What do all great weddings have in common? Besides the perfect venue, the romantic ceremony and the delicious food, they all ensure that the guests leave happy and completely satisfied. As your wedding is probably one of the biggest parties you will ever throw, it is important to come up with some unique and creative ways of entertaining your guests after you have exchanged the “I dos”. In this way, your friends and family will have fond memories of your special day for the rest of their lives. 

The reception is usually the fun part of the wedding. This is when everyone can let their hair down, enjoy the festivities and dance the night away. However, beyond the usual dancing and drinking, there are other ways to entertain your guests and ensure that they have a fabulous time. Here are some creative wedding reception ideas to help you plan a fun and memorable wedding in Northampton.

Organise games for your guests

If your friends and loved ones are not too keen on dancing, why not arrange some fun games for them? You could organise a croquet competition, a giant Jenga contest or other lawn games to encourage people to get up on their feet and interact with one another. Not only will this be hugely enjoyable, but it will also be an extraordinary way of celebrating your union. 

At Crockwell Farm, there is plenty of outdoor space to organise games for your guests. Because our venue is in the middle of a working farm, you will have lots of room to let loose and move around. Of course, you will be able to count on our staff to help you make your reception games even more exciting.

Prepare activities for the children

Weddings can be tough for the little ones because they need to be on their best behaviour for a long time despite their naturally restless energy and short attention spans. If you have invited children to your big day, you could make the occasion more bearable for them (and even fun!) by organising a host of child-friendly activities.

But don’t worry, there’s no need to go overboard and rent an expensive inflatable playpen. You could simply print out some fun colouring sheets and place a box of crayons on the children’s table. If you don’t want to run the risk of them ruining their clothes with art materials, a box of Lego would be a fantastic alternative. 

You could also organise games for the children, such as ring toss or giant dominoes (fun fact: these games can be enjoyed by the adults too!). Giving the young ones something to do will keep them engaged and occupied while the grown-ups are having their own fun. 

If you need some help coming up with creative ways to keep the children busy at the reception, please ask us for advice. At Crockwell Farm, we have been organising weddings for more than 15 years, so we are well-placed to offer you an idea or two to make your special day even more child-friendly.

Set up a photo booth

Photo booths have become a staple at modern wedding receptions. Not only are they enormous fun, but they also provide guests with the perfect opportunity to immortalise your special day. In addition, they usually prove popular among those who love having their pictures taken! Instead of having just one photo booth, why not use two, with each booth having its own backdrop and props? This way, your guests will have more options to choose from. 

Alternatively, if you are willing to splurge the cash on your guests and offer something unique, there are even more options available.

Print the faces of your guests on a cocktail

This is probably one of the most fun and creative wedding reception ideas to be conceptualised because it puts a different spin on your photo booth and cocktail bar by combining both elements. Are you familiar with those trendy cafés that print a picture of their customers on their lattes? Well, this idea works just like that! Once your guests have had their picture taken at the photo booth, they can have it printed on their drinks so they can sip a cocktail version of themselves. 

Because we want you and your loved ones to have an absolute blast, you can count on our team at Crockwell Farm to help you source high-quality suppliers who will provide you with everything you could ever need for your wedding reception. We will point you in the right direction so you can focus on saving time, money and effort.

Consider herb centrepieces

When it comes to decorating the wedding reception tables, flowers are the most popular choice. However, you could spice things up a bit by using herb plants as your centrepieces instead. You can place them in terracotta pots so they will match the rustic theme of your wedding. 

With plenty of natural light, this idea works well for daytime receptions. And, with Crockwell Farm as your wedding venue, you can be sure that these unique centrepieces will elevate the overall look of your reception.

Lead your guests to their seats with party favours

Rather than having ushers guide your wedding guests to their assigned seats, you could use party favours instead. Not only does this add a fun element to the occasion, but it can also save you time and effort. At the same time, it will encourage your guests to interact with one another. 

You can do this by setting aside a table with an illuminated sign at the entrance to the reception area. Place the party favours on the table and make sure that each of them has the name of your guests and their corresponding table number. To avoid chaos or confusion, arrange the party favours in alphabetical order. 

If you have any other ideas in mind, please do share them with us. Our team here at Crockwell Farm absolutely love collaborating with our clients so we can make their wedding reception as enjoyable as possible.

Plan a Fun and Unique Wedding Reception

As newlyweds, you will be bursting with joy as you watch your friends and loved ones have the time of their life at your wedding reception. This is why you should take the time to plan your reception carefully to ensure that your special day is one in a million. If you want to create a fun and unique occasion, please feel free to take inspiration from the tips outlined above. 

If you are looking for an exceptional venue for both your wedding ceremony and reception in the Northampton area, Crockwell Farm is the place to be. We will certainly be able to cater to your tastes and fulfil your needs. Besides providing you with the perfect backdrop for one of the most important days of your life, our team will also help you plan a wedding reception that you and your guests will remember forever. Please contact us today and we will begin work on transforming your dream wedding into a reality.