Every couple wants their guests to have fun from the moment they arrive at their wedding to the very end, and there are so many ways, big and small, to wow. From making a grand entrance, to unexpected table games, we've made a list of 15 fun ways to surprise your wedding guests on your big day. Some will need to be added to the wedding budget (more on how to work out a wedding budget here!) while others cost nothing at all. What we can guarantee is that these additions will raise a smile, a hearty laugh or cheer from your guests. Read on to get planning your big reveal. Just don't forget to swear your other half to secrecy!
How to Surprise Your Wedding Guests
1. Make a Surprise Entrance
Bride or groom, who doesn't love a grand entrance? Viral clips of wedding parties dancing up the aisle are everywhere, so look to transport instead. It's lovely to be picked up and chauffeured to your reception, but this actually offers the perfect opportunity to surprise your wedding guests before they've even laid eyes on your outfit. Decorated trailers, wagons, horseback, bicycles, a fire truck, a motorbike with a sidecar, a tractor, a vintage double-decker bus or a vintage VW camper van ... if it's fun and you have access to it, then arrive with a bang. Everyone can pile back into the ceremony space when they've finished cheering!
2. Take Song Requests
No we don't mean everybody stands in line at the DJ box (even though that tends to happen anyway!). Taking a song request from your guests can be done in advance and then seamlessly woven into the wedding band or DJ set. Simply, add a line on the RSVP where guests can fill in their song choice and watch their face light up when it starts to play!
3. Make Wedding Welcome Bags
The people you love can often travel long distances to be there on your wedding day, so what better way to surprise your VIP guests and also show them you appreciate their effort than by placing wedding welcome bags in their rooms. Add an extra special touch by choosing locally made or sourced items to the selection, and a handwritten welcome note. For other suggestions you can read our handy checklist of what to include in a wedding welcome bag here! This works really well for destination weddings, or for guests travelling from abroad.
4. Hire a Mixologist
If you've seen a great mixologist at work, you know they can get a crowd whooping with their fancy moves, even using visually stunning techniques involving fire and smoke! Not only this but they can create completely original concoctions and incorporate your personal story into their custom creations, while answering any questions your guests may have about different flavour pairings. In Ireland, check out White Oak Events, Raise The Bar, Hire A Mixologist or All Bar None and in the UK, check out The Mixology Brothers and Mix and Twist.
5. Silent Cocktail Menu
Add intrigue to your day with a silent cocktail menu, which is also a great way to give a personal nod to your guests. How does a silent cocktail menu work you ask? Simply assign a special signature cocktail to each table, and place a card with a note of explanation as part of the table setting (like the one pictured above that says: "Secret squad surprise. Say table 11 at the bar for a luxury libation") so that your guests know something special awaits them. Did you spend an entire week in Italy together drinking Aperol Spritz? Or you how about an ingredient with a special significance to you all. Maybe you'll go all out and create something bespoke and name it after them. Either way, watch your guests gleefully hotfoot it to the bar to receive their surprise cocktail!
6. Table Games
Placing games on each table is not only fun, but are a great way to loosen up the crowd, or act as icebreakers. Create a themed trivia quiz, or print out Dingbats - visual word puzzles of famous sayings - for people to guess. Alternatively, you could play Irish Wedding Bingo (more on that, as well as a handy printable here!). One table game that's growing in popularity at weddings is the After Eight Challenge before the speeches. We have a whole post with fun table games for guests here!
7. Get Creative With your Guest Book
Your guest book is one of the mementos you'll keep for years after the wedding, but it doesn't have to just be a decor focal point, as it can actually be a fun way to surprise your guests! Check out 13 unique wedding guest book ideas which include everything from from piñatas to polaroids and even Jenga. Audio guest books are really popular too. Make sure to leave signage instructing your guests what to do, and ask someone to remind guests to sign, so it's full by the end of the day.
8. Get Creative With Speeches
Don't be afraid to rip up the wedding speech rule book. Sure you can have the usual suspects stand up to say a few prepared words, but why not open up the floor to other guests. An unexpected open mic session could result is hilarious anecdotes being shared, and maybe even a few (happy) tears being shed. Needless to say, you don't have to stick rigidly to the traditional time or place for speeches either (maybe during the drinks reception?). Why not gather everyone outside if the weather is good, to say a few words before setting off fireworks? Or even break up the speeches with unexpected entertainment! More on that below.
9. Create a Spot for R&R
While it might be high energy and shenanigans everywhere else, having somewhere quiet and comfortable to chill out can also be a nice surprise for guests. Creating a quiet room, or a space away from the dance floor, is great for older guests, those with social anxiety or sensory issues, or guests who are pregnant or breastfeeding. You can add cosy blankets if it's outdoors, or if it's indoors create a setting with low, ambient lighting, plenty of cushions and lay out some traditional board games or books as alternative activities. We have a post on how to create a wedding quiet room here!
10. Surprise Entertainment
These days couples are thinking beyond the band, and adding to their live wedding entertainment line up with less conventional acts like magicians (we can recommend some amazing magical options here!), drag performers, mixologists, fire breathers, Celtic drummers and more. Check out our favourite unique wedding entertainment ideas to truly add the wow factor to your celebration and impress your guests, whatever their tastes, and yours, may be!
11. Book A Food Truck
Dancing is hungry work, and your guests will more than thank you for supplying any late-night snacks. Festival-style wedding food trucks are always a hit, and you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to stylish vehicles that have been converted to supply gourmet wood-fired pizzas, Mexican or Thai street food and even your favourite fast food on wheels! You could also hire a truck for after the reception to hand out yummy ice creams or other treats too. We've rounded up Ireland's best wedding food trucks for you to choose from, so your guests can go to bed (or keep going!) with full tums!
12. A Personalised Keepsake
Give your guests a gift that means they’ll never forget your special day with a bespoke keepsake. How about a live illustrator who will draw your guests right in front of your eyes? We love The Wedding Illustrator, why don't you check out her work? Now that would be a favour to be cherished!
13. Get Glittered
If festival style is your vibe then how about hiring a glitter bar for the reception to get your guests ready to party? They're fun, they're sparkly, they get guests mingling - and everyone looks better doused in glitter. Here's how to create your own glitter station here, but or click here if you want to hire a glitter bar, with a professional makeup or glitter artist to set it up and glam you up. A face painting bar would be equally as awesome for your youngest guests.
14. Get an Animal Involved
There's no better way to illicit an 'aw' from a crowd than with a cutely dressed dog. So if your pup is well behaved or confident enough to walk up the aisle, then why not have them in your wedding party? Check out these real weddings where the dogs stole the show for inspiration! And if you're really feeling the animal love why not go bigger? One Fab Day bride Rebekah had a horse of honour, while real wedding couple Jonny and Rebecca had an alpaca act as ring bearer!
15. Lawn Games
Take advantage of the outdoor spaces (and hopefully the sunny weather) at your venue by setting up fun lawn games for your guests to play. From sack races to cornhole, lawn games are a great way to keep your guests, both large and little, entertained as these are activities that everyone can take part in. Best of all, there are plenty of ways you can personalise these lawn games to fit the theme of your special day, and you can even DIY many of them so they won't blow the budget. You can also set them up indoors! We have a great posts with lawn game ideas here.
Looking for more fantastic wedding suppliers to surprise your guests on your wedding day? We've got them all here from unique entertainment, wedding bands and DJs, to yummy food trucks and transport hire!
