5 Fun Reception Ideas That Make For Great Photos

Every couple is different when it comes to planning a reception. Some want things fairly traditional, and others want to change things up a little bit. Addressing the latter, it can be fun to find a few special ways to entertain your guests, not just for the sake of enjoying the reception, but also because it makes for great photographs. Going the traditional route leads to traditional photos. That isn’t to say they can’t be absolutely gorgeous, nor that you and your friends and family won’t cherish them for a lifetime! But in terms of what’s actually going on in them, there won’t be too many surprises. It’s dancing, sitting around, talking and laughing, toasting, etc., and of course a professional photographer will capture all of the sweet and special moments within these basic activities. If you opt for some less than traditional reception elements however, you can get a few sets of photos that will stand out as being playful and different.

In keeping with this idea, here are 5 fun reception ideas worth considering and which can also make for fun, different photos. See what you think!

1. Beach Games

Beach games, or outdoor games in general, are actually getting somewhat popular for receptions, particularly with younger marrying couples. The idea is to have an outdoor area with something like cornhole, bocce, croquet, or even limbo or giant jenga set up, so that guests can take it in turns to head out, play a few games, have a few laughs, and rejoin the party. It’s just a nice element to add to the party, and as you may imagine it helps guests to cut loose, which ultimately produces some of the most natural photos of everyone having a good time.

2. The Wheel

If you haven’t heard of “the wheel” as relates to modern wedding receptions, you should look it up! It isn’t a single product you purchase but rather an idea that can be tailored to any individual couple’s preferences. But the idea is that it’s a physical wheel that people can spin, resulting in a given event based on where the wheel lands. That may mean a kiss between the bride and groom, a member of the wedding party giving a speech, everyone in the room taking a drink, or anything else creative the people involved come up with. The fun people have spinning the wheel results in joyous but different photos, and of course some of the resulting actions can also be rather photogenic.

3. Casino Corner

A casino corner is actually not an uncommon idea at modern weddings, and it can make for a great setting for pictures that will stand out as being unlike the rest. Sometimes this kind of idea means hiring a professional dealer and setting up some real card tables. But you can also enhance the whole concept thanks to the expansive digital casino offerings out there today. In Canada, the UK, and elsewhere, slot machines come in a range of digital options that you can set up on iPads or cleverly disguised computers to add a sort of border and some game variety to the casino corner. Altogether, if staged properly, it can make for a little slice of Vegas in the midst of the reception.

4. Self-Serve Cocktails

A fully stocked bar is always a treat at a reception, not necessarily because people need to drink to excess but because it’s nice to have options. So why not take that idea even further and have a self-serve area as well? It should keep things festive, and it will undoubtedly lead to some interesting moments captured as guests mix drinks together.

5. The Headphone Party

Silent clubbing has become a thing, and if it sounds weird you can get a better idea of what to expect by reading the account of a first-timer. To describe the concept though, it’s basically that everyone at a party gets a pair of headphones, and music is controlled by a DJ with remote access. The result is a sort of free-for-all dance party in which, remarkably, people seem to feel less self-conscious and more free to sink into whatever it may be they’re listening to. Clearly this can produce some wild and amusing photos, and while it’s a little much to imagine an entire reception as a headphone party, you may be able to work in an hour at the end or something similar. It’s actually quite a lot of of fun!