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ENTERTAINMENT
Emma McGirr and Benjamin Tucker played the Shoe Game and worked with their DJ to host a round of trivia for their guests at their Jan. 2, 2021, wedding at The Estate at New Albany.
Reception Reinvention Putting a spin on wedding receptions with entertainment ideas outside of the traditional two-step
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was the year that took something—if not many things—from everyone. In the case of weddings, from November 2020 to February 2021, it stole the headlining act of any reception: dancing. “We [were not] able to have people up and moving around; guests had to remain seated the entire time,” reflects Berlyn Martin, owner and lead planner of Berlyn Events. “A large majority of the events were postponed or canceled due to the regulation, because it’s difficult to completely realign your expectations of what a wedding is.” The couples who didn’t shy away from a 2020 wedding were forced to reinvent their reception with alternative entertainment ideas for guests. Performances, seated trivia, live art—the possibilities were infinite. But although dancing has returned seemingly for good, we need not merely go back to the way things were before. In fact, for many, receptions are being reinvented. 22
COLUMBUS WEDDINGS FALL/WINTER 2021
“We did things like trivia … [and] the Shoe Game,” Martin says of the dance-free weddings she helped plan. “They were engaging, and it was just a lot of fun for everyone.” These seated games can be a great option for couples looking for a fun but low-cost add-on to their reception. For trivia, couples can either tap into a Wednesday-night tavern vibe with general trivia or make it a game of who knows the happy couple better. Along similar lines, the Shoe Game is also a triedand-true reception favorite. To play, the couple sits back-to-back, takes off their shoes and swaps one (so that each person has one of their own shoes and one of their partner’s). Then the emcee—a DJ, someone from the bridal party or any of the guests—poses questions to the couple, such as, “Who’s the better driver?” Both partners then raise the shoe of the person they think fits the bill. The results—and reactions—are often amusing.
PHOTOS: EMILY MOLLINEAUX PHOTOGRAPHY
BY RYLAN LEE
