Wedding Inspiration: The Shoe Game
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:56AM 
The shoe game was one of the highlights of my wedding reception. I had only seen it once at my friend Katelynn's wedding in 2008, but I knew as soon as I saw it that I HAD to use it as part of my wedding reception. To date, I've never shot a wedding where the shoe game was done, but I certainly hope I can spread the idea so more people will do it - it is SO much fun!
This past weekend, Matt's sister Kayla got married and she had asked me to facilitate the shoe game at their wedding reception. They had seen how much of a hit it was when Matt and I did it at our wedding so they decided to play the game as well.
So... here is how the shoe game goes. Sometime during the reception (usually later in the evening, maybe right before the bouquet toss or during some break in the events after there has been some dancing) the bride and groom will sit on chairs back-to-back on the dance floor. They will take off their shoes and swap one shoe so that they are each holding a shoe from the bride and a shoe from the groom. Someone reads a list of questions about them, about their relationship, and the bride and groom answer the questions by holding up the shoe of the person they think best suits the answer.
(Images from my wedding shot by Katelyn James!)
I'll give you an exmaple. My sister, Rachel, read the questions at our wedding. She asked, "Who is the better driver?" Both Matt and I held up Matt's shoe. Then she asked, "Who has been in more car accidents?" and we both AGAIN help up Matt's shoe. She knew the irony of this, and because we were both so confident on our answers both times, it made everyone laugh.
Sometimes there will be disagreements, questions like, "Who is the better dresser?" (I think Matt and I both answered OURSELVES! HA!) or, "Who is the better kisser?" - the fun part about it is that you can't see what the other person is answering, so many times there is so much laughter and, as the bride, you aren't sure if he answered the same as you or the opposite!
The key is that whoever is creating and asking the questions needs to know the bride and groom so they can ask questions that are specific to them and will create fun reactions. I had my sister send me the list she had used in our wedding (30 questions) and then Matt and I went through them to change some around so they would fit Kayla and Joey. For example, Kayla is a really picky eater, and Joey is a really great cook and will primarily do the cooking, so we asked, in this order, "Who is the picker eater?" and they both shot up Kayla's shoe... followed by, "And who will be doing all the cooking?" and they both answered Joey.
The point of the game is really just another way for your guests to get to know you a bit better, but most of all for laughs and comic relief. As silly as this sounds, when Matt and I drove away after our sparkler send-off, one of the FIRST things we talked about in the car was the SHOE GAME! We asked each other what we had answered for certain questions, and talked about the funniest reactions. The best part was that we didn't know the questions ahead of time, which really added to the fun for us as well!
If you're looking for a way to add something new to your wedding reception, the shoe game is a great option! I've never seen it flop, and it always creates so many laughs and so many memories!
UPDATE (June 22, 2012): WOW! Thank you SO much to all of those who found this post from pinterest!! The shoe game has made its way onto Bridal Guide! Also, here are the questions my sister used. I highly suggest you customize them to fit the bride and groom to make it extra special and personal (like the stinky feet one was only to embarrass me because I have stinky feet!)
- Who is older?
- Who has more siblings?
- When you first met, who made the first move?
- Who is the better driver?
- Who has been in more car accidents?
- Who studied the hardest in school?
- Who got better grades in school?
- Who is smarter?
- Who is more creative?
- Who is better at keeping surprises?
- Who will be doing the cooking?
- Who is more adventurous?
- Who is more likely to get injured?
- Who is more likely to get sunburned?
- Who is more likely to be running late?
- Who is the better dresser?
- Who is better looking?
- Who said I love you first?
- Who starts the argument?
- Who is first to say “I’m sorry?”
- Who wears the pants in your relationship?
- Who spends more money?
- Who is going to pay the bills?
- Who will be in control of the remote?
- Who will be most likely to wake up grumpy?
- Who is more likely to get lost?
- Who is more likely to ask for directions?
- Who is messier?
- Who has the smelliest feet?
- Right now, who do you love more than anyone in the world?
Reader Comments (42)
This just came in time, the wedding is one month away!!!