10 Fun Ideas for Your Wedding Reception

Planning & Advice
Find your perfect wedding supplier
Add to favourites

The reception is where the party really starts and if you want to make sure guests have a ball and are blown away by everything from the decor to the entertainment, check out 10 ways to impress below!

1. Light Up Letters

Photo from Terence & Louise’s real wedding by The Fennells

You can’t beat a bit of personalisation when it comes to making your big day your own and light up letters are a great way to go about this. You can get everything from your names, wedding hashtag and initials to slogans like ‘love’ or mr & mrs’ in light up form. It will create a real fun focal point and you can bet guests will love grabbing a snap at it too! Light Up Letter suppliers include:

Starlight Weddings & EventsLetters and Lights | Wedding Letters Ireland | Emmaginative Wedding Designs | Enchanted Wedding Company (4 Foot letters filled with flowers – twinkle lights optional) | Rosewater Weddings | Lovin Letters | Infinity Wedding Services | Wow Weddings

2 Personalised Table Names

Photo from Julie & Scott’s real wedding by The Fennells

We’re a big fan of table names. They’re one of the cheapest and easiest ways to personalise your day and can range from childhood pics of you both to your favourite songs or bands. They’re also a great way to give guests a bit of an insight in to you and your partner’s relationship and likes as well as getting people chatting. Check out some ways to get creative here!

3. Fun Table Games

Photo by Katie Kav Photography

The speeches are a big part of a lot of wedding receptions and guests love to get in on the action with a few bets. So make it easy for them to have the craic with some speech sweepstake kits! Or if you’re not doing speeches, another great way to get guests chatting is by leaving some props in the middle of the tables as a bit of a centrepiece so they can pose for pics.

4. Entertainment

Photo of Mark Heng Carciature Artist from Rachel & Robert’s real wedding by David Maury Photography

Wedding entertainment has really taken off these past few years with everything from singing chefs, comedians, magicians and Irish dancers putting on an awesome show for guests. Games are also really popular from Giant Jenga to Connect 4 and Crazy Golf. Your guests will have a ball trying them out plus it’s a nice surprise for them too!

Magicians | Comedians | Irish Dancers | Caricature Artists | Singing Chefs | Games

5. Photobooth Fun

Photo from Tara & Gearóid real wedding by DKPHOTO

This has become a bit of staple at weddings these past few years as couples look to capture some great memories and keep their guests entertained. Plus, if you’re after a fun favour idea, a photobooth or selfie mirror is the perfect solution!

Photobooth, Video Booth & Selfie Mirror suppliers include:

Shoot Booth | The Fancy Photobooth | Molten Sky Weddings | DMC Events – Photobooth | Carolyn’s Sweets | Selfie Box | Snap Happy | Wow Weddings | Paddy’s Photobooth | Snap Magic Photobooths | Booths of Fun | Imagery Booths | Snapbooths.ie | Precious Moments Video Booth | Partyphotos.ie | Perfect Photobooth | Gueststars Ireland | Magic Mirror Photobooth by Karl Keaney |  Selfie Shenanigans | Wedding Letters Ireland | The Rhythm & Booth Co

6. A Flip Flop Basket with ‘Dancing Shoes’

Photo from Alex & Neil’s real wedding by Lyndyloo in Spain

This genius idea is always well received! Weddings are great fun but if you’re wearing heels for the guts of 8 hours, you’ll be only delighted to clap your eyes on a basket of flats or flip flops to see you through the dancing.

7. Your Own Wedding Hashtag

Photo from Kathleen & Gary’s real wedding by The Fennells

It goes without saying your guests will be snapping away so if you want to make sure a). you get a copy of their pics and b.) you get them involved, create your own wedding hashtag so everyone can get tagging.

8. A Candy Buffet

Photo from John & Valerie’s real wedding by Give Us a Goo Photography

There’s nothing like a few jellies even after a four course meal! The candy buffet is so popular and like a photo booth, is a great favour alternative – pool your cash and ensure guests enjoy a sugar fix later in the evening! Candy Buffet suppliers include Carolyn’s Sweets, Magic Moment Candy CartParty Food 4UStarlight Weddings & Events and Enchanting Events.

9. Late Night Feast

Photo courtesy of The Chip Van & The Airstream

If you’re looking to go all out when it comes to your late night eats, there’s lots of tasty midnight snacks to choose from such as food trucks pulling up doling out everything from chips, burgers and tasty tacos (be sure to check out the seriously delicious food trucks The Chip Van and The Airstream), to the humble crisp sambo station. Take a look at some ideas to steal here!

10. Encourage Dance Floor Antics

Photo from Victoria & Desmond’s real wedding by Tara Donoghue Photography

Make sure the dance floor is the place to be with everything from a dazzling LED dance floor to fun props and song request cards so guests can give it socks to their faves! Check out 13 ways to make sure the dance floor is packed at your wedding here.