Wedding Trend Highlight: Interactive Guest Experiences
A trend that we have seen a lot of this year, and is gaining momentum across the UK (and globally), is the focus on the guest experience.
Whilst we know weddings are designed to celebrate a happy couple, attention is increasingly shifting towards creating a day that not only celebrates their love but engages their guests in memorable ways.
Why is it important to think about the guest experience?
Your wedding day is a shared celebration of you as a couple. A thoughtful approach to guest experience ensures that your loved ones walk away with memories as vivid and cherished as your own - making the time and money spent so worth it.
The Rise of Interactive Weddings
As a company with a background in Corporate Events, guest experience is not a new concept to us - but we are starting to see its evolution more and more in the wedding industry.
Weddings used to consist of a straightforward ceremony, followed by a sit-down three-course dinner and a dance. Today, couples are crafting personalised events that involve their guests in a variety of ways, turning the day into an immersive experience.
From drinks stations and bespoke cocktail bars to photobooths and live entertainment, there are so many opportunities to infuse your personality into your wedding day whilst keeping your guests engaged. It’s about creating moments of connection, where guests can mingle, laugh, and participate rather than merely observing.
Vogue Style Photobooth: https://www.meltweddings.com/
Photographer: https://hannawalkowaik.com/
Whether you're planning a grand affair or an intimate gathering, there are countless ways to make your wedding day interactive. Here are some ideas to consider:
Interactive Welcome Stations
Set the tone right from the start with a welcome station that’s a little more than a grab-and-go. Consider a bespoke drink station where guests can create their own cocktails or mocktails with a variety of mixers, syrups, and garnishes. For a winter wedding, a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles is sure to warm both hearts and hands.
Lawn Games
Outdoor weddings are perfect for incorporating lawn games such as croquet, giant Jenga, or cornhole. These games not only keep guests entertained during cocktail hour but also encourage interaction between those who may not know each other well.
These aspects can be personalised too. Think: Noughts and Crosses, but your initials; Dartboards that you’ve painted with challenges or talking points; Tin Can Alley, painted in your wedding colours with your initials on them.
If you don’t have an outdoor wedding, there are plenty of other activities you could incorporate below.
Alpacas: https://www.simplyalpaca.co.uk/
Photographer: https://www.zaradavisphotography.com/
Interactive Guest Books
The traditional guestbook is done. It’s sits on the shelf and gets lost under layers of dust. It’s also not something that guests look forward to doing on the day. It’s time to do something a little more exciting; that not only gives guests something to do, but also becomes a feature to look at throughout the day.
I’m thinking audio guestbooks, puzzle pieces that are signed and then built throughout the day, postcard walls, personalised decks of cards for signing that can be used across the years.
These things don’t have to be super expensive, but something to give guests more to do than just sign a book are such a fun addition to any day (and often increase engagement levels).
Food and Drinks Stations
Food is a key element of any celebration, and interactive food stations are a hit at modern weddings. Think beyond the standard buffet with options like a build-your-own taco bar, a live sushi station, or a dessert buffet where guests can customize their own sweet treats.
Our sister company, Melt Bars, loves hosting a DIY gin and tonic bar with a selection of botanicals and tonics. This can be a stylish and popular choice for the drink enthusiasts among your guests as well as being an inclusive way to involve those who don’t drink. With 0% alcohol and clean living taking a rise in popularity over recent times, a space for people to build something of their own can be such a meaningful moment with guests knowing they have been truly considered.
Interactive Entertainment
A current trend I’ve seen gaining popularity recently is the idea of a temporary tattoo parlour stationed at your drinks reception. Guests get to pick their tattoo from a selection, whether these are generic, love-style designs, or personalised templates, and print them onto their body. It’s such a fun experience for people to be involved with, not only giving them something to do, but something to look back on (and it looks cool in the photos).
Believe it or not, we’ve also seen live animals being brought into the drinks and canapes reception!
It’s also worth considering offering wedding favors that double as experiences. For example, live guest artists are such a fun experience for people to get involved with, but also a keepsake for them to take away with them after your wedding.
Confetti Stations
Everyone loves a confetti shot at a wedding - they truly are the pinnacle of wedding photos - but have you considered letting your guests pick their own confetti?
Not only is this is a fun interactive experience for your guests, but it saves you a task in the lead up to the big day.
Simply lay out all your different petals in bowls/baskets, provide cups/cones/envelopes for guests to stash their handfuls, and create a simple sign to explain the process.
This will add another dimension to your wedding photos, whilst giving your guests something to do at a time of standstill.
A similar concept we are really loving right now is brides laying out all their wedding flowers and allowing their bridal parties to arrange their own bouquet for the wedding day.
Now, I certainly do not think this is something for the wedding day itself, but an activity to be done the day(s) before.
I think this can add such a special touch to the wedding bouquets, whilst giving you another opportunity to spend time with those who mean the most to you and show them you care.
Live Guest Artist: https://www.jacquelinebissett.com/
Photographer: https://hannawalkowaik.com/
Photo Opportunities and Photobooths
Whether you’ve been with us at Melt for a while, or you’re new here, it probably hasn’t gone amiss that we love a photo opportunity… and even more so, we LOVE our Vogue-Style Photobooth.
The Photobooth was created bespoke for a couple to use on their wedding day and can be tailored to other couples in the future - displaying their names, wedding date, maybe a quippy line about them.
Whilst we created and personalised it for the couple, the Photobooth was a centrepiece to the guest experience. Everyone wanted a photo in the booth, posing as if they were on the cover of a magazine. This, along with a few other wow-factors, activities and interactive experiences, made the time the couples went off to take photos feel less like guests were at a standstill, and more like there was an event put on just for them to enjoy.
Puzzles, Games & Scavenger Hunts
We’ve covered outdoor entertainment, but what about those that are indoors?
Couples are getting super creative with their entertainment, from personalised crossword puzzles to photo scavenger hunts and Guest Bingo.
Some of these games are simply designed for guests to have something to do and start conversations between those who haven’t met before, whilst some have the double benefit of being keepsakes for the wedding couple.
Scavenger hunts with a ‘pics or it didn’t happen’ kind of vibe are perfect, as guests have to upload their photos to a shared album, so the couple get to see their wedding through a completely different perspective.
When you focus on creating a memorable guest experience, you’re ensuring that your wedding is more than just a ceremony and a party—it’s an event that your friends and family will talk about for years to come. The key is to think about the flow of the day and consider how you can make each moment engaging and enjoyable for your guests.
Of course, every couple is unique, and so should be their wedding. The beauty of the interactive wedding trend is that it’s incredibly versatile. Whether you’re a couple who loves games, foodies at heart, or art enthusiasts, you can tailor these ideas to fit your personal style and create an experience that’s distinctly yours.
Remember, your wedding is a reflection of your love story. By focusing on the guest experience, you’re inviting your loved ones to be a part of that story in a way that’s joyful, inclusive, and unforgettable.
So as you plan your special day, think beyond the basics. Consider how you can make your wedding not just an event, but an experience — one that leaves a lasting impression on every single person who shares it with you.
Written by Siobhan Tinnion
Events & Marketing Manager
