After the big day is over, one of the sure signs of success is when all your guests tell you what a wonderful time they had. Obviously it's important that you enjoy yourselves, but it's also crucial to consider your guests and the range of ages when organising your evening entertainment.
Entertaining younger guests
Amusing speeches, delicious food and beautiful table decorations are sure to impress and delight the majority of your guests, but they will have little impact on anyone under the age of ten. Alas, for these special guests, the wedding reception can be something of a chore. Children who aren't entertained are likely to become restless and pester their parents. All of a sudden, neither the children nor parents are having a fun time and that's not what you want.
When it comes to the reception, if you're having a children's table, consider decorating it accordingly. Children are unlikely to appreciate pretty favours and elegant white linen. Instead, give their table a paper tablecloth, with pots of pens, so that the table cloth itself becomes a drawing board. Instead of five sugared almonds or other traditional favours give them each a small bag of games or toys. You might also consider setting a challenge for the day. This could take the form of a quiz - the winner of which will receive a prize at the end of the reception - or even a treasure hunt if you're having a summer wedding and have adults who are happy to supervise. Face painting, magicians, balloon artists and bouncy castles are other great ideas. With very young children or babies, it's worth asking parents whether they would appreciate a crèche facility.
A great party for mature guests
Spare a thought for Great Aunt Maud - she'd probably enjoy a dance but she's not all that familiar with Coldplay. And she may love the idea of standing around with a glamorous cocktail, but her feet are starting to ache.
Ideally, your evening entertainment should be enjoyable for all guests. If you're having a DJ or band and would like to have contemporary music, that's fine, but do consider playing a few classics to get everyone up dancing. Bear in mind also that even though some more elderly guests may not wish to join in the dancing, that doesn't mean they're ready for bed. There should be an area at your reception where they can sit comfortably and chat. This doesn't have to be a separate room, just an area that isn't right next to the music so they can hear each other speak. You might also consider including some alternative entertainment in the form of a close-up magician, silhouette cutter or even a fun casino.
