These days some brides desire long receptions that continue through the night and into the morning. If this is you, organizing a few activities and games for those long night time hours is required.

Generally, if an all-night wedding reception is planned, it goes something like this: the wedding is held in the early evening and reception follows. By about midnight, many of the wedding guests will have left and the group that is remaining (usually the younger guests, but not always) will stay on to enjoy the revelry into the early morning hours. At some point, breakfast will be offered and then everyone head home.

Why do you need activities and games for such a reception? The answer is simple. You need to keep everyone entertained through the long night. You have to provide them with a real party.

For starters, you must to be well organized about the activities and games you plan. Discuss with your wedding MC about these activities and games and leave it to him or her to keep things on a schedule.

Do not plan to cut the cake in the middle of the night. That activity should take place during the more traditional evening hours, so
those not planning to stay all night can still get to witness this ceremony.

Depending on your wedding guest list, you might hold off on the father-daughter waltz until after midnight, or you could save a few toasts for the late night hours. In any event, having some other fun activities and games is a great idea.

The wedding MC could bring in a piñata, which you can buy in various shapes including a bridal dress, a wedding ring or a champagne flute. It should be filled with goodies. Candy is always popular, but you could also fill it with silly toys found in party stores. Have the wedding MC introduce a spirited song and let wedding guests have a chance at the piñata. Do this on the dance floor and really let the guests have a swing at it. There should be lots of room. Once the piñata breaks open, everyone can enjoy a taste of sweet candy or can get some silly little carnival toy or game.

People who stay for the duration of the reception are going to need a rest. Arrange a photo presentation or video viewing. You could have someone who's familiar with PowerPoint put together a photo presentation or have someone put together a dvd of photos. Do this around 2.30 or 3 am and it should last a half hour to 40 minutes. This gives everyone an opportunity to sit down and relax and also allows the DJ and wedding emcee a chance to sit, have a rest and recharge the batteries for the next round.

In that same vein of permitting the guests some relaxation, one activity that some brides use is a non-activity. If the wedding is outdoors, you can provide inflatable mattresses and have some torches lit. If any guests want to sit down and relax, they can do so on the mattresses but still be part of the activity while resting.

If it's been a long day and a wedding guest wants to rest, those formal room chairs don't seem the most comfortable. If the reception is indoors, think about providing large pillows for guests to sit on or arrange a corner with inflatable mattresses and lots of fabric. This can be a chatting area where anyone can go to relax but still be part of the fun. They can chat and catch up with other guests and then head back for more party fun when they're recovered.

Learn more about the role of a wedding MC in these articles
Wedding mc
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Wedding mc