Board Games at Reception?

JackieJax05

My fiance' and I really love board games, so we had this idea.  There's not going to be any dancing or alcohol at our reception since we're on a tight budget and couldn't afford anywhere other than our church reception hall.  What do yall think about this...

For the place setting cards, we'd get ten or so decks of the same playing cards.  On the back of the card we'd stick the name of the person, then they could flip it over and find, for example, Queen of Hearts.  Eight to ten people would each have a Queen of Hearts, then they go find the table labled as such.  Then another eight to ten would have, say, a Jack of Clubs, and they go find that table. So each of our fifteen tables, instead of having numbers, would be a different card.

The table centerpieces would each incorporate a board game which we know that group likes, and they would have the option to play it for a little while after eating, or they can just sit around and talk.  I've been reading mixed reviews about organized games vs. not enough entertainment, so this might be a good balance.

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_board-games-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:41f895e2-e501-4872-a9fd-07e5b89dc1acPost:513ced5b-af9c-4da6-8e34-b84150e055d7">Board Games at Reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]My fiance' and I really love board games, so we had this idea.  There's not going to be any dancing or alcohol at our reception since we're on a tight budget and couldn't afford anywhere other than our church reception hall.  What do yall think about this... For the place setting cards, we'd get ten or so decks of the same playing cards.  On the back of the card we'd stick the name of the person, then they could flip it over and find, for example, Queen of Hearts.  Eight to ten people would each have a Queen of Hearts, then they go find the table labled as such.  Then another eight to ten would have, say, a Jack of Clubs, and they go find that table. So each of our fifteen tables, instead of having numbers, would be a different card. The table centerpieces would each incorporate a board game which we know that group likes, and they would have the option to play it for a little while after eating, or they can just sit around and talk.  I've been reading mixed reviews about organized games vs. not enough entertainment, so this might be a good balance.
Posted by JackieJax05[/QUOTE]
Wouldn't you be separating couples by doing this?

JackieJax05

They wouldn't be separated by gender or anything; the cards would not be correlated with gender so men might be at a queen table, etc.  Is this what you meant?  Should we pick ace and numbers to avoid confusion?

MyNameIsNot

So you would make a seating chart so that guests are seated with their dates/kids/family/friends like you would normally do, but you'd tell them where to sit with the card?  That sounds cute to me.  

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_board-games-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:41f895e2-e501-4872-a9fd-07e5b89dc1acPost:9d764e96-d988-4349-af7c-d84e9f070f37">Re: Board Games at Reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]They wouldn't be separated by gender or anything; the cards would not be correlated with gender so men might be at a queen table, etc.  Is this what you meant?  Should we pick ace and numbers to avoid confusion?
Posted by JackieJax05[/QUOTE]


What I mean is by each individual guest drawing his/her own card, wouldn't you be forcing couples to sit apart from each other?  If Mr B draws a queen of hearts and I draw a jack of clubs, we'll be at different tables.  Or am I not understanding the process correctly?

Mrs.B6302007

Actually, in reading the OP again, I think I'm understanding that you'll already have their names written on the cards so you would ensure that couples get matching cards.  I guess I didn't catch that this was their prearranged seating chart.  For some reason I was thinking that it was luck of the draw.  Sorry about that.  I do think it's a cute idea as the seating chart.  I also think the games as CPs is a cute idea.  It's nice that you aren't "forcing" anyone to play if they don't want to but can use the CP if they choose.

JackieJax05

Yea that's right.  So I'm thinking I'd write Mr. and Mrs. John Smith's name on the back side of the card, have them layed out alphabetically on a table with the name sides up, then they pick up the card and turn it over to reveal Four of Spades.  They go find Four of Spades table, and where their coworkers/friends have also been pre-assigned. 

Sorry I wasn't explaining it very well.  Does that make sense?
More importantly, is it cheesy?

Mrs.B6302007

Not cheesy, IMO.  I think it's a unique way to use a seating chart.

amclausen

That's very cute!  FI and I are also doing board games at our reception.  One thought I had was to do Trivial Pursuit type seating - each table can be a different color from the Trivial Pursuit "pie."  For centerpieces we might have large (8x11) sized game cards that I'll make up with publisher to look like Trivial Pursuit cards with trivia about me and FI.  

Don't worry, just because people are adults and know how to make conversation doesn't mean they won't enjoy using games as a way to break the ice.  Go with what feels right for you and your fiance.

AustenNut

I think your seating chart idea is quite cute, and I love the Trivial Pursuit couple trivia idea too.  Originally I was thinking about putting a game at each table so that people could play if they wanted to, but friends and family felt like it would be too isolating for the groups.  Meaning that if you weren't a big fan of your table, it'd be heart to go and mix with a different table if they were already in the middle of their game.  So now I'm thinking about putting all of the games on one table with a list of all the games at each table.  Then if people want to play a game a group can gather who are interested, even if they're not at the same table. 

maria1012

What a unique way to do a seating chart! I say go for it!

I found an Etsy seller who makes custom crossword puzzles, so we are placing one at each table setting, along with some golf pencils which may or may not have our wedding date on them (I don't want everything too monogrammed). We think it'll be a fun way for our guests to mingle and wait for dinner to be served. 

In case you are interested, here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33204845

aerinpegadrak

That's a cool way to do a seating chart!

"Organized games" at weddings are the sort that stop the party dead and drag everyone into playing against their will.  If you just have board games set up somewhere but aren't twisting people's arms to play, it's totally fine.

ces25c

I love that idea for the place cards.
Even for a bigger reception, board games would be fun for kids or people who aren't going to be dancing and drinking all night.  My fiance and I love trivia, so it's always fun to go to restaurants that have a box of Trivial Pursuit cards so we can challenge each other while we wait.

ellen73

I wanted to have board games too!   My sisters thought I was insane.   We are having a band (but not a stereotypical wedding band- think more Irish pub kinda music),  and we thought games would be a fun addition.   We even looked into donating most of the games after the wedding.   

One thing we MAY do for the rehearsal is a "team trivia" kinda thing.  Before the rehearsal, only our parents will have met and we thought this would be a great way for our families to get to know each other (mine's in Cleveland, his is in Philly).