Planning a wedding is a whirlwind of emotions, bursting with both excitement and, let’s be honest, a touch of financial anxiety. Especially when it comes to entertainment, that “wow factor” can seem locked behind a hefty price tag. We at Encore help thousands of couples book their wedding entertainment each year, and we have a list of entertainers in the UK below to suit every budget. Let’s dive in!
Free – Low Budget Wedding Entertainment Ideas and Entertainers in the UK
Budget weddings don’t have to feel cheap. Here’s a list of great, free and low-cost wedding entertainment ideas to keep the wedding spirit alive:
- Glitter Bar: Add a touch of sparkle and glamour to your guests! A glitter bar offers an interactive activity where everyone can personalise their look with playful designs. Imagine groomsmen with shimmering beards and bridesmaids sporting glittery eyebrows – perfect for creating Insta-worthy photos.
- Themed Photo Booth: Decorate a corner with props and backdrops based on your wedding theme and let guests capture fun memories.
- Bonfire & Stargazing: If your venue allows, gather around a bonfire with cosy blankets and marshmallows, or organise a guided stargazing session with downloaded apps or information sheets.
- Mr & Mrs Game: Get the guests involved by encouraging them to guess the answers with interactive elements like voting cards or trivia rounds. Offer prizes if you really want to spice up the competition.
- Karaoke Extravaganza: Rent a karaoke machine and let loose! Encourage guests to belt out their favourite tunes, creating a fun and engaging experience for everyone. Consider themed song books or even costume contests for added entertainment.
- Garden Games: Set up Giant Jenga, board games, or outdoor games like frisbee and badminton. Garden games are a lighthearted way to get your family members and friends to get in touch with their inner child and will be even more fun after the drinks reception.
Under £100 Wedding Entertainment Ideas and Entertainers in the UK
For those looking to keep their wedding entertainer spend under £100, here’s a list of great wedding entertainer ideas we highly recommend:
- Wedding-Themed Piñata: Skip the traditional wedding cake cutting and surprise your guests with a wedding-themed piñata! The piñata smash is guaranteed to get everyone laughing and cheering, providing fantastic photo opportunities of your friends and family. Watch the tutorial above to see how you can DIY one to keep costs down.
- Afternoon Tea: Ditch a typical drinks reception and host an afternoon tea. Imagine dainty finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and elegant china setting the scene for a charming and refined experience.
- Caricaturist or Sketch Artist: Capture the laughter with live caricatures or artistic sketches of your wedding guests as mementoes.
- Balloon Artists: Let a balloon artist create whimsical balloon creatures and decorations for the little ones and add a playful touch to the atmosphere.
- Themed Cocktail Bar: Depending on the size of your wedding, a DIY cocktail bar could be budgeted to under £100. Set up a self-service station with basic liquors and mixers, creating signature cocktails inspired by your wedding theme or the names of your loved ones.
- Tarot Card or Palm Reader: For spiritual couples, inviting a tarot card or palm reader to your wedding to read your fortune can make a fun, engaging form of entertainment that incorporates your beliefs.
- Magician or Mentalist: Hire a local magician or mentalist to wow your guests with sleight-of-hand tricks or mind-reading magic.
Under £250 Wedding Entertainment Ideas and Entertainers in the UK
If you have a budget of around £250, you might want to consider some of these wedding entertainers to keep your guests happy:
- Live Acoustic Duo: Hire a talented acoustic duo to play stripped back versions of popular songs or your favourite music genres.
- Silent Disco: Rent silent disco headphones and provide different music channels for guests to dance to their own tunes.
- Casino Night: Rent equipment for a mini-casino with poker chips and play money, setting up fun games like blackjack or roulette.
- Harpist: While not as common as other musical options, harpists are a beautiful addition to any wedding. The harp’s gentle, otherworldly sound creates an atmosphere of ethereal beauty and serenity, making your special day truly unforgettable.
- Belly dancers: Add a touch of cultural flair with captivating dance performances from professional belly dancers and let their vibrant costumes and mesmerising rhythm captivate your guests.
- Face Painters: If you have children attending your wedding, face painting is a guaranteed hit. It keeps them entertained while adding a colourful and playful element to your big day.
- Singing waiters: Singing waiters are becoming an increasingly popular type of wedding entertainment because they offer a surprise element and engage your guests. They are perfect for wedding dinners to break up the wait between courses.
Under £500 Wedding Entertainment Ideas and Entertainers in the UK
For under £500, there are plenty of options for couples looking for wedding entertainers. See below for some great recommendations:
- DJ: Amp up the energy with a DJ who takes requests and personalises the music throughout the night. They can weave in games, and announcements, and even create a custom playlist for your first dance.
- String Trio: An affordable alternative to the classic string quartet, the classical sounds of a string trio (typically a violin, viola, and cello) exude timeless elegance and sophistication, elevating your wedding ceremony and reception.
- Fire dancers: Light up the night with mesmerising fire dancers who are guaranteed to leave your guests speechless.
- Personalised Wedding Song: Surprise your partner with a custom-written song by a professional songwriter. This unique and heartfelt gift will make your first dance truly special.
- Mini Golf Course: If your venue allows, a mini-golf course is a wonderful option for an outdoor wedding. It’s a refreshing break from the dance floor and a chance for guests to get some fresh air and enjoy the surroundings.
Under £1,000 Wedding Entertainment Ideas and Entertainers in the UK
Here are some brilliant wedding entertainment ideas for under a grand:
- Food Truck: Treat your guests to a late-night surprise with a mobile food truck serving delicious snacks or bites after the dance floor closes.
- Live Painting: Commission a talented artist to capture your wedding scene in real time, creating a mesmerising piece of art that tells the story of your special day. Imagine the brushstrokes capturing your first dance or the joy on your guests’ faces.
- Jazz Trio: Compared to larger bands, jazz trios are often more affordable but still produce a great sound, making them a good option for couples on a tight budget.
- Ceilidh Bands: For guests who don’t know each other, ceilidh dancing can be a great icebreaker. It provides a fun and lighthearted way to start conversations. As with all bands, the fewer band members you hire, the cheaper it will be so if you hire a local Ceilidh band, it’s possible to keep it under a grand.
£1,000+ Wedding Entertainment Ideas and Entertainers in the UK
If you’re more flexible with your budget and would like to push the boat out to make your wedding day memorable, consider some of the fantastic ideas below:
- Aerial Performers: Elevate the atmosphere with gravity-defying aerial acrobatics. Imagine silk dancers spinning high above the dance floor, creating a breathtaking spectacle that will leave your guests speechless.
- Fireworks Extravaganza: Light up the night sky with a dazzling fireworks display. Create a grand finale to your wedding celebration with a choreographed explosion of colours and light, leaving your guests with a truly unforgettable memory.
- Roaming Band: Roaming bands are popular due to their engaging performances and versatility. Whether you’re having a large outdoor wedding or a smaller indoor reception, a roaming band can easily navigate the space and deliver their music effectively, adjusting their volume and performance style to suit the environment.
- Wedding Band: Go big with a full-fledged live music wedding band playing covers, originals, or a mix of both. Choose a musical style that complements your tastes as a couple and get ready for an all-night dance party.
- Mariachi Band: Mariachi bands bring a vibrant energy and infectious sense of fun to your wedding. The lively rhythms, passionate vocals, and vibrant costumes guarantee everyone will be up and dancing.
Expert tips for booking affordable wedding entertainment:
At Encore, we provide entertainment for around 8,000 weddings each year and as such, we are well-versed in the most cost-effective ways to cut down on one of the more expensive aspects of a wedding. Please see below some top cost-cutting tips for booking your wedding musician from our experts.
- Timing: In general, couples reserve musicians for their wedding seven and a half months in advance. However, if your big day falls on a Saturday during peak season, you should book your musicians at least nine months ahead.
- Try to book local musicians: Booking local musicians has loads of advantages. You’ll save money on travel fees, the musicians will be more refreshed from having a shorter commute and the musicians may have played at the venue before, meaning they’ll know how to maximise the acoustics.
- Book a multi-talented band: Look for a band with singers who also play instruments. A trio consisting of a singer, bassist, and drummer, for example, will sound almost identical to a four-piece band consisting of two singers, a guitarist, bassist, and drummer
- Book one band that can provide multiple line-up options throughout the day: On the same note, many bands can perform as a complete band for the evening celebration but then play as acoustic soloists and duos for the ceremony or cocktail hour. This helps save money but reduces the stress of hiring multiple musicians.
- Don’t hire amateur or student musicians: Hiring cheap musicians for weddings is not recommended as it can completely ruin the atmosphere of the day. Professional musicians have experience, and confidence, and can adjust their performance to ensure the best experience for all guests. Amateurs or students are inexperienced and may have not practised together or in front of a crowd before. Don’t risk your months (or years) of planning your special day, only to be confronted with squeaky tunings and an out-of-tune performance.
For more tips, read our full guide “How to Save Money when Booking Musicians on a Budget: 7 Tips and Tricks” here.
Final thoughts
With these affordable entertainment ideas, your wedding doesn’t have to be defined by its budget. There are many creative and fun solutions to a tight budget that don’t compromise on the fun. And remember, if you’re having fun on your big day, your guests will have fun too so don’t worry too much and enjoy!
For more information, check out our blog to see how much an average wedding in the UK costs in 2024 or to see how much you can maximise your savings when booking a wedding entertainer, see our full guide here.
And click here to browse through some of our amazing wedding entertainers in the UK.