Every bride wants their wedding day to be perfect; from the dress and flowers to the venue. But one of the trickiest aspects to get right is the entertainment.
It goes without saying that entertainment can make or break your big day, and getting it right will leave a big impression on your guests. Are you planning a traditional wedding, a wedding abroad or something more unique? This article combines the popular, fail-safe, extravagant and quirky to get your ideas flowing.
Getting started
It can be hard to know where to start with organising entertainment, so try to use your own experience. What can you remember from previous weddings you have been to or heard about? It should be one of your strongest memories if it was done well.
This is a great starting point in more ways than one. If you want to guarantee happy guests, think about what was well-received then replicate it. But if you want unique entertainment, use your experiences to arrange something bigger or completely the opposite!
So which entertainment is best for you? Here are 15 of the best wedding entertainment ideas.
The Drinks Reception or Wedding Breakfast
1. Magicians and lookalikes
For brides to be looking for slightly toned-down entertainment without compromising on fun, magicians or lookalikes could be for you. They are ideal if you want a sit-down spectacle and audience interaction, at the “Wedding Breakfast” or a more intimate reception. These kinds of acts can also provide a good warm-up to dancing later in the night.
Price: magicians cost around £500 for 3 hours, lookalikes typically cost around £500 per act.
1. Magicians and lookalikes
For brides to be looking for slightly toned-down entertainment without compromising on fun, magicians or lookalikes could be for you. They are ideal if you want a sit-down spectacle and audience interaction, at the “Wedding Breakfast” or a more intimate reception. These kinds of acts can also provide a good warm-up to dancing later in the night.
Price: magicians cost around £500 for 3 hours, lookalikes typically cost around £500 per act.
2. Children’s entertainment
During the Wedding Breakfast and early stages of the reception it’s common for young children to get bored, making their parents on edge and even leaving early. To keep the little ones and parents happy, it’s a good idea to hire a face painter, clown or a bouncy castle as a helpful distraction.
Price: £100 for 2 hours on average
During the Wedding Breakfast and early stages of the reception it’s common for young children to get bored, making their parents on edge and even leaving early. To keep the little ones and parents happy, it’s a good idea to hire a face painter, clown or a bouncy castle as a helpful distraction.
Price: £100 for 2 hours on average
3. Caricaturist
Cartoonists or caricaturists can be great light hearted fun and background interest during the early stages of a wedding reception. As long as you have previewed their portfolio, this is an almost fail-safe entertainment option that won’t be as costly as a band.
Price: £250 - £450 on average
Cartoonists or caricaturists can be great light hearted fun and background interest during the early stages of a wedding reception. As long as you have previewed their portfolio, this is an almost fail-safe entertainment option that won’t be as costly as a band.
Price: £250 - £450 on average
4. Live band
If you’re not whether your taste in music will please everyone, or want your wedding to have a touch of class, why not opt for a live band. They could be any of the following:
▪ String Quartet
▪ Harpist
▪ Spanish guitars
▪ Jazz
▪ Vocalist
▪ Pianist
You will need a larger budget, but can usually rely on them to perform professional renditions of popular songs and requests. A good live band will let you hear a set-list first, with one set including up to 30 songs.
Price: £500 - £1,500 depending on the band’s experience
If you’re not whether your taste in music will please everyone, or want your wedding to have a touch of class, why not opt for a live band. They could be any of the following:
▪ String Quartet
▪ Harpist
▪ Spanish guitars
▪ Jazz
▪ Vocalist
▪ Pianist
You will need a larger budget, but can usually rely on them to perform professional renditions of popular songs and requests. A good live band will let you hear a set-list first, with one set including up to 30 songs.
Price: £500 - £1,500 depending on the band’s experience
5. Piano duelling band
Piano duels provide a fantastic combination of professional instrument playing, high energy, exciting light shows, sound systems and audience interaction. The likes of Richard Branson and Morgan Freeman have hired these all-round entertainment shows in the past. If it’s good enough for them, it will go down a storm at your wedding reception.
Price: variable but expect to pay from £1000 upwards.
6. Comedian
Are you or your fiancé fans of a particular comedian? You will have to prepare to spend more (depending on how in-demand they are), but comedians are a fantastic warm-up to a wedding reception. Of course you will have to preview the set to make sure it’s funny and that the jokes are appropriate for family audiences!
Price: check booking websites as prices are widely varied
Are you or your fiancé fans of a particular comedian? You will have to prepare to spend more (depending on how in-demand they are), but comedians are a fantastic warm-up to a wedding reception. Of course you will have to preview the set to make sure it’s funny and that the jokes are appropriate for family audiences!
Price: check booking websites as prices are widely varied
7. DJ or music playlist
The classic wedding favourite; simple but always a crowd pleaser for the young and old. Nothing gets guests in the party mood like great music, a dance floor and some colourful disco lights. This can be a cheap entertainment alternative to a live band if you use your own iTunes playlist instead of a DJ, although you can hire high quality mobile discos/nightclubs at a reasonable price.
Prices: upwards of £500 for 4 hours
The classic wedding favourite; simple but always a crowd pleaser for the young and old. Nothing gets guests in the party mood like great music, a dance floor and some colourful disco lights. This can be a cheap entertainment alternative to a live band if you use your own iTunes playlist instead of a DJ, although you can hire high quality mobile discos/nightclubs at a reasonable price.
Prices: upwards of £500 for 4 hours
8. Tribute band
Do you love the idea of having your favourite band play at your wedding, but can’t afford the real deal? Then there are many fantastic tribute acts out there. It’s a good idea to take the other guests’ music tastes into consideration and to think about the atmosphere you want to create.
Prices: upwards of £600 for a 3 hour set
Do you love the idea of having your favourite band play at your wedding, but can’t afford the real deal? Then there are many fantastic tribute acts out there. It’s a good idea to take the other guests’ music tastes into consideration and to think about the atmosphere you want to create.
Prices: upwards of £600 for a 3 hour set
9. Ceilidh band
If you have no idea what a Ceilidh band is, it is basically a Barn Dance including a mixture of traditional Scottish, Irish and English music. The bands typically have a caller who instructs your guests on the dance moves. A real fun for all option, this will get even the stuffiest relatives up on the dance floor.
Prices: at least £500 for 3 hours
If you have no idea what a Ceilidh band is, it is basically a Barn Dance including a mixture of traditional Scottish, Irish and English music. The bands typically have a caller who instructs your guests on the dance moves. A real fun for all option, this will get even the stuffiest relatives up on the dance floor.
Prices: at least £500 for 3 hours
10. Funfair stalls
Have you ever considered bringing the fun of the fair to your wedding reception? Let your guests out of their seats and mingling with a hot roast chestnut stall, coconut shy, hoopla, cork shooting or even mini crazy golf – you have so many options to unleash your creativity.
Prices: £250 - £350 depending on number of stalls and size
Have you ever considered bringing the fun of the fair to your wedding reception? Let your guests out of their seats and mingling with a hot roast chestnut stall, coconut shy, hoopla, cork shooting or even mini crazy golf – you have so many options to unleash your creativity.
Prices: £250 - £350 depending on number of stalls and size
11. Fun casino
You can hire a thrilling gambling experience for your wedding reception that recreates the Casino atmosphere. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or not, a professional fun casino employs friendly croupiers who can teach the tricks of gambling – without playing with real money.
Price: £100 per game and £100 per croupier. Expect to pay £400 for a fully equipped table and croupiers.
You can hire a thrilling gambling experience for your wedding reception that recreates the Casino atmosphere. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or not, a professional fun casino employs friendly croupiers who can teach the tricks of gambling – without playing with real money.
Price: £100 per game and £100 per croupier. Expect to pay £400 for a fully equipped table and croupiers.
12. Inflatable games
Who said weddings have to be formal and predictable? Add some action-packed games to your reception such as bouncy beach volleyball, inflatable assault course or a surf board simulator! By hiring a trusted company you can find something unique, unexpected and definitely a talking point for years to come.
Prices: £100 - £300 depending on size
Who said weddings have to be formal and predictable? Add some action-packed games to your reception such as bouncy beach volleyball, inflatable assault course or a surf board simulator! By hiring a trusted company you can find something unique, unexpected and definitely a talking point for years to come.
Prices: £100 - £300 depending on size
13. Ice sculpture
For a sense of drama and opulence, ice sculptures are a beautiful addition to your reception room. Although they will require a lot of preparation and maintenance, they are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes; from an arresting statue to subtle ice champagne holders.
Prices: £35 for an ice bucket and £300 for a vodka luge
For a sense of drama and opulence, ice sculptures are a beautiful addition to your reception room. Although they will require a lot of preparation and maintenance, they are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes; from an arresting statue to subtle ice champagne holders.
Prices: £35 for an ice bucket and £300 for a vodka luge
14. Chocolate fountain
Not only are chocolate fountains delicious, attractive and a centre piece for a reception room, they provide an opportunity for guests to mingle at the start of the evening. Accompany the fountain with dipping marshmallows, fruit and biscuits of your choice for a bespoke touch.
Prices: £400 for a fountain with chocolate, dipping food and operator included. Or buy your own fountain for around £90.
Not only are chocolate fountains delicious, attractive and a centre piece for a reception room, they provide an opportunity for guests to mingle at the start of the evening. Accompany the fountain with dipping marshmallows, fruit and biscuits of your choice for a bespoke touch.
Prices: £400 for a fountain with chocolate, dipping food and operator included. Or buy your own fountain for around £90.
15. Photo booth
Photo booths are available for hire at all sorts of events, including weddings. They are an individual way to capture the spirit and atmosphere of your wedding, with art photography equipment, props and an automatic touch screen, allowing guests to be in control.
Prices: on average £400 - £600 for 3 hours with free use of props
Photo booths are available for hire at all sorts of events, including weddings. They are an individual way to capture the spirit and atmosphere of your wedding, with art photography equipment, props and an automatic touch screen, allowing guests to be in control.
Prices: on average £400 - £600 for 3 hours with free use of props