If you have some time to spare at your wedding reception, why not play this fun (and hilarious) newlywed game?
Though it's common to play fun wedding games at a bridal shower or engagement party, you may not have thought to play a newlywed game during the wedding reception—but tons of couples are starting to add wedding reception activities to their timeline to help break the ice and keep wedding guests entertained. The Wedding Shoe Game is one of the most popular wedding reception games to play because it's not only hilarious for the newlywed couple and guests—but it's also simple in concept, easy to set up and suitable for all ages. All you need to play are two chairs, a list of Wedding Shoe Game questions, the couple and their shoes. Intrigued? Learn how to play the Wedding Shoe Game here, plus read examples of funny shoe game questions to see how it's done and start your own list of questions before the big day.
In this article:
How do you play the Wedding Shoe Game?
The premise of the Wedding Shoe Game is to test how the newlyweds perceive themselves in relation to one another by answering a series of questions (e.g. "Who is a better dancer") without seeing how their partner responds.
The MC
Before the wedding day, designate an MC or "caller" who will come prepared with a list of questions to ask the newlywed couple (we'll get to those in a second). If you don't want to put any of your guests to work, your DJ or bandleader can act as MC of this game. Otherwise, it's a great job for the best man, maid of honor or any loved one who isn't in the bridal party or didn't get to do a reading at the ceremony, but whom you still want to be involved. Just first make sure they're comfortable speaking in front of a crowd.
Types of Questions
Each Wedding Shoe Game question the couple is asked should start with "Who…?", as in "Who is the better cook?" or "Who has the better shower singing voice?" You can even get your guests involved by asking them to write their own questions for the caller to read come game time. You can solicit their questions ahead of time through the wedding website and RSVPs or have them write them down on slips of paper at the reception and have the caller draw some from a jar.
The caller should start by asking simple questions and gradually move to more personal ones (as long as the couple are comfortable answering them—and letting your friends and family hear them).
The Setup
Ask a member of the wedding party to place two chairs back to back in the middle of the dance floor. Each partner sits down (they shouldn't be able to see each other). They then take off their shoes—they give one shoe to their partner and vice versa. Each should have one of their own shoes and one of their partner's shoes in their hands.
The Shoes
Once asked a question, the newlyweds raise their partner's shoe if it describes their partner's tendencies and their own shoe if it represents themself. They may even lift both shoes in the air to declare a tie. The trick is they can't see their spouse, so they'll have no idea if they're answering the same way—although they'll probably be able to tell by their guests' reactions (and may sneak a peak once they've committed to their answer). Of course, after a few drinks, their answers might get a little unpredictable. But those surprise moments are what make the shoe game so entertaining and funny—especially if the couple doesn't know the questions ahead of time.
Wedding Guest Participation
There is the option to take the game a step further and invite wedding guests to guess the answers, too. There are two ways to go about this. Firstly, you can DIY or buy a printable template of Wedding Shoe Game questions to distribute to guests to make their guesses— treat it as a reception table game to break the ice during dinner then they can score their card when the couple plays. Alternatively, you can distribute props to represent each partner (e.g. photos or their initials mounted on a stick or another prop to represent each partner), so guests can play along with the couple in real-time. Again, this is completely optional—this party game is equally funny for guests to just watch the couple play.
70 Wedding Shoe Game Questions
The Wedding Shoe Game questions can be as general or customized to the couple as you'd like. And word to the wise, know your audience before asking super-personal or raunchy questions. (In other words, don't ask anything you wouldn't want to be asked in front of your family and friends.) Use these sample Wedding Shoe Game questions below as a good jumping-off point for ideas. From relationship questions to everyday life questions, we categorized them to help you pick and choose the best shoe game questions to please the crowd.
Everyday Life Shoe Game Questions
Examples:
- Who makes the better breakfast?
- Who's more likely to make the bedroom floor their personal laundry basket?
- Who's more likely to leave dishes in the sink?
- Who's more likely to burn the house down when they're cooking dinner?
- Who spends a longer amount of time getting ready for a night out?
- Who's an early riser?
- Who's the better driver?
- Who takes up more than half of the bed?
- Who hogs the blankets?
- Who takes the longest showers?
- Who walks the dog/takes care of the pets?
- Who is more of a clean freak?
- Who has the crazier family?
- Who snores the loudest?
- Who has better hair?
- Who is more organized?
- Who spent more time on wedding planning?
- Who spends more time on social media?
- Who exercises the most?
- Who has the cleanest car?
- Who replaces the toilet paper roll?
Relationship Wedding Shoe Game Questions
Examples:
- Who will want kids first?
- Who chose the honeymoon location?
- Who fell in love first?
- Who made the first move?
- Who planned the first date?
- Who plans the best date nights?
- Who said "I love you" first?
- Who is the romantic?
- Who flirts more?
- Who is the sappy one?
- Who is the better kisser?
- Who is the first to apologize?
- Who wears the pants in the relationship?
- Who is more likely to start an argument?
- Who looks better today?
Personality Wedding Shoe Game Questions
Examples:
- Who has the better shower singing voice?
- Who's the better dancer?
- Who is the pickier eater?
- Who's more likely to fill the house with gear from their favorite college sports team?
- Who's afraid of heights?
- Who's a night owl?
- Who's more of a dog person?
- Who would rather be outdoors?
- Who would survive longer on a deserted island?
- Who's the bigger party animal?
- Who's more likely to fall asleep in front of the TV?
- Who's more of a daredevil?
- Who's more stubborn?
- Who's "the responsible one"?
- Who would be the first to lose their keys?
- Who's the most likely to cry at a movie?
- Who eats the most junk food?
- Who is louder?
- Who is more likely to get lost?
- Who is more likely to talk their way out of a speeding ticket?
- Who is better at keeping secrets?
- Who is more likely to get sunburnt?
- Who is more likely to get injured?
- Who is more likely to be late?
- Who talks the most?
- Who is more organized?
- Who buys the best gifts?
- Who's more likely to forget birthdays and anniversaries?
Work and Money Wedding Shoe Game Questions
Examples:
- Who pays the bills?
- Who tends to work more?
- Who is more likely to stay at work late?
- Who is the bigger shopaholic?
- Who saves more money?
- Who's more likely to spend all their money at a Bed Bath & Beyond (or insert couple's favorite store) sale?
Wedding Shoe Game FAQs
How many questions should you ask during the Wedding Shoe Game?
Ask 30 to 40 Wedding Shoe Game questions. This will allow you to cover a variety of topics from simple to more personalized questions. If the caller or couple decides to embellish any of the questions or answers, then you should cut back on the number of questions to ensure the game doesn't drag on too long.
How long should the Shoe Game last?
The Wedding Shoe Game should last about 10 minutes. Assuming you allow 20 seconds per question including time for a brief crowd reaction, you'll have enough time to ask approximately 30 questions. If you take a rapid-fire approach, you may be able to squeeze in a few more, but remember, don't read them off so quickly that the guests can't clearly hear the question, especially over lingering laughter.
When's the best time to play the Shoe Game at a wedding reception?
Play the Wedding Shoe Game after dinner's wrapped up, right before the dance party picks up and while the musicians are still prepping—or use this crowd-pleaser as a fun filler to keep energy high while the musicians take a quick break. The only times we'd suggest you avoid playing are during dinner, when you and your guests should focus on actually eating and listening to toasts, or at the very end of the night when sleepy guests have left and the drinks have been flowing for a few hours. And you don't have to wait until your wedding reception to play the shoe game, either. It's the perfect party game for your engagement party or wedding shower too.