Updated: 02/03/2016 | First Published: 28/06/2013
Looking for a list of fresh, fun, frivolous and funky ideas on how to entertain and ‘wow’ your Wedding guests? You’ve come to the right place! Below you’ll find a selection of traditional wedding entertainment options alongside a wide range of unusual and contemporary alternative wedding entertainment ideas. Let’s start with the contemporary.
Flair mixologists
ALTERNATIVE WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT
- Pickpocket
- Comedy security
- Paparazzi photographers
- Drag artistes
- Funny nuns
- Fighting knights
- Illusionists
- Impressionists
- Comedy waiters
Drag Comedian Jet Black, via Steve Allen Ents
If You Like This, You’ll Love: Popular First Dance Songs
Comedy waiters via Chosen Events Agency
- Psychic
- Fortune teller
- Palm reader
- Tarot card reader
- Hypnotist
- Face reader
- Ventriloquist
Ventriloquist Nina Conti via Sternberg Clarke Ents
- Contortionist
- Shadow show
- Silhouette cutter
- Puppeteers
- Clown
- Court jester
- Jugglers
- Stand-up comic
- Mime artist
Mime artist via Scarlet Entertainment
- Acrobats
- Living sculptures
- Live statues
- Lookalikes
- Ethnic or cultural dance display – belly dancers, hip hop, ballet, highland, burlesque etc
- Ethnic drummers
- Comic one man band
- Circus acts
- Arcade video games
- Chill out space with appropriate music
- Laser light show
- Fun fair stalls i.e. hook the duck, shooting gallery, card darts
- Mobile bowling alley
- Rodeo bull
- Fairground rides
- Snake charmer
- Sword swallower
- Fire poi display
Fire Poi – impressive performance art.
- Treasure hunt
- Pub style quiz
- Bingo
- Karaoke
- Croquet
Croquet at Homme House
- Salsa dancing
- Falconry
- Scavenger hunt
- Oversized garden games
- Ceilidh or barn dance
- Pipers
- Medieval musicians
- Barber shop quartet
- Cigar girls
- Sommelier
- Tequila girls & boys
- Flaring bartenders & mixologists
- Oxygen bar
- Ice bar
- Ice cream van/cart
- Drinks fountain
- Tropism well
- Pop-corn and candy floss machines
- Pick ‘n’ mix sweet stations
- Chocolate fountain
- Wine tasting
- Ice sculpture / vodka luge
Vodka Luge by In Ice Designs
TRADITIONAL WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT
DRINKS RECEPTION
During the drinks reception the bride and groom will be off having photographs and although guests will be given drinks and canapés, they tend to be left to their own devices. It’s the perfect time to introduce some entertainment to keep them amused and to get them mixing and mingling together. Music always plays a part during this section of the day, often in the form of some classically trained musicians or a jazz band.
Some funky jazz during the drinks reception always goes down well.
Aside from the musical entertainment, traditional wedding entertainment might take the form of a magician or caricaturist. Both are excellent choices and perfect for entertaining wedding guests while they sip on their champagne!
Caricaturist
A caricaturist is a great ice-breaker and guests even get to keep a unique and personal memento of the day.
George, The Wedding Caricaturist
Magician
Magicians are one of the most popular forms of additional wedding entertainment. Although most perform humourous card or coin tricks and some specialise in mind reading tricks or even theatrical pick pocket stunts. Again, a great means for breaking the ice and getting groups of guests mixing and mingling together.
Mike Stoner, Wedding Magician
DURING DINNER
It is certainly feasible for the entertainment to continue during dinner. Some classical background music works very well, such as a pianist or a duet, trio or quartet. Likewise, it is also possible to incorporate some alternative entertainment such as a magician roaming from table to table.
AFTER DINNER ENTERTAINMENT
Photo or Video Message Booth
A photo booth or video message booth with prop/dressing up box is one of the most popular forms of additional entertainment laid on for guests post dinner.
Photo/Video Booth by Unlock Photo Booths
Casino
Hiring a casino is another popular way to entertain wedding guest of all ages and will typically be incorporated into the evening entertainment, alongside the music and dancing. Popular games include roulette, black jack, dice and poker.
Royal Flush Wedding Casino
Fireworks Display
Fireworks are a fantastic way to add wow factor and leave a lasting impression in the minds of your wedding guests. Depending on the budget one can choose between a professionally managed display or a simple do-it-yourself display (if you have a responsible member of the wedding party who is tee-total!). Displays typically last between five to fifteen minutes and naturally the longer they are the more expensive they are. If professionally managed, you do need to check to see they are members of the British Pyrotechnics Association.
Fireworks by Jonathans
Children’s Entertainment
Children’s entertainment is deemed an essential part of any wedding where children make up a reasonable proportion of wedding guests. A nanny equipped with some colouring books, balloons, modelling clay, board games and even a TV with games console is great for those on a small-to-medium budget.
For those with a little more money to spend, a children’s entertainer such as a clown or face painter can enhance the day’s proceedings for younger guests and keep them amused so that they don’t get restless and risk upsetting the meal for their parents and other guests.
Some Typical Wedding Entertainment Fees 2016
Fees for a few options at present are as follows:
- Magicians: fees between £450-600.00 on average, for 1.5-2 hours
- Roaming caricaturists: around £450.00 for 2 hours
- Casinos: around £600.00 for 3 or 4 hours.
- Children’s entertainer: from £250.00 upwards
As you can see, the costs are rather similar. Anyone offering their services for considerably less will likely offer a considerably lower quality service.
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