Small Evening Reception

I’m planning something similar... though not with the games as you are, but something else. Frankly, as many of my guests are older people, I don’t think they will mind. A lot of my fiancé’s guests and a few of our joint guests are more our age and enjoy a “good time”, but I think they are capable of making their own entertainment!

It’s a shame that people are being negative about it when it’s your day and you should be doing what you want to do. If you’re really worried about them leaving early, maybe consider something else, other than the dancing or the games.

We too are having a small wedding in June this year (~35 people) so felt that an evening disco/party feel wouldn't feel right with fewer people and might end up being awkward so we decided against that (we're not 'party people' either anyway). Then I was concerned that not having an evening disco would mean that everything would finish early and we'd be left with a really anti-climactic end to our wedding day where everyone just goes home. So we've planned everything to happen a bit later than usual - our ceremony is at 3pm, followed by a drinks reception with some entertainment, then the wedding breakfast won't even start until 6pm-ish, so will run through til 8.30/9ish with the speeches too. Once everyone has another drink or two in the bar afterwards, and we cut the cake, maybe have a first dance too then this will bring us to the end of the night nicely. Still undecided whether to have any kind of official 'entertainment' after the meal, but not going to worry too much as there won't be lots of time to fill.