How Many Wedding Games Do I Need? A Guide for Your Guest Numbers

You've decided wedding games would be a fun addition to your big day.

Great choice!

But then comes the next question...

How many wedding games do you actually need?

Is four enough? Do you need six? Would ten be better? And if you've got 100 wedding guests, surely you need loads of games to keep everyone entertained?

Not necessarily.

The right number of wedding games depends on more than just your guest numbers. Your venue, available space, when you're planning to use them and the type of atmosphere you want to create all play a part.

And there's one important thing to remember:

Not everyone will be playing at the same time.

Here's our guide to choosing the right number of games for your wedding.

You Don't Need a Game for Every Guest

This is probably the biggest misconception when couples start looking at wedding games.

If you're inviting 100 guests, you don't need enough games for 100 people to play simultaneously!

That's simply not how wedding entertainment tends to work.

During your drinks reception, guests naturally move between different things.

Some will be playing a game.

Some will be watching.

Some will be enjoying a drink.

Others will be catching up with friends and family.

And five minutes later, they'll probably swap around.

Wedding games work particularly well because guests can dip in and out whenever they fancy having a go.

Think About When You'll Use Your Games

Before deciding how many games you need, think about when they'll be available.

One of the most popular times for wedding games is during the drinks reception.

You've just finished your ceremony and may be heading off with your photographer for your couple and group photographs.

Meanwhile, your guests have an hour or two to relax, grab a drink and mingle.

Having several games available gives them something fun to discover without making the drinks reception feel organised or scheduled.

You don't need to announce anything.

Simply have the games ready and let everyone enjoy them at their own pace.

Are 6 Wedding Games Enough?

For many weddings, six games can be plenty.

A selection of six different games gives guests a good amount of variety without taking over your venue.

This can work particularly well for small and medium-sized weddings where you're looking for something extra to entertain guests during the drinks reception.

The key is choosing a good mixture.

Rather than selecting six games that are very similar, think about offering different styles of play.

You might choose something strategic, something competitive, something traditional and something a little silly!

That way there's more chance of everyone spotting something they'd like to try.

What About Larger Weddings?

If you're having a larger wedding, or you simply want your games to become a bigger feature of the day, ten games can create a fantastic entertainment area.

Having more games means guests have even more choice and helps spread people around your venue.

This can be particularly useful if you have a large lawn, courtyard or marquee where there's plenty of room available.

It also means that if one game becomes particularly popular, there are still lots of other options for everyone else.

Guest Numbers Aren't the Only Consideration

It's tempting to base everything on the number of people attending your wedding.

But that's only part of the picture.

Imagine two weddings with 80 guests.

Wedding A has a large country house venue with an enormous lawn and a two-hour drinks reception.

Wedding B has a smaller hotel with a compact terrace and a shorter drinks reception.

Although both weddings have exactly the same number of guests, the ideal entertainment setup could be completely different.

That's why we always recommend considering your venue and plans alongside your guest numbers.

How Much Space Do You Have?

This is a big one.

More games aren't automatically better if they leave guests squeezing between them!

Wedding games need enough space around them for people to play safely and comfortably.

Some games require very little room, while others need a larger playing area.

If you're unsure, speak to your entertainment supplier and your wedding venue.

They should be able to help you work out what will fit comfortably without interfering with tables, walkways or other parts of your wedding.

Choose Variety Rather Than Quantity

When it comes to wedding games, variety is often more important than simply having as many as possible.

Different guests enjoy different things.

Some love competitive games.

Others prefer something slower and more strategic.

Children may immediately head towards one game while grandparents make a beeline for another.

Having a varied selection helps make your entertainment appealing to different ages and personalities.

At Clinton's Crafts, couples can choose their favourites from our full range of wedding games, allowing you to create a selection that suits your wedding rather than being given a fixed set.

What Games Work Well Together?

A good wedding games selection usually includes a mixture of different styles.

For example, you might combine traditional favourites such as Croquet with giant versions of familiar games such as Connect Four or Noughts & Crosses.

Then add something a little different such as Cornhole, Coconut Shy, Hook a Duck, Limbo or Ball in a Bucket.

This creates several different experiences rather than six variations of essentially the same activity.

And you'll probably find different generations gravitate towards completely different games.

Could You Combine Games with Wedding Mini Golf?

Absolutely – and this can be a brilliant option if you want more variety without having a huge number of individual garden games.

Wedding mini golf and giant games complement each other really well.

Mini golf gives guests an activity they can work their way around, while the games provide quick challenges they can dip in and out of.

It also gives your entertainment area a little more variety.

At Clinton's Crafts, we offer Golf & Games packages that combine wedding mini golf with a selection of games, making them particularly useful for couples who can't decide between the two.

Why choose when you can have a bit of both?

What About Children?

If you're expecting lots of younger guests, it's worth factoring them into your choice.

Games can be brilliant for children during the quieter parts of a wedding day, particularly while you're having photographs taken.

However, that doesn't mean you need separate children's entertainment.

One of the nicest things about wedding games is that children and adults can enjoy many of them together.

Choose a varied selection and you'll often see different generations playing side by side.

Do You Need More Games for a Longer Hire?

If your entertainment is available for several hours, having more variety can be worthwhile.

Guests who enjoyed one or two games earlier may return later and try something completely different.

Our standard hire period is four hours, which gives guests plenty of opportunity to enjoy the entertainment without feeling rushed.

For couples who'd like the games available for longer, an additional two hours can also be added.

Again, though, you don't necessarily need ten games simply because they're available for longer.

Think about the overall experience you're trying to create.

Don't Forget Your Wet Weather Plan

If you're planning an outdoor wedding, think about what happens if the weather changes.

You may have room for ten games on a huge lawn but only space for four or six inside your venue.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't choose the larger package, but it's worth discussing the alternatives with your venue beforehand.

Some games and wedding mini golf can work brilliantly indoors, provided there's enough suitable space.

Knowing your options before the wedding means there's one less thing to worry about when you start checking the weather forecast!

Six Games or Ten Games – Which Should You Choose?

There's no magic formula, but here's a simple way to think about it.

If you want games to be a fun addition to your drinks reception, six games can provide plenty of entertainment for many weddings.

If you have a larger guest list, lots of space or want the games to become a bigger feature of your day, ten games gives everyone even more choice.

And if you'd prefer a mixture of activities, combining fewer games with wedding mini golf can be a fantastic alternative.

The important thing isn't squeezing as many games as possible into your venue.

It's choosing enough to create a relaxed, fun atmosphere without overwhelming the space.

Our Wedding Games Bundles

At Clinton's Crafts, we've kept our wedding games packages nice and simple.

You can:

Choose 6 games – £250

or

Choose 10 games – £400

We have 14 different games to choose from, so you can create your own selection based on the games you think your guests will enjoy most.

And don't worry if you change your mind after booking.

Because we only take one booking per day, you can swap your game choices closer to your wedding if another favourite catches your eye.

Final Thoughts

So, how many wedding games do you need?

For many weddings, six games will be ample.

Not every guest will play at the same time, and that's part of what makes this type of entertainment work so well.

Guests naturally dip in and out throughout the reception, playing a game, grabbing a drink, chatting with friends and coming back for another go later.

For larger weddings, venues with plenty of space or couples who want games to be a bigger part of the day, ten games gives you even more variety.

And if you still can't decide?

Consider mixing things up with wedding mini golf and games together.

The aim isn't to keep every single guest occupied every second.

It's to create those little moments of laughter, competition and conversation that make your wedding feel relaxed, fun and memorable.

And sometimes all it takes is a giant game and one very competitive relative to get things started!