Tips for Avoiding Boredom at Your Wedding

On your wedding day, you’ll become not only the bride and groom, but also “ProSieben with a comma.” Because your motto will be: “We love to entertain you.” Sure, the wedding is a celebration of your love—yes, it’s the start of a new chapter in your lives—but for your guests, it’s also a show. A show in which you are the producers, directors, hosts, entertainers, and performers.

But before stage fright sets in, don't worry: We've put together some tips to make sure your audience—sorry, your wedding guests—don't get bored and stay in high spirits.

More on this topic: How to Be Great Wedding Hosts.

Keep wait times as short (and entertaining) as possible

No matter how tightly you schedule your wedding, there will always be some waiting time for your guests. The trick is to keep that waiting time as short as possible and skillfully cover up the rest.

The first long break will likely be between the wedding ceremony and the reception. In Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany, this time is usually filled with a reception. If that’s the case for you as well, make sure it doesn’t last longer than an hour, and provide some entertainment if possible. For example, many wedding bands and DJs can be booked just for the reception. A magician or a photo booth with a cool backdrop can also provide fun and wonder for your guests.

You can find more ideas here: Activity Ideas for the Wedding Afternoon

The second potential wait arises when the journey from your wedding ceremony site to the actual wedding venue is quite long. On trips lasting over an hour—which isn’t uncommon in rural areas—boredom can set in. After all, even the honking of a motorcade can’t keep everyone entertained forever. In that case, it helps to rent a shuttle—just like on a school field trip—so all the guests can ride together in a nicely decorated bus. Or you could share a playlist with everyone so that every vehicle has the perfect soundtrack for the little road trip.

Don't become the "absent bride and groom"

Even the best emcee can’t be in the spotlight 24/7. You won’t be able to avoid stepping off the stage at your wedding every now and then. Maybe you’ll want to take a quick break to freshen up, maybe you’ll need to quickly sort something out with the venue, the caterer, or the band, or maybe you’ll step away for your wedding photoshoot. Whatever the reason for your absence, don’t let it last too long. The guests are here for you, and that’s why they want to see you, too.

So, assign someone to take charge of running the event. Your wedding planner or your witnesses are best suited for this role. They can then clarify any questions with the vendors, ensure that there are enough seats available for older wedding guests during waiting periods, and serve as a general point of contact for your guests. This should not only give you more time to spend with your loved ones, but also help create a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere for you.

You can also save time on your engagement photo shoot by rescheduling it—either entirely or at least partially—to another day. In addition to saving time, this also offers other benefits. Find out what they are here: The Best Time for Your Engagement Photo Shoot.

Too many speeches that go on too long

Depending on your wedding party, there may be several people who want to give a speech at your wedding. If you've invited Nici from our team, you can definitely add his name to the list.

But that can quickly become too much. Let your guests know that they must coordinate speeches and other unscheduled performances with your organizers in advance. If there are still too many, set a time limit. To ensure it’s followed, you can use the poetry slam method: After five minutes, the DJ simply plays music to bring the speakers off the stage.

Too many breaks in the game

Wedding games can also interrupt guests while they’re eating or chatting. Since most games are planned by your best man and maid of honor, set a limit for them in advance. If individual guests are planning games, the same rule applies as for speeches: they must be coordinated with your wedding planners.

Include the meetings in the seating chart

Your seating chart also has a huge impact on how much fun your guests have. Don’t just think about seating people who know each other. Also consider shared interests. Soccer fans are more likely to strike up a conversation with other soccer fans than with book club members.

Offers authentic vegetarian and vegan alternatives

If you're wondering what food has to do with boredom, then you're probably not a vegetarian or vegan and have never had to survive on just side dishes at a wedding. — That's super boring.

More on this topic: Vegan Wedding: Here's How to Plan a Vegan Wedding!