If you’re looking for a wedding day game that involves all your guests, here’s how to play the stand up sit down game. Wedding reception games can play a vital role in keeping your guests occupied during important sections of your wedding day.

Have this game up your sleeve during the wedding breakfast or if the heavens open and all your wedding guests are herded inside.

How to Play “Stand Up, Sit Down”

Here’s the deal: the host reads fun prompts like, “Stand up if you’ve had cake today,” or, “Sit down if you’ve seen the groom’s bare bottom.” Guests respond by standing or sitting based on whether the statement applies to them. The game progresses until there’s just one person left standing—a champion of laughs and questionable prompts! Simple, inclusive, and guaranteed to get everyone smiling.

Introduction: Why Play the Game?

Weddings are magical, but even the best-planned wedding day can take a few odd turns. Maybe the wedding cake hasn’t shown up yet, the outdoor wedding took a turn thanks to surprise rain, or—brace yourself—the chef has mysteriously gone down with food poisoning. Enter the “Stand Up, Sit Down” game, your emergency solution packed with laughs, memories, and goodwill.

Designed to elevate your wedding reception while saving it from potential awkward lulls, this stand up sit down classic is the ultimate way to keep wedding guests engaged and thoroughly entertained. You can’t control every mishap, but you can control how much fun everyone has while waiting for things to get back on track.

The Setup

When it comes to fun wedding reception games, the “Stand Up, Sit Down” game is as low-maintenance as they come—perfect for transforming the wedding breakfast into an easygoing yet entertaining experience. No props, no logistical headaches, and absolutely zero state-of-the-art tech required. Here’s how to get things prepped so your guests are ready to join in.

Pick Your Quizmaster

Ah, now here’s the delicate part. Your quizmaster—basically the unsung hero of your wedding reception—will make or break this game. The trick is to pick someone with charisma, a decent sense of humor, and a knack for working a crowd. Think less “quietly charming” and more “could probably host their own talk show if given a chance.”

Your quizmaster’s job isn’t just to read questions; they need to control the room, spot when the energy dips, and handle everything from dry quips to unplanned distractions (like a toddler dramatically deserting the wedding cake table). Give this role to someone who thrives in the spotlight, and the magic will follow. Pick poorly, and, well, there’s always background music to fill the silence.

Start with Everyone Seated

The beauty of this game lies in its simplicity. Guests are already seated, enjoying their meals and possibly overthinking how they’ll tackle the dance floor later, so there’s no need to shuffle anyone around. A quick announcement from your chosen quizmaster will officially kick things off, and just like that, everyone is in position. No standing ovations required—at least not yet!

What You’ll Need

This is where the simplicity really shines—because, spoiler alert, you don’t need much. No fun props, no overly complicated logistics, just the quizmaster, some personality-packed questions (more on that in the next section), and a room full of wedding guests. However, one thing you absolutely do need? A microphone or PA system. Without it, you’ll end up with half the room squinting at the quizmaster, trying to lip-read what’s going on. Trust us, the only thing worse than hearing Uncle Bob heckle is having one table laugh while five others sit in confused silence.

By setting the stage like this, you’re ensuring the “Stand Up, Sit Down” game fits effortlessly into the wedding day flow.

How It Works

Now for the fun part—how this great wedding party game actually unfolds. The “Stand Up, Sit Down” game is all about creating laughs without leaving anyone out. Here’s the twist: it’s elimination-style, but nobody’s truly “out.” One moment your guests might be sitting because they “they’re not wearing underwear,” and the next they’re standing tall because “they’ve cooked for the bride and groom.”
It’s unpredictable, inclusive, and downright hilarious.

The Basics of the Game

The quizmaster—armed with their trusty mic (and ideally a sense of humour sharp enough to cut the wedding cake)—fires off snappy, cheeky questions one at a time. Guests sit if the statement applies to them or stand if it doesn’t. For example, “Sit down if you’ve not enjoyed the wedding meal.” You get the picture.

The magic lies in the unpredictability of the scenarios. The questions should be short and punchy, tailored around the couple’s quirks, shared stories, and maybe a few well-placed zingers. “Stand up if you ever held back the bride’s hair whilst she threw up.” Cue laughter, side glances, and whispered stories that may or may not become the stuff of legends.

Rapid Fire, Not a Slow Burn

No one wants to feel like the game is stretching out like endless toasts from distant cousins. This is where your quizmaster truly earns their meal. Keeping the pace brisk and the energy high ensures the room stays engaged. Timing is everything—move on before anyone can even think of zoning out. Like a dance floor DJ, your quizmaster needs to read the crowd and know when to pull out the big guns (the hilariously embarrassing questions) to keep the vibe alive.

Ultimately, this fun wedding game strikes the perfect balance. It keeps the guests laughing, the room buzzing, and the memories flowing. All the while, no one’s really out of the game—they’re just waiting for their next moment to stand (or sit) out.

Personalise It for the Happy Couple

The magic of the Stand Up, Sit Down game comes alive when it’s packed with personal touches about the bride and groom. This fun wedding game isn’t just about random facts—it’s your chance to pull back the curtain on those unforgettable (and sometimes hilariously awkward) moments that define the couple’s story. The best part? Those in the know will stand up proudly (or sheepishly) as everyone else laughs along. Preparation is key here—if you’re going to stir the pot, you might as well bring a ladle.

Couple-Specific Questions

Behind-the-scenes tidbits are what truly make this game shine. By drawing from the couple’s most laugh-out-loud—or oddly endearing—moments, you’ll have all the guests reminiscing and roaring with laughter. Get ready to shine a spotlight on stories like these:

• “Stand up if you were there during the infamous ‘trousers split’ incident when the groom tried to impress the bride with some unique moves.”
• “Sit down if you were witness to the bride’s pouring paint over her ex’s car.
• “Stand up if you think the marriage will last”
  “Sit down if you think it’ll be over by Christmas!”
• “Sit down if you once tried the bride’s frankly unhinged kombucha experiment—and survived to tell the tale.”
• “Stand up if you’ve witnessed the groom trying to master tap dancing”
• “Sit down if you’ve spent more than 10 minutes listening to the bride rant about the one time the caterer messed up her salad.”
• “Stand up if you were there the first time the groom almost burned down the kitchen trying to cook for a ‘romantic dinner.’”

The key here? Embarrassing stories wrapped in love and laughter. It’s all about connecting the dots between quirky experiences and shared moments—an icebreaker and a deep-dive into hilarity all rolled into one.

General Fun Prompts

Pair those couple-centric revelations with some universally relatable prompts to keep everyone in the game and the laughs rolling. For example:

• “Anyone wearing sunglasses, sit down.”
• “Stand up if you drank coffee today.”
• “Sit down if you’re not wearing socks (seriously, commando feet?)”
• “If there’s a phone in your pocket, stand up.”
• “Sit down if you’re wearing jeans. Was it ‘denim casual’ on the invite?”
• “Stand up if your first name starts with A, B, or C.”
• “Sit down if you traveled more than 100 miles to be here (you’re clearly MVP material!).”
• “If your birthday is within 30 days, stand up—and we promise, no birthday serenades.”
• “Sit down if you own a gym membership you might have forgotten about.”
• “Stand up if you’re wearing a watch—whether it’s for style or function, we respect it.”

These prompts keep the game balanced, allowing everyone from the wedding party to the college +1 to feel included and entertained.

Blending these laughable tales with easy, inclusive prompts ensures the Stand Up, Sit Down game is the perfect way to entertain, engage, and celebrate the wedding guests. Whether you’re recalling mishaps like a split pair of trousers or spotting the covert sockless party-goer, this game will have all the guests smiling (and maybe laughing through tears) long after the dance floor cools down. Now that’s how you create a great wedding party game.

Winner Takes… a Prize

What’s a game without a little incentive? The game reaches its thrilling peak when there’s something at stake for the last person standing—besides bragging rights, of course. Adding a small prize is a fun way to ensure all the guests stay fully invested until the final round. Think of it as the cherry on top of this great wedding party game.

Here are some lighthearted prize ideas to make the effort worthwhile without breaking the wedding budget:

• A few free drinks at the bar. Nothing says victory like sipping on celebratory cocktails while wedding guests toast to your triumph.
• A bottle of something special. Whether it’s wine, champagne, or a cheeky bottle of bourbon, it’s a classy (or not-so-classy) way to say, “Congrats!”
• A dance with the bridal party. Talk about a prize with prime-time appeal. Who wouldn’t want a moment in the spotlight at the wedding reception?

The beauty of this idea is in its simplicity. A small reward can turn a fun game into an unforgettable highlight on the wedding day. It builds anticipation and gives everyone a reason to root for the remaining contenders, even as they cheerfully sit down in defeat.

Final thoughts

Just like the classic wedding shoe game, the beauty in this game relies on it’s ties with the happy couple. Also, there’s no right or wrong answers here so your guests can relax and enjoy the ride. For lots more fun wedding games, see the post.

About Close-Up Chris

✨Close-Up Chris✨is a professional magician who performs wedding magic that elevates important parts of your day. From the drinks reception through to the evening party, Chris entertains with amazing sleight of hand, comedy and pickpocketing.