by DJ Mike Seaquist, Owner/DJ Something To Celebrate Professional DJ/MC Service
Your guests will have a great time during your dinner reception with these hilarious ice breakers. I have arranged here a collection of my favorites, complimented by a practical and crafty gift idea for ice breakers with a twist.This is a DIY idea to customize and hand wrap a list of cool conversation starters around a pack of Ice Breakers chewing gum or your favorite candy bar for an edible table gift (see the sample pics below for ideas of what they could look like). It's a practical, interactive and a cute keepsake idea.
First we'll need to think of some good topics to get the guests talking about. By cool ice breakers I mean something beyond the old "How 'bout them, Bears?" or "Lovely weather we're having, aren't we?" This idea can help overcome any shyness and keep it fun and interesting. Feel free to use any of these ideas at your own reception or better yet come up with your own and share them here for other brides to consider.
When people get all dressed up for a big, formal event like a wedding, they may feel a little uncomfortable, nervous or just out of their element. Most will feel the social pressure to start a conversation as the silence at the table can get awkward. Why not help your guests relax and get to know each other with a few silly ideas? Turn any pressure into a positive thing by challenging your guests to have a staring contest! The first one to blink, look the other way or laugh has to get the other person a drink from the bar.
There are two basic rules to starting interesting conversations with people in a formal setting. It doesn't matter if they have know each other for years or if they just met.
Rule #1
Find the common ground. This will bridge any age or culture gaps. For example, they are obviously attending your wedding or party so, they must know you or at least one other person that does. It's fun to figure it out. I'm sure you've heard of the game called "7 Degrees of Kevin Bacon", right? You can create your own wedding edition called "7 Degrees of the Bride and Groom". The guests can try to name 5-7 people that all know someone, who knows that person, who knows that other person until they arrive at you.
Another idea for establishing common ground would be the fact that love is in the air. Love is the overarching theme at every single wedding so you can easily come up with love themed or romance themed questions. For example, what was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you or that you have done for someone?
Another similar subject would be to ask someone to define what it means to love someone or be a friend to someone. These are good starter questions because they're pretty much in every one's comfort zone. What is your "love language?" This idea is inspired by a book by Dr. Gary Chapman called "The 5 Love Languages". List all 5 love languages and have your guests pick theirs. They are: acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, touch/physical contact (i.e. hugs, hand holding) and quality time. This makes for a really good coversation starter.
Rule #2
Most people love to talk about themselves! This truth will help you design questions to get even the most shy person talking. All you need to do is prompt them to share an experience, personal story or their advice or opinion on something. Let's stick with the love theme for this example. What is your engagement or wedding story? If they do not have one, provide a backup question. If money was not an issue, what would your dream wedding or dream date be?
On to a completly different subject...most people are very interested in animals. Ask them if they have ever encountered a wild animal? If they have, then you're probably going to hear a good story.
Just try to think outside of the box of the old school ice breakers (i.e. 'Where do you work?' or 'Don't I know you?' or 'Did you see any good movies lately?'). It's not that these don't work - it's just that people have heard these so many times it usually produces that subtle look of boredom or disappointment in the face of the person you're speaking to. Save the old classics as a last resort on your conversation table.
One of my new favorite ice breakers is your own personal 'epic failure' story. Like that time when you told a really lame joke that you were sure would kill 'em but ended up being a dud and you got nothing but silence and then the cricket sounds of shame. Do you have an epic fail story? Mine is the time I went with my friends and wife to the opening night of the movie '300'. There was a line out the door, people were in costume and I could feel the anticipation and excitement in the air. We were finally in our seats, the lights went down and the theater went dark and got quiet. Right then I shouted out one of the most famous lines from the movie: "Prepare for glory!" and no one responded. Then there was that lame long pause of silence. My wife sank deep into her seat pretending she didn't know me. I was mortified, too. Once a person in a group shares a funny fail story like that, there is no stopping the conversation.
Here are some more ice breakers...
What would you do if you were at work and learned that you just won the Lotto with a jackpot of 10 million dollars?
Have you ever lost or won a really important or expensive bet?
If your iPod was stuck on repeat forever and you could choose the song, what would it be?
Have you ever had detention in school? If yes, why?
Can you guess the era I grew up in by the following clues: Mullet hair, leopard print pants, dual cassette boom boxes and VHS video rental stores? Or Elvis Presley, sock hops, poodle skirts and Greasers? The guests can make up their own clues from their childhood.
Do you know or work with anyone that reminds you of a character from the T.V. show 'Seinfeld' or 'The Office'? This could work with any popular T.V. show or movie.
Do you have any pet peeves and why? This one may start a hilarious conversation if you are within an earshot of an elderly couple or long time roommates.
What outdated technology will you be telling your grandchildren about? Black and white T.V., the brick cell phone, a cassette tape etc.?
If you could take any item from your house to the 'Antiques Road Show' for apraisal, what would it be?
True or False. Each person at the table shares a quick true story or fact about themselves and a false one. Then the people at the table get to guess which one is real and which one is phony.
What song do you sing in private while in the car or shower that people would probably laugh at if they knew you were singing it?
The trick to these ice breakers is to keep them interesting and funny while respecting the boundaries of family friendly and appropriate content. You know the ages of the people you invited and what their sense of humor is so don't embarrass anyone too much or encourage anything too gross. After all, you will most likely use these right around dinner time and you don't want anyone to loose their appetite. Keep it clean or at least some version of clean.
After you have your ice breakers picked out, it is time to create, design or order some cute custom labels with a bunch of different ice breakers on each one. You'll want to shuffle a good number of them so one table doesn't get the same group of questions. Then recruit some of your bridal party to hand wrap about 150-200 (or however many guests you have) of your favorite candy or gum of choice. There won't be any dull moments at your dinner party because these table gifts are guaranteed to get some laughs.
