PARTICIPATION GAMES

Love 'em or hate 'em, they can sometimes make or break your party!

Some couples love participation games, others are a little more reserved...but most guests do look forward to them and enjoy getting a little silly at a wedding reception!

Below are some popular favorites to consider.

1. CHICKEN DANCE!  Beak, wings, tailfeathers...then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!  We can either put you in the middle of the circle standing on chairs as the center of attention, or leave you out altogether and let your guests get their "cluck" on.  The choice is up to you!

2. HOKEY POKEY.  Kids love this one, and most grown-ups do, too!  No special instructions necessary, just follow the directions. (My favorite part is "backside," everyone acts silly when it comes time to stick their butts out.)

3. TWIST.  OH YEAH! Bring it on, Chubby Checker. This 50's classic is still alive and well at just about every wedding reception!  ("Let's Twist Again" is a good one, too!)

4. STROLL. 50's & 60's line dance done to an infectious song.  "Come let's stroll, stroll along the floooor..." I don't get many requests to do this one at weddings, just every now & then.

5. MACARENA. You know it, you love it, you hate to admit it! Palm, palm, arm, arm, head, head, stomach, stomach, butt, butt, then shake it down! Don't worry, it will all come back to you!

6. ELECTRIC SLIDE. We do this popular disco-infused line dance at just about every wedding. Fairly simple moves, instructions available if needed!

7. CHA-CHA SLIDE. Similar to the Electric Slide, but easier, because all the instructions are called out for you, all you have to do is follow along!

8. I KNEW THE BRIDE. Also known as "Tire Out the Bride." Everyone circles up with the bride in the center of the circle and takes turns fast dancing with the bride. Lots of fun for everyone!

9. JUST A GIGOLO/MACHO MAN. See above, only substitute the groom for the focal point!

10. YMCA. No explanation needed! I also have some crazy hats I will pass out for the more outgoing people to make a spectacle of themselves. Everyone always gets a huge kick out of this!

11. LOCO-MOTION. Great way to encourage crowd participation! I often ask someone to volunteer to be the leader, give them a set of maracas, and ask everyone else to join in! Can also be done with "C'Mon & Ride It" (THE TRAIN).

12. BUNNY HOP. I don't get many requests for the good old bunny hop, but we can do it if you wish! Side, side, front, back, HOP, HOP, HOP!

13. STAYIN' ALIVE. We can do crazy things to this song as well, sometimes people like to line up, put on some crazy accessories and do their own disco moves!

14. MUSICAL CHAIRS. You know the drill!

15. ANNIVERSARY DANCE. Good ice breaker. I ask all couples to come out on the floor, then start the song. After a minute, I ask couples who've been dating less than, say, one month, to leave the floor. I continue with this until the last couple is left, usually a pair who've been together for 50 years or more. Then I ask them to give some advice to the new bride and groom!

16. BUN & LEG GAME. Not for everyone, but extremely entertaining for the right group. First, bride is blindfolded, and several males (usually the groomsmen) and the groom are lined up on the dance floor. The bride must grab the butt of each gentleman, and then figure out which one is her groom. This is really quite hilarious to watch, and the guests love it. This process is repeated with the groom blindfolded, and all the bridesmaids seated on chairs. The groom then feels the calf (below the knee) of each bridesmaid and picks out which one is his bride. This is loads of fun for everyone!

17. KEYS PLEASE! This takes a bit of planning, but can be very funny if everyone is on board. Early in the night, I pass out a bunch of cheap keys to a bunch of guys at the wedding reception. Then, before the dance starts, I announce that now that the bride is married, I want all the guys with keys to her apartment to please come up and return them. All these guys file up with keys and throw them in a hat, guests get a good laugh out of this one! Can be used with either the bride or the groom.

18. GARTER AUCTION. After the garter removal, we can hold an auction for people to bid on the bride's garter, instead of having a garter toss. I can be the auctioneer, or sometimes a member of the wedding party offers their services! This continues until we get to the highest bidder!

Others: polkas, waltzes, swing dancing, country line dancing, tarantella, hora, Cotton Eyed Joe, Tootsie Roll, Da Dip...and on and on and on!

Those are just some of the games often requested at wedding receptions, there are lots more! We are also open to any suggestions you may have!