23 Ideas for Guest-Participatory Wedding Performances: From the Ceremony to the Reception

2022.07.22 published

殿堂記事

Guest Participation Performances*

At weddings,

"Many brides might be thinking, 'I want to prepare guest participation performances to enjoy together with everyone who came♡'"

(From the guests' perspective, it's also exciting to see performances like that♡)

Therefore, in this article, I will exclude classic options like flower showers, bouquet tosses, and photo rounds that have been traditionally done.

Instead, I will introduce a variety of wedding ideas and content where guests can participate and cooperate.

Ceremony Performance Part 1: Switching Letters

Before the entrance of the ceremony, take some time to have the guests simultaneously open and read letters from the bride and groom that were handed out at the reception♡

Ceremony Performance Part 2: Canvas Art Ceremony

An event where guests paint on a wedding canvas that will become the marriage certificate with brushstrokes.

The bride and groom will complete it by signing during the ceremony♡

@y_wd__1005

Ceremony Performance Part 3: Dozen Flowers Ceremony

The famous Dozen Roses Ceremony, where the groom collects 12 roses from the guests and presents them to the bride...

Recently, it has become popular to do a Dozen "Flower" Ceremony with various flowers instead of just roses.

You can use seasonal flowers, trendy flowers, or mix different kinds of flowers for the 12, allowing for more customization to match the ceremony's atmosphere♡

Ceremony Performance Part 4: Wine Box Ceremony

For wine-loving couples, a Wine Box Ceremony where they seal away 5-year and 10-year-old wines in a wooden box is also recommended.

It's common to collect letters to each other or messages from guests to put inside as well.

It's a lovely future moment to open it years later, drink the wine, and read the messages from the wedding day together.

Ceremony Performance Part 5: Ring Relay

Prepare a long ribbon on the chairs where guests will sit, and have the guests relay the wedding rings of the bride and groom.

@st.wedding0811

Usually, the rings are handed from the parents sitting in the front row to the bride and groom.

👇 It’s also nice if the bride and groom are waiting where the ribbon ends.

Ceremony Performance Part 6: Collecting Vows

If it's a civil ceremony, you might think of original vows...

An idea to pick out sentences from those the guests have written and choose what resonates with you to create your vows♡

You might encounter vows that you couldn’t think of just the two of you.

Ceremony Performance Part 7: Dividing the Bouquet Toss into Three

For bouquet tosses, prepare three smaller bouquets and (up until the throwing moment, present it as one bouquet),

tossing them into the air so they split into three is also an interesting twist on the classic idea.

Normally, a bouquet can only go to one person, but with this, three people can receive them at once, which is exciting♡

Ceremony Performance Part 8: Surprise Nominations

While it's common to have surprise nominations for escort duties at receptions...

How about surprising guests in the ceremony to:

- Carry the wedding rings

- Carry the marriage certificate

This idea of surprising guests for significant roles,

where it’s not too difficult to get them to bring it, could pleasantly surprise them if they were chosen.

Ceremony Performance Part 9: Sand Ceremony

The Sand Ceremony, which symbolizes that once the sands mix, they can never be separated again, fits perfectly with a wedding ceremony.

Many couples do it!

While traditionally done in a wooden frame box,

using transparent glass boxes or brass frame boxes gives it a modern look, making it stylish as decor.

Ceremony Performance Part 10: Gift Toss

Instead of the bouquet toss, many couples lately are doing gift tosses.

The contents of the gifts might include bouquets with sweets or cosmetics, or stuffed animals as representation for receiving luxurious meat gifts later.

Ceremony Performance Part 11: Brush Stroke Marriage Certificate

Designs with brush-stroke styles on acrylic boards are staple at international weddings...

(Like this!)

A version for the marriage certificate where guests paint a brush stroke, using their favorite colors of paint, is also lovely.

Ceremony Performance Part 12: String Art

String art where guests wrap red strings around nails shaped like hearts.

This too is a guest participation wedding certificate♡

Reception Performance Part 1: Original Quiz Game

- Dress color guessing quiz

- Childhood photos (baby) guessing quiz

- Entrance music guessing quiz

- Bouquet flower guessing quiz

These quiz games are typically done at the timing of a costume change entrance,

but for brides wanting something a bit different, thinking of original content is recommended.

For example, this bride held a quiz on her mother's name♡

This bride did a hairstyle quiz.

The voting slips are stylish too＊

(Other ideas could include memorable date spots or proposal phrases, many ideas come to mind.) 2

Reception Performance Part 2: Wedding Cake Finishing Touch

An idea where the wedding cake is revealed in an unfinished state and guests help with the final decoration.

Applying cream and placing flowers or fruits.

If it’s challenging to have everyone participate, you could choose a few from the bride and groom or do it randomly by lottery too＊

Reception Performance Part 3: Third-Party Introduction Cards

Guests anonymously write cards saying who the groom (or bride) is, and the emcee reads them like a radio during mingling time.

It would be fun to include something like a radio name, such as “From a friend from high school club”♡

Reception Performance Part 4: Flower Buffet

Preparing flowers at the welcome space for guests to pick one flower each and arrange them in a vase at their table is a charming performance♡

It's fun to see everyone contribute to the venue's decor together.

Guests might choose different flowers to make it work, saying something like “If ○○-chan picks that, I might go with this one~”＊

Reception Performance Part 5: Surprise Albums and Letters

Sending personalized messages to each guest is usually done with name cards...

But you could place a fake book or box on the guest table...

This creates an impressive effect where it appears to be just decoration, but inside are albums or letters to the guests.

Creating a moment for everyone to view or read together could foster a sense of unity in the venue.

Reception Performance Part 6: Gift Relay

"Please give this to the person you think is the most stylish in the venue."

"Please pass this to the person who seems to drink the strongest in the venue."

Creating prompts like these and having guests relay gifts in a fun and exciting manner is a delightful participant performance.

Reception Performance Part 7: Caricature Game

An event where each table draws a caricature of the bride and groom, deciding which table made the best likeness is perfect for couples looking for fun moments, reminiscent of a second party.

Reception Performance Part 8: Fruit Wine Ceremony

Guests put in fruits, and the bride and groom pour wine in the fruit wine ceremony.

Matching the colors of the fruits to the centerpieces makes it stylish nowadays＊

(If you change it to fruit punch, it might be served as dessert.)

Reception Performance Part 9: RSVP Postcard Good Design Award

When many carefully designed RSVP postcards arrive during the attendance confirmation phase...

Creating a Good Design Award and presenting it to selected guests is also a good idea.

Printing the postcard design and showing it to everyone makes it considerate.

Reception Performance Part 10: Episode Bingo

Asking trivia questions about the bride and groom’s memories and episodes, having guests write what they think are the correct numbers on bingo cards, then revealing the numbers when they win is a great idea infused with second party elements.*

Reception Performance Part 11: Flower Service

After entering, the bride presents one flower to each table in a delightful performance.

It’s adorable for the bride to place the flowers she’s holding into the centerpieces as well.

The key point is the change in decor between the first and second halves, a refreshing take on the flowers♡

Involving Guests*

We have introduced guest participation wedding performances.

Did you find ideas you’d like to try or ones you’ve never seen before??

You can execute these ideas as they are or tweak them to your liking＊

Involve your guests and enjoy a great time together♡

➡ More! Here’s a list of articles on guest participation performances＊