How To Entertain Your Guests at Your Micro Wedding
Published:
August 11, 2025
The big day is here. You’ve gathered your favorite humans to witness one of the biggest moments of your life — getting married.
But what about all those in-between moments? The time before the ceremony, while you’re off taking portraits, or during cocktail hour — those small pockets can feel... awkward without a little intentional magic.
Even the chattiest guests can get a bit tongue-tied with too much unstructured downtime. That’s where these creative micro wedding entertainment ideas come in — perfect for breaking the ice, setting the mood, and turning your day into a fully immersive (and unforgettable) experience.
Unique Ideas to Entertain Your Guests at Your Micro Wedding
What if, instead of a wedding guestbook, a professional podcast producer interviewed your guests directly?
Then, the producer took that interview audio and turned it into a produced, edited, and sound-designed audio time capsule? That’s the goal of Spirit & Sound, a pioneering wedding podcasting company.
Founder Kate Mishkin, who’s made podcasts for Sony, Rolex, and Morgan Freeman, asks your guests about their favorite memories with the couple and advice you’d want to impart on them.
The result: A vinyl record the couple can spin for years to come. (She also interviews the couple about their story in their words — that’s Side A of the record). Learn more here.
Kate interviewing the couple for their audio time capsule
2. Group hike
At a recent wedding I went to in Sedona, the guests all gathered for a pre-wedding nighttime hike. As we summited the mountain, the night got darker and darker, until it was pitch-black, and we could see the Milky Way. Against Sedona’s rocky mountains and red rocks, it was breathtaking. The bride’s parents met us at the top with cocoa and cookies, and it was one of the most memorable nights, even before the wedding even started. And the next day at the reception, it was really nice to see some familiar faces and wax poetic about how magical Sedona is.
3. DIY photo booth
Perfect for that time in between the “I-Dos” and cake-cutting, set up a mini photo booth to encourage people to break the ice by documenting the day themselves. Make your own frames from the Goodwill, add secondhand boas or hats, and bring your own props from home – the sillier, the better.
4. Group photos
Rather than leave your friends and family alone while you take photos, cross off couple photos before the ceremony, and then take photos as a family after the reception.
Nothing breaks the ice like a game of corn hole. An inexpensive activity for kids and grownups alike, outdoor games can be a low-stakes way of encouraging conversation and friendly competition – and something you can leave out before the wedding begins and long into the night.
6. Tarot card readings
Stay with me here: Tarot card readings can be a really fun way to bond with friends and not-yet-friends at a wedding. Feel free to hire an outside reader, or ask to do each others’. The entire activity adds a little whimsy, introspection, and bonding to the evening.
7. The Hollywood Bowl – on a micro scale
My dream wedding involves forgoing a DJ in favor of a favorite jazz band. Somehow, it always seems a little easier to get people engaged and/or dancing when there’s live musicians involved.
Turn your wedding into a Red Rocks or Hollywood Bowl-style event by setting down blankets, curling up together, and listening to live music. At a smaller wedding where dancing feels a little weird, this is a nice activity and a pleasant alternative to a DJ blasting “YMCA” for the umpteenth time.
8. Dinner as a bonding experience
I was on a recent trip to Wisconsin for a birthday, where we all gathered at a farm to celebrate. We toured the farm first, seeing the chickens, bees, and greenhouses that would provide the big dinner. Then, we sat at a long table as farm-to-table dishes were coursed out, and we marveled at how magical the evening was, and how fresh the food tasted.
This kind of dinner allows guests to talk to each other and connect by sitting close to each other and sharing the experience, and could be a perfect activity for a micro wedding, particularly with guests who aren’t yet friends.
No occasion is the wrong occasion for s’mores. Set up a bonfire and provisions at any point in wedding festivities – the night before, after the reception, or late into the evening – and people will gather. It’s a low-cost dessert that makes everyone feel cozy. And, for a bonus activity, have everyone write wishes for the couple and throw them into the fire.
When you’re planning a micro-wedding, it’s all about making the moments between moments matter. Whether that’s creating cozy hangout spaces, surprising guests with a stargazing hike, or capturing their voices in a wedding podcast — the key is curating connection.
And if the podcast idea gave you chills (same), we highly recommend reaching out to Kate Mishkin at Spirit & Sound. She’ll turn your guests’ voices — and your love story — into something tangible, timeless, and beautifully you.
👉 Contact Kate here to start creating your wedding podcast keepsake.
Author Bio
Jennie Swenson is a former micro wedding bride, and she now supports countless couples in planning their own intimate celebrations through her blog, featuring real micro wedding stories and a curated vendor directory. Her practical advice and firsthand experience make her a go-to resource for those seeking to create memorable and meaningful micro weddings.
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