MANY BRIDES FIND that hiring an entertainer for when people are socialising helps conversation flow and increases the happiness factor. It's always difficult for the bride and groom to speak to everyone on the day (especially as you'll be dragged away for lots of photos!), so any form of entertainment you organise gives you some peace of mind too, as you know that people will be enjoying themselves. Check out our top five ways to keep guests entertained... below!
Oi, show us a bit a leg darlin'
Looking for something quirky? The fake paparazzi are certainly unique! They literally act like the paps, snapping away at your guests as they arrive. It not only makes your friends and family feel like they're VIPs working the red carpet, but also gives them a laugh and creates a spectacle too, especially as they're dressed like authentic press photographers. Well, authentic press photographers from the 60s really, which makes it even more of a laugh. www.mischieflabas.co.uk
Release those balls... sorry, birds
It's not everybody's cup of tea, but a white dove release is certainly a novel way to amuse guests after the ceremony. It's more about the symbolism and visual impact than actually entertaining people as such, but it will definitely be something different and something to talk about. This is a notion that's catching on fast in the world of weddings, with a few different companies offering the service.
On-screen loving
A video guest book is a brilliant way of entertaining your guests, and the best thing about it is that you get to take a lovely video of all their nice wishes home at the end of the night. Well, hopefully the drunken ramblings will be edited out by the time you get back from your honeymoon. The idea is simple; a video booth is set up at the venue and guests talk to the screen, taking it in turns to leave you a message. They'll start the day saying 'No way I'm going anywhere near that thing!' Then, sure as dads dance badly, after a few drinks they'll be fighting over who's next. www.guestwishes.com
Would you like some 'la la la' with that?
The singing waiters will confuse the guests, then delight them. There are different companies offering slightly different methods, but basically they start off blending in seamlessly with the real serving staff but soon start acting a bit weirdly. Before long they've broken out into full song. It's a fantastic performance that your guests will never forget. Why not keep it a secret from everyone and enjoy the look on mum's face when it all kicks off! www.freakmusic.co.uk
Here's one we played earlier
It's great if you can find room in your budget to hire some entertainers, but if not don't despair - there are plenty of ways to keep the happy vibes buzzing around with some home-grown entertainment. For instance, you could put together a little love-themed quiz and get each table to work together on the answers. Or if the venue's got a little area that's not being used, set up a games room with a Wii Fit, karaoke, giant Jenga and Connect Four, and whatever else you fancy. Once you start thinking about how to give people a laugh, the possibilities are endless!
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