Every wedding celebration is beautiful, but not all truly capture the attention of those in attendance and leave every guest in awe. In order for your wedding to stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to keep your guests entertained from the ceremony through to the evening reception – with the help of three key ingredients.

Plenty of drinks and snacks

Weddings can be very emotional affairs, and the romance of your ceremony alone may be enough for your guests to need a little rest and recuperation before the reception celebrations kick off. By stocking up on lots of refreshing beverages and tasty snacks, your guests will have plenty to keep them engaged – and give them a little energy boost – while you tend to important tasks like signing your marriage contract and taking family photos.

From a taco wall and pizza bites to indulgent doughnut displays, there are lots of different ways you can make your post-ceremony cocktail hour more flavourful. Make sure to have fun with the presentation of your dishes to keep your guests intrigued.

A musical performance

Great music is a staple of every entertaining wedding celebration. To keep your guests having fun long into the night, consider booking a live performance that’ll add to the energetic atmosphere and encourage your loved ones to let their hair down.

Most couples opt for a DJ or live band, but you can also get a little more creative with your musical entertainment – consider singing waiters or a surprise brass band to serenade your guests as the wedding breakfast is served.

Something for the kids

While adults-only weddings are popular, there are also plenty of good reasons to have kids attend your celebration. Whether you have children of your own or simply want to accommodate your guests’ needs, opting for a family-friendly celebration is the perfect way to ensure loved ones of all ages can share in your special day.

However, it’s important to remember that your younger guests will need entertainment of their own – and likely a lot more of it than your adult invitees. To beat the boredom and keep young children engaged, consider setting up a creche area complete with lots of safe, age-appropriate toys. Older children may appreciate an arts and crafts table or a games room where they can have fun and mingle with other young guests.

Celebrate alongside your guests

There are lots of different ingredients that go into creating the perfect entertaining wedding, so if you want to get it right, it’s worth leaving yourself plenty of time and sticking to a planning schedule. But keep in mind that your guests are attending your wedding to celebrate this monumental moment alongside you – the best entertainment you can offer them is simply your presence as you enjoy your big day.