Ask a Planner: How to choose your Wedding Entertainment

Photo by Arielle Doneson Photography

Ask anyone - entertainment is one of the most memorable parts of a wedding. From the romantic song that the bride makes her entrance to at the ceremony to the beats that keep guests on the dance floor all night long, entertainment is an integral part of a successful party. Below is our guide to how to choose the best entertainment for each portion of your day and where to save to stay on-budget. We hope this guide helps you decide where to splurge, where to save and the best choice for each part of your big day!

Ceremony Entertainment

The ceremony is simultaneously the most important and most overlooked part of most weddings. As it is usually no more than 30 to 45 minutes, clients often think they can or should skimp on the entertainment. We are here to tell you – don’t! Although the ceremony is short, it is also the real reason for entire day of celebration – your marriage! Additionally, the ceremony is your guests’ first taste of your event. Live musicians add formality and elegance to the moment. Plus, what is more romantic than being played down the aisle by a live harpist or violinist?

Cocktail Hour Entertainment

The cocktail hour is one of the most looked-forward to parts of a wedding. The marriage has taken place and it is time for the party to start! Cocktail hour is a great time to set the mood for the reception. A jazzy trio or classic pianist is a great way to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

If budget doesn’t allow for live music at both the ceremony and cocktail hour, this is a good area to save. You can absolutely pump in a playlist for this portion of the evening without detriment to the overall guest experience. However, make sure not to overdo it. Guests are usually eager to chat during this time so you will want to keep whatever entertainment you choose to a minimum!

Reception Entertainment

This is the big one! A typical reception is 4 hours long so whatever entertainment you choose needs to wow for the entire time. You have three main options when it comes to entertainment for your reception: a DJ, a hybrid, or a band.

A DJ is usually a single person who MC’s and mixes music for the entire party. This is a great option if you want to hear all songs exactly as they were recorded. It is also a great budget option as most DJ’s are a fraction of the cost of a band and need much less equipment, staging, and lighting.

A hybrid band is exactly as it sounds, a hybrid of a DJ and band. Hybrid bands are usually made up of a DJ using specialized tracks that allow live musicians to accompany him. This is a great middle ground option both in terms of cost and ability to have guest interaction with the musicians.

Finally, the holy grail of wedding entertainment, the live band. Live bands are certainly a luxury when it comes to weddings. Live wedding bands in New York and Boston generally cost upwards of $20,000 for a 4-hour performance. However, in our professional opinion, they are worth the investment! Bands keep guests engaged and on their feet the entire night. They are not only playing music but act as an entertainment showpiece for guests to look at and interact with throughout the night.

After Party Entertainment

If you are hoping for some more unique entertainment, this is the time. By this point in the evening (or early morning), most of the older guests have (presumably) gone home and the younger crown is ready to let loose! The After Party is the time for those sexy LED dancers or crazy light show you had your eye on. All the formality is done with so go wild!

Specialty Entertainment

Many of our clients ask about specialty performances during their wedding. We usually recommend choosing entertainment that has meaning to our couples. If the bride is a known Champagne connoisseur, a specialty server at cocktail hour will make sense. If the groom is from Mexico, a Mariachi performance will be sure to wow guests. Our recommendation when it comes to this is usually “less is more”. Guests want the opportunity to dance and mingle and will not want to be confined to their seats for long stretches of time. Pick a meaningful performance, schedule it for a time when guests are already seated, and then get everyone back on the dance floor!

Looking for an experienced wedding planner to help guide choices like your wedding entertainment? Brilliant Event Planning offers wedding planning services in NYC and Boston.