Brunch Wedding - Keeping Guests Entertained?

So you're having dances but not dancing for guests?

They will mingle and talk. I would think most people will leave after the cake cutting.

I think what you are doing sounds fine. You don't need activities.

No activities needed, just food and booze.. You guys dancing and not having dance songs for the rest of the crowd is probably going to be awkward, but don't resort to cheesy games or anything.

Yeah we're planning on having more mellow/jazzy type music. I am still back and forth on the mother/son and father/daughter dance because although it would be nice, like I said our families aren't super outgoing or into dancing either. Definitely don't want to make it awkward though.

Haha and no cheesy games for sure.

I'm not sure about activities but without some sort of interaction, it sounds like you are putting on a show: watch us get married, watch us dance, watch us toast. To be honest, I would probably be bored or just leave (I'm not a great audience member). I'm not sure what to suggest for activities - we are incorporating photos of us and the guests from the last during the cocktail hour so everyone will feel like part of the celebration (and probably lead to lots of reminiscing and laughter). We will also have dancing and drinking after dinner.

I think that sounds great. I have been to weddings that had some old school board games (chess, backgammon, dominos). I think having some activities available but not necessary would be great.

That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I don't like weddings that feel like a show where you barely get to talk to anyone and you're basically just watching them do things in front of you.

So maybe "activities" isn't the best word, but I don't want guests to be bored. Maybe I'm overthinking it and I should just keep it casual with eating and mingling.

I love the idea of photos though. I think that would be a great addition.

As long as you give your guests good food and drinks, they'll be happy to just mingle. I've been to a few weddings without a DJ or dancing, and I'm planning one myself. These weddings have a different vibe, but they're still really fun. You don't have to plan activities for people.

I had a similar wedding. My guests just talked and enjoyed the food and drinks. It was over by 4 and everyone had a good time.

If I were at your wedding, and you had plenty of food and food options, I wouldn't be bored. As long as you have lots of food and drinks, you should be good.

I think everything you have planned is fine, as long as you're keeping the whole reception to like 2-3 hours. Enough time for people to eat, chat, mingle, and leave.

I've been to a wedding exactly like this, and I had a nice time. It was one of my co-worker's weddings, and since almost all of us went, it was really nice to sit with my co-workers and catch up and talk. I don't think you have to have anything other than what you have planned.

I think photobooths are fun. With the mimosa bar people will probably mingle and talk. But with the time of day and no DJ I wouldn't expect people to stay as long as they would for a nighttime reception.

However I do think you should offer more options for food besides what you listed. I hate quiche. I'm not a huge breakfast person. I will eat bacon but I wouldn't be excited about those options. I think a waffle bar with toppings (blueberries, strawberries, etc) would be something good to add!

I'm doing a morning wedding in May also! Ceremony starts at 11am and the reception is in the same place, just indoors. Beautiful venue that has lots of windows and lights, overlooking the Queen Mary. We'll have a DJ for everyone that wants to dance, even tho my FH isnt a dancer (we're not even really having a first dance) but I want my friends to enjoy themselves so I hired a DJ and that'll be good for them. Just make sure you have good food and drinks and space out the day with speeches, toasts, cake cutting, maybe a photo montage or something.

I'm definitely going to see what other kind of options I have with catering...maybe something more lunch-like added to it?

Thanks for the suggestions! A photobooth could be a fun idea too.

We are doing the same time as you but doing a BBQ at noon with a photo booth and a fancy picnic type feel. My son (age 9) asked for Magic 8 balls and those peg jumping games on the tables. I'm not sure yet if we will actually do that but if I can somehow coordinate that into whatever my centerpieces are, I might probably cheesy but we have fun friends and family.

I did a heavy brunch wedding (waffle bar, made to order eggs benedict, taco bar with both breakfast and lunch options, bagels, fruit, carrot cake and bite size pies, and food I can't remember, beer, wine, mimosa bar, bloody mary bar). We had a band and dj and everyone was on the dance floor the entire time music was playing.

If you aren't going to have dancing for everyone it is kind of weird to have dancing for just you (my personal opinion).

@youcancallmedot that sounds amazing. Drool. I wish I could afford all that or I totally would.

That is a good point about the dancing. We would like to have a first dance and have a song in mind, but otherwise we are not extroverted at all and the idea of a DJ or dancing otherwise just doesn't sound fun to me. I want guests to have fun but it would also be weird if everyone else danced and we didn't haha. I don't know what to do about that part.

I didn't do a photo booth but I ordered props from amazon and made a selfie station and my guests loved it!