Wedding Lawn Games: The Fun, the Logistics & What Couples Forget
Lawn games have become incredibly popular at weddings, particularly when cocktail hour is outside. And while I completely understand why couples love them, I also think there is just a little too much hype surrounding them.
As a Hudson Valley Wedding Planner since 2010, I’ve seen a LOT of lawn games make their way into wedding weekends. Some have been fantastic. Some have barely been touched. And some have created way more work than anyone anticipated.
That’s the part couples don't always see when scrolling through beautiful outdoor wedding photos.
So, rather than just giving you a list of cute wedding lawn games, I want to talk about the games I’ve actually seen used at weddings, what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to think about before committing to them.
Because sometimes the simplest game is the biggest pain in the ass to actually get to your wedding.
First, Do You Actually Need Wedding Lawn Games?
No.
There. We got that out of the way.
Lawn games can be a really fun addition to an outdoor cocktail hour, but they should not become a major focus of your wedding planning.
Your guests already have plenty to do during cocktail hour. They're getting drinks, eating, talking to people they haven't seen in forever and generally enjoying themselves.
Games are an extra.
That said, there are some really nice benefits to having them.
They give guests another way to interact, particularly people who might not know one another well. And if your outdoor space is directly adjacent to your reception, the games don't necessarily have to disappear once cocktail hour ends.
Whenever I have a cocktail hour space that is directly adjacent to the reception, I advocate for having some type of lighting outside, even if it's simply string lights.
Later in the evening, that space can become a great alternative hangout area.
Not everyone dances.
Some guests would much rather grab a drink, head outside with a few friends and play Jenga than spend two hours on the dance floor. Having another area where they can still enjoy the wedding can be a really nice addition.
Now, let's talk games.
Cornhole: The Wedding Lawn Game Staple
If there is one lawn game that has become synonymous with weddings, it's probably cornhole.
And I understand why.
Almost everyone knows how to play it. It's easy enough to play after a few drinks. A lot of people already have cornhole boards at home, and it's something many couples have played with friends and family for years.
There's often a nostalgic connection to it.
But there is one thing couples consistently underestimate:
Those freaking boards have to get to the wedding.
Cornhole boards are big.
They take up a significant amount of room in a vehicle, and when you're heading into a wedding weekend, everyone's cars are already packed with luggage, clothing, décor and approximately 4,000 other things you suddenly decided you needed.
Someone also has to:
Transport the boards to the venue
Get them to the correct location
Set them up
Keep track of the bean bags
Break everything down
Get the boards home again
It sounds ridiculously simple until you're actually doing it.
And I would bet that even after reading this, some of you are going to ignore me and bring cornhole anyway.
That's okay.
But you've been warned.
If You're Customizing Cornhole Boards...
Once couples decide they're having cornhole, the next thought is often:
We should get CUSTOM cornhole boards!
You absolutely can.
Just remember that custom boards can get expensive, particularly when you're ordering them online and paying to ship something that is both large and heavy.
One alternative is to purchase plain boards and customize them yourself.
I've had several couples do this over the years.
And I have some thoughts.
Buy the bean bags.
Do not add "sew eight bean bags" to your wedding DIY list.
You can order them inexpensively and choose colors that coordinate with your wedding.
Check. Done. Moving on.
Get boards with a carrying case.
If you're purchasing the boards specifically for the wedding, I highly recommend finding a set with some type of carrying bag or case.
It makes transportation easier, keeps everything together and helps protect the boards from getting dinged up along the way.
Be careful with stencils.
Stencils sound easy.
They're often not.
Paint can bleed underneath them, which leaves you doing a million tiny touch-ups trying to make everything look clean again.
If you haven't worked with stencils before, I wouldn't make your wedding cornhole boards the project where you learn.
I've seen better results from carefully measuring and outlining designs in pencil or using vinyl cut lettering and designs.
Prep the boards correctly.
This is another place where people underestimate the project.
Take the time to learn how to properly:
Sand the wood
Prime it
Paint it
Allow everything to cure
Seal the finished boards
You also want appropriate water-resistant outdoor paint.
Even if your wedding day is perfectly sunny, these boards are going outside where people will be walking around with drinks. Things spill.
Finally, seal everything with a protective top coat.
And please pay attention to the recommended drying and curing times between products.
This is not a weekend project.
I've watched couples attempt it.
I've warned them.
They ignored me.
And eventually their cornhole boards became a source of both comic relief and mild wedding-planning tension.
So again...
You've been warned.
And Then There's the Weather
This is another downside of putting a ton of money, time or effort into outdoor wedding games.
You may not be able to use them.
If it rains or your outdoor cocktail hour has to move inside, there may simply not be an appropriate place for your giant custom lawn games.
That's something to consider before turning these into a major wedding project.
2. Giant Connect Four
I've actually had really good luck with giant Connect Four.
It has some of the same transportation problems as cornhole because it's not particularly tiny, but guests tend to really enjoy it.
A lot of people haven't played Connect Four in years, so there's a nostalgic element that comes along with it.
You can also customize the colors to coordinate with the wedding, which is a fun little detail if that's important to you.
If you're going to bring one or two larger games, this is one I'd consider.
3. Giant Jenga
I'm a fan of giant Jenga.
It's relatively simple, guests understand it immediately and, depending on the setup, you may be able to bring it inside if the weather doesn't cooperate.
But please don't just put the blocks on the ground.
No one wants to repeatedly squat down on the grass in wedding attire to play Jenga.
Instead, put the game on a table.
Depending on the size of your Jenga set, something around a 36-inch round high-top table at roughly 40 inches tall can work, or you can use a lower table around 30 inches tall.
The goal is simply to get the game to a comfortable height.
Jenga can also become your guestbook.
I've had couples ask guests to write messages directly onto the Jenga pieces.
I love this because you're creating something you'll actually interact with again.
Years later, you can pull out the game and read messages people wrote at your wedding while you're playing.
And yes, you may discover some particularly entertaining messages depending on how late into the reception people were signing them.
4. KanJam
KanJam is another fun option, particularly if it's a game you already enjoy playing with your friends and family.
It's lightweight, relatively easy to transport and simple to set up.
The downside?
It's not necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing wedding game.
If that's not something you care about, great.
If every detail of your outdoor cocktail hour has been meticulously designed, KanJam may not exactly disappear into the landscaping.
5. Ladder Ball
I've also had really good experiences with ladder ball.
A lot of the sets you'll find online are plastic, which can look a little chintzy at a wedding.
But if you have someone in your life with basic carpentry skills, a wooden version isn't an overly complicated project. It's primarily dowels and relatively small pieces of wood.
And just like my cornhole bean bag rule:
Buy the bolas.
You do not need to handcraft every component of this thing.
6. Ring Toss
Ring toss is one of the simplest options, and I'm definitely an advocate.
It's fun, easy to understand and doesn't require hauling a giant piece of equipment around.
I've seen it done with Mexican Coke bottles, custom Coke bottles and other glass bottles, which also gives you opportunities to incorporate something personal into the setup.
For an upcoming wedding I'm planning on the far east end of Long Island, we're potentially incorporating a Radio Flyer wagon into a ring toss setup because the couple has a connection to Fire Island, where those red wagons have meaning for them.
That's when I really like lawn games.
Not because someone saw "10 Things Your Cocktail Hour NEEDS!" on Pinterest.
Because you've taken something simple and found a way to make it personal.
7. Scrabble
I've seen Scrabble incorporated into weddings in both standard and oversized versions.
This is another game where the right couple or family can have a genuine connection to it.
Maybe you're huge game people.
Maybe you've got a family full of teachers.
Maybe Scrabble has always been your thing.
A standard game doesn't require much space at all. An oversized version obviously becomes a little more complicated to create, customize and transport.
But if there's an actual connection behind it, I think it can be a really fun addition.
The Best Wedding Lawn Game Is the One That Makes Sense for You
That's really my point.
After 15+ years as a wedding planner and designer, I don't think couples need to look at outdoor cocktail hour games as another box they're supposed to check.
You don't need cornhole because you're getting married in the Hudson Valley.
You don't need giant Jenga because your wedding is outside.
And you certainly don't need six different games scattered around the lawn because Pinterest told you cocktail hour requires "activities."
If you love a particular game, have memories associated with it, or think your guests will genuinely enjoy it, go for it.
Just think through the logistics first.
Who is bringing it?
Where is it going?
Who is setting it up?
What happens if it rains?
Can you use it later in the evening?
And, perhaps most importantly...
Who is taking the damn thing home?
Answer those questions before you order your personalized cornhole boards.
Your future self, and probably your wedding planner, will appreciate it.