What Do Wedding Guests Do During Photos?

You've said "I do", the confetti has been thrown, everyone has a drink in their hand... and then your photographer whisks you away for those all-important wedding photos.

But what happens to everyone else?

What do your wedding guests actually do while you're having your photographs taken?

It's one of those little details that's surprisingly easy to overlook when planning a wedding. Depending on your photography plans, your guests could have an hour or more to fill before they're called through for the wedding breakfast.

Of course, they'll chat, grab a drink and catch up with friends and family – but giving them something extra to enjoy can turn that waiting time into one of the most fun and relaxed parts of your wedding day.

Here are some ideas to keep your guests entertained while you're busy creating those gorgeous wedding photos.

First Things First – Your Guests Won't Be Sitting Waiting for You!

If you're worrying about disappearing for your photographs and leaving everyone behind, don't.

This part of the wedding day is usually your drinks reception, and it's designed to give guests time to relax and mingle between the ceremony and wedding breakfast.

There'll usually be drinks, canapés and plenty of conversation.

But this is also the perfect opportunity to add a little entertainment.

Rather than simply filling time until you return, you can create an atmosphere where guests are laughing, playing and enjoying themselves.

And chances are, your photographer will capture some fantastic candid photographs of them doing it too.

1. Let the Garden Games Begin!

If your venue has gardens, lawns, a courtyard, marquee or another suitable space, wedding games are a brilliant way to entertain guests during photographs.

There's no timetable and no need to organise everyone.

Simply have the games set up and ready to play.

Guests can grab a drink, wander over and have a go whenever they fancy.

Games such as Giant Jenga, Cornhole, Giant Connect Four, Croquet, Giant Chess, Coconut Shy and other traditional garden games work particularly well because they're easy to understand and don't require lots of explaining.

Before you know it, you'll have different groups playing across the venue.

And there's usually at least one guest who takes it far more seriously than anyone expected!

2. Set Up Wedding Mini Golf

Wedding mini golf is another fantastic option for filling the gap while you're having photographs taken.

It's particularly good for drinks receptions because guests can play at their own pace.

There's no scheduled start time and nobody has to commit to a long activity. They can simply pick up a club, play a few holes and enjoy themselves.

It's also entertainment that works across generations.

Children can play alongside parents and grandparents, while friends and family can challenge each other to see who gets the best score.

Add scorecards into the mix and you may return from your photographs to discover that a full-blown family competition has developed!

3. Give Guests an Ice-Breaker

One thing that's easy to forget is that many of your wedding guests won't know each other.

Your family may be meeting your partner's extended family.

School friends might be standing next to work colleagues.

Friends from completely different parts of your lives suddenly find themselves together.

Interactive wedding entertainment gives people something to talk about.

It's much easier to start a conversation with someone new when you're both trying to work out how on earth you're going to beat them at Cornhole or mini golf!

By the time you return from your photographs, guests who were strangers an hour earlier may already be chatting away.

4. Make the Most of Your Venue

You've probably chosen your wedding venue partly because you love how it looks, so encourage your guests to enjoy it.

If there are beautiful gardens, terraces or outdoor areas, your drinks reception is a lovely opportunity to use them.

Games and mini golf can help draw people outside rather than everyone gathering around the bar or sitting at their tables waiting for the next part of the day.

For venues with limited outdoor space, talk to them about indoor or covered options too.

Many forms of wedding entertainment don't have to be outside.

5. Keep Younger Guests Busy

If you're inviting children to your wedding, this part of the day can feel particularly long for them.

They've sat through the ceremony, the adults are chatting and now they're being asked to wait again.

That's when having something fun to do can make a huge difference.

Simple games give younger guests the freedom to burn off some energy while their parents enjoy a drink and catch up with family and friends.

And don't be surprised when the adults start joining in too!

6. Add Something Sweet

Who says entertainment has to involve playing a game?

A sweet cart, doughnut stand or crisp wall can become another feature for guests to discover during your drinks reception.

It gives everyone something to enjoy while they're chatting and can create a lovely focal point within your reception space.

You could even combine sweet treats with games or mini golf to create different little areas for guests to explore.

Just don't blame us if half the sweets have disappeared before you've finished your photographs!

7. Create Somewhere to Relax

Not everybody wants to play games, and that's absolutely fine.

Having comfortable places where guests can sit with a drink and chat is just as important.

Outdoor furniture, benches, covered terraces or cosy indoor seating areas give older guests and anyone who simply wants to relax somewhere comfortable to enjoy the reception.

The aim isn't to make every guest participate in an activity.

It's to give them choices.

Some will play.

Some will watch.

Some will sit and chat.

And some will probably do all three.

8. Add Some Background Music

Music can completely change the atmosphere of a drinks reception.

An acoustic singer, guitarist, saxophonist or even a carefully chosen playlist can provide a lovely backdrop while guests mingle.

Music works particularly well alongside interactive entertainment because it doesn't require everyone's attention.

Guests can listen while enjoying a drink, playing games or simply catching up with friends.

9. Let Your Photographer Capture the Fun

While you're having your couple portraits taken, your photographer may also spend some time photographing your guests.

And this is where interactive entertainment comes into its own.

Instead of photographs of everyone simply standing around holding drinks, you can end up with brilliant candid shots of grandparents playing mini golf, friends laughing over Giant Jenga or children challenging the adults at garden games.

You may not even see these moments happening on the day.

Then your wedding gallery arrives and suddenly you get to experience the part of your wedding that happened while you were somewhere else having your photographs taken.

10. Don't Try to Fill Every Minute

There's one important thing to remember.

Your guests don't need entertaining every second of the day.

A wedding isn't a theme park!

People genuinely enjoy having time to chat, grab a drink and catch up with people they haven't seen for a while.

The trick is simply to give them options.

Interactive entertainment works particularly well because it doesn't interrupt the natural flow of the day.

Nobody needs to announce that it's time to play.

The games are simply there whenever someone fancies having a go.

What If It Rains?

Ah, the question every British couple eventually has to consider!

If you're planning outdoor entertainment, it's always sensible to have a wet-weather plan.

Talk to your venue about covered areas, marquees or indoor spaces that could potentially accommodate your entertainment if the weather changes.

Mini golf and some wedding games can work brilliantly indoors when there's enough space available.

Knowing your Plan B beforehand means you're not worrying about the forecast during the week of your wedding.

How Much Entertainment Do You Actually Need?

This depends on your guest numbers, available space and how long your drinks reception will last.

You don't necessarily need an activity for every guest.

In reality, people naturally move between playing, watching, chatting, having a drink and catching up with friends.

Having a selection of different activities gives guests choice without making your reception feel overcrowded.

A combination such as wedding mini golf and a few garden games can work particularly well because guests can move naturally between them.

For larger weddings or longer drinks receptions, a bigger selection of games can give guests even more variety.

Look out for our next blog for more info!

Your Wedding Photos Don't Have to Mean Waiting Around

Ultimately, your guests aren't simply waiting for you while you're having photographs taken.

They're still enjoying your wedding.

Your drinks reception is an opportunity for everyone to relax after the ceremony, get to know one another and start celebrating properly.

A few thoughtfully chosen activities can turn that hour or two into a genuine highlight of the day.

And while you're off having those beautiful newlywed photographs taken, you can relax knowing everyone else is having a pretty brilliant time too.

Final Thoughts

So, what do wedding guests do during photos?

They chat. They drink. They catch up with friends and family.

But they can also play, laugh, compete, mingle and make memories of their own.

Wedding mini golf, giant garden games and sweet treats are all fantastic ways to add something extra to your drinks reception without making your wedding feel overly organised.

At Clinton's Crafts, we provide wedding mini golf, garden games and sweet treat packages across the North West, with entertainment suitable for weddings of all sizes and guests of all ages.

And because we only take one booking per day, you'll have the freedom to choose from our full range of available games for your wedding date.

While you're busy creating those all-important wedding photographs, we'll help make sure there's plenty happening back at the party too.