7 Socially Distant Activities for a Fun Wedding

We’re slowly but surely emerging from the global shutdown due to the COVID-19 virus. And you know what that means- weddings are back! We’re super excited, but we also know that localities are struggling to balance the need to be fully open with the need to keep the community safe. That means YOU have the opportunity to play a part by providing some fun, socially distant activities for your friends and family at your wedding. Here are some of our favorite socially distant activities to keep your guests so amused they may not even realize they’re social distancing.

Have a digital scavenger hunt

This one is fun and will quickly fill up your favorite social media feed with photos of your wedding.

Here’s how it works:

Make a list of “items” to find, only, in this case, they’re photos!
- A good rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 20 shots you want your guests to “find”.
- Make sure to include important moments like the couple kissing, the cake cut, the bouquet toss, first dance, father/daughter and mother/son dances, etc.
- Require that everyone stays in their seat and at their table. You definitely want to avoid guests blocking the photographer’s shot of your special moments.
Include your #weddinghashtag so everyone can find the photos easily.

Ta da! You just crowdsourced a fun social media feed full of your wedding images from all different perspectives.

A live band

A live band can really set the tone at your reception. Your wedding planner can help you select a band that aligns with your music preferences while keeping the crowd entertained. Sometimes they’ll be so entertained they forget about dancing! Does the saxophonist like to wander off the stage from table to table? Fantastic, that’s entertaining! A guitar player who likes to get down on his knees in the middle of the dance floor for a solo? That’s what I’m talking about! Just let them know they’re there to put on a show rather than fill up the dance floor. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to show off their entertainment chops while giving your guests a show they’ll be talking about for years to come.

A dance troupe to entertain

Do you love ballet, belly dance, ballroom, or flamenco? The arts overall and artists individually have been hit hard by the pandemic. Dancers and performers trained for months for shows that closed abruptly or never even opened. Consider hiring one or more professional dancers to entertain your guests. A perfectly synchronized dance routine or a ballet troupe in full costume and make-up will delight your friends and family. Truth be told, when else will you have the opportunity to have a Prima Ballerina and her supporting cast dancing just for you?

A comedian or magician

Just like the performers in the previous example, comedians and magicians have been unable to practice their craft. A comedy set or magic act is rarely seen at weddings, therefore your wedding will automatically stand out. The pandemic has many people re-evaluating everything about their life. Most people have decided they want to do more of what they want to do, not what they have to do. Your favorite comedian may have never imagined performing at a wedding, but will now jump at the chance to make your guests laugh because that is, after all, doing what they love.

Lawn games

Most weddings these days have some kind of outdoor component. Lawn games have long been popular at outdoor wedding receptions. However, there’s never been a better time to have more of them. How about all of them? Cornhole, giant Jenga, hopscotch, ring toss, croquet, and shuffleboard are just some of the fun, socially distant activities guests of all ages will enjoy. Just make sure to have plenty of hand sanitizer available for those quests playing multiple games.

Trivia

I’m a big fan of trivia. If you search around on the internet you’ll find a lot of advice for playing wedding trivia. Trivia about the couple, how you met, your hobbies, all the trivia is about you. However, that was before the pandemic when the trivia game was a small ice breaker activity. When your goal is providing fun, socially distant activities for your guests, there’s only so much you can say about your first pet or where you went to summer camp. My advice is to mix it up. Throw in a little couple’s trivia with general or niche trivia. A combination of books, sports, and movie trivia with some fun facts about the two of you individually and as a couple keep everyone engaged in the fun will hold their interest longer.

Have a Degustation menu with paired beverages

This one is for the foodies. Degustation is a specialized tasting menu with a small plate sampling of the chef’s specialty dishes. Think of it like a non-country-specific dim sum designed to appeal to all of your taste buds. Not all at once, but all of them over the course of the meal. So, instead of having 3 to 5 full courses, you may be served 20 small bite plates over the course of several hours. The chef will explain a little about each plate and why it pairs well with each wine or chosen beverage. Your caterer will likely appreciate it if you do this one with a more intimate guest list. Your guests will learn which part of their taste senses the dish stimulates. It’s an immersive experience you and your guests will never forget. Just make sure you take everyone’s dietary preferences and food allergies into consideration.

In conclusion

As I always say, your wedding ceremony and commitment to each other is what’s important. After all, your reception is a small gesture to thank your friends and family and allow them to celebrate and participate in your special day. Organizing a few of these socially distant activities is a perfect way to make sure they stay safe while making sure they feel included.