setting the guidelines for the guest list is important. If you decide on close family only then inviting some that aren't could alienate some family members. If you are concerned about entertaining the guests then maybe revisit the guest list. People who really care about you are there for you. It's not a circus.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

Maybe some lawn games or we've picked up some cheap travel board games and top trumps for people to play in the time between afternoon and evening etc xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

We had 31 too, and it was brilliant, it meant we could talk to everyone, rather than feel rushed. We were in an old manor house, we put on an ipod, had a first dance and cut the cake and then we just floated around.. There was a pool table and we just chilled out! Everyone was staying in the house so were able to do what they pleased, we had an evening buffet and a relatively early night! Enjoy the intimacy, I wouldn't change it for the world as it meant we spent time with everyone we wanted there x

Rachel Doxey
Rachel Doxey 10 Apr 2019

It sounds absolutely lovely unfortunately our wedding is turning into a larger affair

Lianne Harris
Lianne Harris 10 Apr 2019

I only want a small intimate wedding so I can enjoy the day and talk to everyone

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

Just play some music in the background... have some cards dominos etc on the tables... maybe pens pencils paper for kids...

Julia Shepherd
Julia Shepherd 10 Apr 2019

I went to a friends wedding where they did a pub quiz based on how well teams of people knew the bride and groom, first prize was a bottle of champagne

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

You could get a close up magician. With such a small crowd everyone will be able to get some time with them.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Apr 2019

We had around 35 people in the end and had a disco and it was still an awesome time

Hayley Marden
Hayley Marden 10 Apr 2019

Panic room van... take turns and in teams do puzzles.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 11 Apr 2019

It sounds lovely and will be very special for you both. Wishing you all the best for it and for a very happy marriage 🥰

(I must've got out of bed on the right side this morning, I shock myself!)

Debby O'Gorman
Debby O'Gorman 11 Apr 2019

Ashley Noble

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 13 Apr 2019

Ours was a similar size and incredibly relaxed. No seating plan etc. We had a pub quiz that my step dad put together and presented. Lasted about 90 minutes - 2 hours. Then we put on our own disco. We bought speakers and little disco lights. We asked all guests to choose songs for the disco playlist (set up on spotify) so that it was a mix of tastes and styles and everyone got their favourite dancing song. Was a good night!

Joanne Matthews
Joanne Matthews 13 Apr 2019

We are having 50 people, and have organised a photo mirror and a magician that mingles amongst the guests. We have also got large ornate picture frames that are being hung in the grounds for people to take pictures of themselves x

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