Category Archives: Entertainment

Step by Step Wedding Entertainment

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Morning

The pre-wedding jitters can easily be set to bed by a little entertainment in the morning! When family are gathered together in the hotel just waiting for a few hours to pass by, there’s nothing better than a bit of entertainment from a strolling act to enliven proceedings. A great time for a magician to diffuse some nerves and ensure that talking to your Great Uncle isn’t as difficult as you’d feared. A brilliant ice breaker, we highly recommend this whilst the bride and groom are busily getting ready.

Ceremony

During the wedding ceremony itself! You’re probably wondering if you want a traditional wedding march to accompany you as you walk down the aisle, but why have that when you can have a small jazz band playing off to the side? It makes for a far more unique proposition than an organist playing that same tune you’ve heard at hundreds of weddings before and can even form part of the ceremony itself should you decide to put your own spin on things.

Drinks Reception

Whilst the bride and groom are off having their photos taken with their various in-laws, cousins and old University friends, it leaves the rest of the wedding party to stand about somewhat aimlessly drinking some Champagne or non-alcoholic equivalent. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Hiring a wedding pianist for an hour, or perhaps a solo singer is a perfect example – always goes down a treat.

Wedding Breakfast

Naturally it all depends on your budget but after the food and speeches the bride and groom tend to walk between tables, happily greeting those they haven’t seen in awhile. For those who aren’t on a table with anyone they know very well, the small talk ran out somewhere between the main course and dessert. As such, some light entertainment in the form of a quiz – perhaps about the couple? – or caricaturist can go a long way!

Reception.

We needn’t go into too much detail about whether a band of DJ is the way to go… Just know that entertainment is pretty much a must have for this portion of your wedding day and can make the occasion even more special to those who have travelled a long way! There are a whole host of acts that come under the ‘wedding entertainment for hire’ banner, so you don’t need to stick to just one!

 

Affordable Wedding Entertainment

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Not everyone has a huge budget for the most important and happiest day of their lives but most people would like a little something for their big day. With that in mind, here is  a list of the most affordable wedding entertainment.

Spotify

If you are after ultra-low budget then there’s nothing cheaper than playing Spotify as you walk down the aisle, during the drinks reception and when dancing the night away once the food has all been cleared away. If you’re strapped for cash then this will be cheaper. That being said we do advise signing up for premium ahead of the big day; we can’t think of anything worse than a dreaded Spotify ad every three songs.

Acoustic Guitarist

Many like to walk down the aisle to some live music and what better way to celebrate this momentous occasion than by booking an acoustic guitarist. With this blog on the hunt for most affordable wedding entertainment, acoustic duos are out and acoustic guitarists are in. Able to perform as you walk down the aisle, during reception drinks and perhaps as an accompaniment to the wedding breakfast, an acoustic guitarist is as cheap as they come.

Garden Games

With the weather as nice as it is, you might be forgiven for thinking it’s summer already! Many enjoy an outdoor wedding every year and if you’re one of the people who wants to bring the party vibe, garden games are a must. Croquet, giant Jenga and even a spot of rounders have all been seen in recent years. Fun to play and quick to set up, this is some of the cheapest wedding entertainment around and gets you the most bang for your buck; breaking the ice between guests have never been easier!

Harpist

Incredibly harpists come under most affordable wedding entertainment because they supply their own instrument (grand pianos tend to be a pretty penny to get through the door of a venue that doesn’t have one!) A superb addition to any wedding, we highly recommend booking a harp.

DJ

If Spotify isn’t your thing and you don’t want to shell out for a full live band, booking a DJ is a no-brainer. Experienced disc jockeys know exactly how to read a room and work at many weddings throughout the year. Able to choose the right music for the right moments, you’ll be jumping up and down one second and slow dancing the next. An absolute must for the evening!

 

Keep the kids entertained

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Often, couples have a few words of wisdom to share and other times it’s couples who would love to have little ones share their day but aren’t sure how to best do it.

Any which way, you’re reading this because you want to keep kids entertained at your wedding, whatever role they are going to play, so we won’t make you wait any longer. Here are some best and budget-friendly buys for success,

Remember having fun days at school? The ones where you all brought in board games, made all kinds of crafts and generally had a whale of a time? Channel that for your wedding day too by providing table games on the tables reserved for children.

Blowing bubbles are a great option for this – they’re inexpensive, easy to use and will have children trying to blow the best, most or biggest bubbles they can. This will keep them entertained and busy playing together so the parents can enjoy a little break during the wedding breakfast.

If you’ve got older children attending, the appeal of bubbles may have burst, so you’ll likely want an extra idea to keep these guests happy too. Why not include table trivia boxes on your tables? You could put those history lessons to the test with this monarchy trivia set, or try this travel game for wannabe jet-setters… Even the grownups will be dusting off their competitive shoes and getting involved for this one!

Have you considered having a photobooth? Whether you hire one in or make your own, they’re guaranteed to keep kids entertained. You can make yours a playground for every guest by adding lots of props – be prepared for some hilarious wedding photographs!

Take this one step further and enlist the children to be the director for the day. Whether you give them a clapboard prop for the photobooth or a checklist of photographs to snap on disposable cameras during the day, the role will make them feel special and keep them busy.

How many children do you know who don’t have a sweet tooth? Children will love to pick and mix, so be sure to have plenty of serving scoops and colour co-ordinated paper bags at the ready (refills of sweets might be necessary, too!). Once they’ve had their fill, they’ll be full of energy to dance as late as their parents want to!

And if you don’t want an all-out sweets stand, why not choose little jars of sweets for your wedding favours instead? These could be reserved for the kids with adult guests receiving miniature liqueurs, for example, or simply be sweets for everyone. Remember that you can choose old-fashioned sweets like bonbons or even a refreshing mint imperial…

So there you have it:  budget-friendly buys to keep kids entertained at your wedding, ensuring everyone has as brilliant a day as you will. The bonus? They’ll keep your adult guests happy too and have them feeling like a child again for a super fun celebration!

 

First Dance Worries

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If you’re not sure whether you want a first dance at your wedding reception, you aren’t alone, we know couples can find it tricky.

If you hate dancing, and don’t want to do it with everyone watching – don’t worry, your guests won’t judge! They will just be happy to see you and your new spouse have a little chat for three or four minutes while you sway from side to side  – which is what most first dances end up being.

Despite the soppiness of it, a slow first dance is probably your best bet if you are a little worried about dancing. If you’ve got moves, and you want to show them off, something faster can definitely work.

Weddings are frantic, and over the course of the day you’ll hardly get a moment to yourself, let alone with your new husband or wife. Everyone there will want to talk to you, and there’s timings and speeches to worry about. The first dance can be a little calm in the storm. First dances are a great way to put a momentary pause on a wedding day.

In addition to this, the first dance is a great ice breaker to move the day from meal to massive party, and 99 times out of 100, the dance floor gets fuller faster when there is a first dance, compared to when there isn’t.

If you aren’t sure which song to pick, try writing down separate lists of at least 10 songs without conferring. Songs that make you smile and think of your other half when you listen to them. The ones that give you goosebumps, or send those tiny little hairs on the back of your neck standing on end.

If there are none that match, make a playlist of your partner’s suggestions, and get them to make a playlist of yours. Listen to them when you’re not together and see if you get those goosebumps from any of your partner’s suggestions.

First dance suggestions

  • You Are The Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne
  • You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
  • It Must Be Love – Madness
  • Keep On Movin’ – 5ive
  • One Day Like This – Elbow
  • You’re My Best Friend – Queen
  • Lover Of The Light – Mumford and Sons
  • Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen
  • Mountains – Biffy Clyro
  • Stand By Me – Ben E. King
  • Your Body Is A Wonderland – John Mayer
  • Mean To Me – Brett Eldridge

Do you really need wedding entertainment?

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When your grandparents got married, they probably didn’t have too much in the way of wedding entertainment. In fact, 50 or so years ago, most weddings took place in the morning, followed by the wedding breakfast and then, after the speeches and cake, the bride and groom would leave to go off on their honeymoon – probably in the mid to late afternoon So in fact, their actual wedding day was really quite short.

Nowadays the trend is to make much more of a deal of the whole event.  It’s not unusual to be invited to a ceremony taking place in the late morning or early afternoon, followed by a drinks reception and canapés, a wedding breakfast, the speeches and cake cutting.

Then there’s a short break – maybe some afternoon tea and the arrival of the evening guests when the whole event restarts with probably another drinks reception and dancing. That could be a whole 10 hours of keeping guests happy from the moment they arrive at the church until they leave around midnight.

So what are you going to do with them? How can you make sure your guests feel entertained, happy and engaged throughout the day rather than looking at their watch and wondering when they can politely leave?

Look up entertainment in the dictionary and it says ‘the act of providing amusement or enjoyment’. Which is to say that entertaining your guests isn’t just a matter of providing conjurers, magicians, musicians and photo booths – it’s making sure that they have a great time at your wedding.

Catering..

First off, make sure you don’t let your guests get hungry or thirsty. If you’re having a late morning wedding and evening dancing then you’re going to have to feed your guests twice over. Or if you’re having an early afternoon wedding followed by an evening event, then you can’t expect your guests to wait until dinner time to eat.

If all this is beyond your budget then you’re going to have to rethink the timetable of your day –  maybe get married mid-afternoon, serve a delicious afternoon tea and then dinner in the evening. Or get married as late as possible and just have an evening affair. Serving your guests delicious food and drink is all a part being a good hostess and you don’t want to cut corners here.

Music?

That really depends on the structure of your day. You don’t have to have a string quartet or music playing during a drinks reception but it does create a party atmosphere. Music also fills in the gaps when you’re having your photographs taken or signing the register and can fill in any awkward silences that might occur.

Obviously if you’re having an evening event with dancing you’re going to have to have music – whether you opt for a DJ or a live band, or ideally both if your budget stretches. One thing we don’t recommend is that you create a playlist on your iPod, your wedding music is something you shouldn’t really DIY, it’s too much pressure.

Say Cheese..

Having a group photograph taken of your wedding day is another way that all guests can feel involved in your big day. Exercise your photographer’s creativity by arranging everybody in a giant love heart shape or the initials of the bride and groom. Gathering everybody together is a great icebreaker and a good way to get people talking to one another before dinner.

In fact, if you’re a good host and hostess you should make everybody feel part of your big day and not allow anybody to feel left out – that’s all part of entertaining.

 

 

A bit of a romance

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A little romance goes a long way. The very best weddings manage to incorporate small elements of romance and elegance without going overboard and still remaining cool!

Your wedding entertainment is crucial in setting the mood for your day so what acts in particular should you be looking at this year to create that warm, fuzzy feeling at your wedding?

Rat Pack Singers

You can celebrate in effortless style with a Rat Pack Singers and Bands. There is something suave and special about this era of music that brings a touch of class to your wedding. The tempo of the tracks are perfect for dancing to and often have a really romantic and personal touch – without going overboard on cheese.

Fire Performers

Make a change to the traditional end of night fireworks and heat things up during the evenings with live fire performers. The flickering flames and amber glow of the fire is inviting to say the least and is something completely unexpected for your guests. Create special moments and surprises for a memorable night.

Gospel Choir

If you’ve seen romantic comedy ‘Love Actually’ then you will know the impact a choir can make on your wedding. The sound of a choir is magnificent during weddings, especially during the ceremony where their grand voices can carry beautifully throughout your wedding venue. If you are in a large venue or a church then the acoustics will be absolutely perfect for this!

Wedding Harpist

If you are unsure about the acoustics of your venue then you can still create a romantic atmosphere with a live musician such as a Harpist. A solo musician like this is beautiful, personal and elegant. Not only that but the harp is an amazing looking instrument within itself. It stands tall and is hard to miss as the talented performer serenades both you and your guests.

Ballerinas

Enthralling snowflake ballerinas gliding across your dance floor with flawless choreography bring wonder and fascination from your guests. Live dancers are always unexpected at weddings and make for amazing photo opportunities. Top tip: Have them perform with you during your first dance to make the that moment even more romantic and memorable.

 

Interactive entertainment

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It can be difficult being invited to a wedding and not knowing many people there. If you’ve missed out on a plus one, you might be looking ahead to the big day with a sense of excitement but also a little apprehension. Will you be able to chat to anyone at all? In the hopes of ensuring that everybody at your wedding can ‘break the ice’, here are five interactive wedding entertainment ideas that guests will enjoy.

Retro Games

It used to be that if you liked computer games, you’d keep it to yourself for fear of being ‘geeky’. Games are very much in these days though with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and recently released Nintendo Switch proving to be extremely popular and why not tap into this love by hiring retro games for your wedding. A bit of fun at the wedding reception, having a Mario Kart tournament featuring your Auntie and colleague from accounts is sure to be one of the most surprising events of the evening! Not sure on going digital? How about booking Scalextric for a wedding instead?

Photo booth

One of the most popular additions to weddings in recent years, a photo booth brings people together like no other wedding entertainment can. Creating memories of your big day, guests will ordinarily be able to instantly print their photos and keep a copy for themselves whilst also sticking in another photo into an album that the bride and groom will be given after the wedding comes to an end. Photo booths often come with props for an extra dose of comedy and you’ll be even able to send yourself a digital copy as well. Marvellous!

Garden Games

If you are looking to plan a summer wedding, then you might be wanting to hold much of the big day outside in the sun. If this is the case, then after the ceremony and perhaps during the drinks reception, you might like to offer some garden games for your guests. Also able to be enjoyed after the wedding breakfast, games like  croquet or quoits roll back the years and ensure a level playing field from the ages of eight to eighty!

Ceilidh

When it comes to booking music for a wedding, you generally have two options – book a wedding band or book a DJ. But there’s actually a third option. Rather than booking a function band, you might like to book a Ceilidh instead! Similar to a barn dance, a Ceilidh band has an experienced caller who explains the dance moves to you ahead of time and ensures that all ages get involved. A fantastic option for your wedding entertainment.

 

Book great entertainment

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After your guests leave your wedding and have returned to their daily routine, they’ll remember two things about your special day: the interaction between you and your spouse-to-be, and the rockin’ band or DJ. Details like centrepieces, name cards, and dinner selections will trail far, far behind in the memory banks of your friends and family. That’s why you should look at all your options and carefully choose the most amazing wedding entertainment out there.

Tips for Booking the Best

When you’re searching for that perfect wedding entertainment, it’s important to do your homework. If you’ve never heard or seen their performance, you can do a little research to see what they offer. Reviews are always a great option as you can hear from some of their happy past clients. However, in some cases, reviews may not be available. If you’re interested in hiring a performer but you want to dig a little deeper to make sure they’re the perfect fit, then you should do the following:

 

  • View their website.
  • Look at their social profiles to see how they interact with fans and followers.
  • Have a contract with clear and precise terms.
  • If at all possible, go see a live performance.
  • Reach out to the entertainer to discuss their prior performance experience. They may be able to connect you with clients they’ve worked with for a referral.
  • Most importantly, you must trust and like who you are dealing with while negotiating the booking.

 

This is a very special day in your life, and like any milestone event, planning can get hectic. It’s wise to be prepared for last-minute hiccups and do everything you can to make sure the wedding entertainment is what you’ve always dreamed it would be.

 

The roaring 20’s

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The Roaring 20s are a big one. This decade is full of Big Band Jazz, Art Deco visuals, and intricately adorned ensembles. Here are some ideas for your 1920’s Wedding theme:

  • For a 1920s theme, a classic palette of black, white and gold is easy to achieve and truly timeless and elegant. For the bride, we love the look of a trumpet-style gown.
  • Bridesmaids can be styled in simple LBDs with the addition of headpieces or fascinators, and the groomsmen will look dashing in classic black tuxedos.
  • Champagne towers are making a comeback, especially in Roaring 20s-inspired celebrations. We adore the look of sophisticated black and white striped linens.
  • For brides preferring something a little more colourful, jewel tones are the way to go! Think of the rich shades of a peacock feather for inspiration.
  • ​With vintage ​wedding cars you can show up in style and use this classic as a prop in your wedding photos.
  • ​For wedding entertainment, try a unique performer like a Charlie Chaplin impersonator. With a comedic 20s era presence, Charlie can make your guests feel like they’ve travelled to a time of satire and silent films.
  • ​For your wedding photos, ask your wedding photographer about vintage overlay options for development. Your big day will be captured with a nostalgic 1920s look.

We wish you a happy marriage and roaring celebration!

 

Great wedding entertainment

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How many of those who have been married can remember each and every guest twenty years later? If only there was a way to remember… Well with our five fab entertainment ideas, there is!

Signed Jenga Blocks

Who doesn’t love a good game? You might be thinking of the classic board games like Monopoly, Cluedo and Connect 4 but between you and us, there are many better modern board games that have been invented since. Even so, nothing beats a game of Jenga played with blocks that have been individually signed by each and every person at your wedding. You’ll need a sharpie to write properly on the wood, but trust us when we say the idea of having your future children play with the wedding Jenga blocks and find out what people thought about their parents on their wedding day is truly magical.

Graffiti Table

Buying the happy couple a wedding gift on their wedding day is tradition. Aside from the usual things like plates, a corkscrew and err, a candy floss machine, happily married newlyweds often tend to chuck a few slightly more expensive items on the wedding list just in case. Well we can tell you now that a table doesn’t have to be there because, their brand new table can be signed by everybody in attendance on their wedding day!

Not sure if you want a table scrawled upon by all of your guests? Alternatively you could hire a graffiti wall and have the resulting scribbles condensed down into a cool one sheet poster for your lounge or bedroom wall.

Photo Booth Album

Photo booths are still tremendously popular at weddings. What’s not to love? In this modern world of sharing every aspect of our lives online, having numerous wedding photos taken with props seems like a hugely fun idea. The problem is that they may just end up on a random Facebook album, never surfacing ever again. You can change all that with photo booth photo albums! Your guests’ photos are printed out in mere seconds after they take their pictures, before they affix the photo into a book and write a meaningful message beneath it. Lovely.