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Let's get the Party Started

by Claire Bullivant

With such a vast choice of traditional and contemporary entertainment available for wedding receptions today, Your Wedding’s Claire Bullivant has selected a few of the best and some of the more unusual options available.

You are now husband and wife but you special day is far from over and choosing the right entertainment for you and your guests is essential to ensure your reception is one to be remembered for all the right reasons.

So once you know what kind of feel and atmosphere you want to create at your reception you can go on to choose various entertainment for different stages of the day. Remember your guests could arrive at the reception well before you and your new husband as photographs at the church and possibly in the reception venue can take a while. So as guests arrive at the venue, background music is a great idea so people can relax and talk while awaiting your arrival as a newly married couple.

A harpist, string quartet, jazz band, Rat Pack band or sole pianist will create a relaxing atmosphere for people to chat and mingle. Caricaturists or illusionists could be hired to tour the room and ice sculptures or chocolate fountains can be installed as interesting talking points and delicious displays.

At my own wedding, my father hired half of the local circus unbeknown to me. But I couldn’t have wished for anything better as we had clowns and jugglers doing tricks to everyone’s delight. It was spectacular and really got everyone into the party spirit!

Then to get the party started live bands can be hired to suit all tastes. Soul, jazz, Irish folk and Caribbean steel bands are just a few styles available. Salsa, Latin and line dancing instructors can even be employed to get the guests on their feet. Disco’s are the most popular choice to provide n excellent evening’s entertainment for young and old. If you don’t opt for a theme, 50s, 60s, 70s for example, popular songs you would like should be listed and checked with the DJ beforehand to ensure they are available and played.

Weddings are, of course, family occasions and it is important to keep all ages entertained – especially children. Magicians, balloon artists, clowns and bouncy castles will keep most little ones amused but even goodie bags containing colouring books and small toys are invaluable for keeping the occupied.

Then for the big kids, have you considered a fun casino? The pretend money could have your faces on and guests could try their hand a Black Jack, Poker or Roulette. Then perhaps afterwards a dramatic light or firework display is an excellent way to ensure your evening goes with a bang in a romantic and memorable fashion.

Once everything is in place all that is left for you to do is party the night away at the start of your journey together as man and wife. ‘Till death do you party!

Reception Check List

1. Before booking anything, check with your reception venue that it has a public entertainment licence and ask if it insists on using its own in-house DJ. Ask all the questions now before losing any deposits.

2. Try and see any entertainers before booking. Some bands will send you a CD or be featured on the web. Make sure you know what you’re booking.

3. With any entertainment it is best to book early and confirm in writing, checking arrangements are in place a few weeks before the wedding day.

4. Check what breaks performing acts require and what time they intend to leave if they are not paid hourly.

5. Ask advice from the professionals.

They are the experts and may have lots of ideas you haven’t thought of yet.