Entertainment

Often the catalyst for great wedding is the soundtrack that punctuates it. Music establishes the ambience and enlivens the evnt. But it needs to be in harmony with the surroundings and style of the celebration; a one-man band on the terrace of a grand stately home for instance, might feel somewhat out of place. To entertain at a drinks reception, in addition to the usual string quartet or harp (give careful consideration to the latter because at larger weddings the sound can be lost among the noise) there are steel bands, jazz trios, barbershop quartets, solo pianists and a whole host of live musicians you can employ. For dancing there are cover bands, jazz bands, salsa and samba specialists, and ceilidhs or flamenco dancers to name a few ideas. There are of course also mobile DJ's who you can hire. If you've begun the event with live music you might want to consider it continuing through dinner, culminating with a big band who can ruin the atmosphere. Budget is likely to dictate your options. The more live music involved, the more it will cost because they all have to be paid. If music won't be live at the start of your celebration, you could explore what options are available at you venue for piped music via a sound system and build up to a band or DJ.

When hiring musicians alsways hear them first, preferably live, and ask for testimonials. Similarly with disc jockeys. If you are unale to secure a reccommendation for a musician or band, consider going to an agency. Most have a variety of acts and artists on their books and will select only those they think suitable for your event, saving you valuable time. You will be required to sign a contract; standard Musicians Union Contracts stipulate musicians must be paid before they perform. Remember that musicians need breaks, so consider what will happen when the music stops so that the atmosphere is not lost. Arrange for CD's to be played or for a disc jockey to entertain between sets once the dancing has begun. Many bands can provide their own DJ for a small aditional charge.

Bands and DJ's should carry-out a sound check before guests arrive. When booking, they'll usually suggest you provide them with a play list in advance which includes the first dance. Your guests' tastes in music will differ dramatically. Therefore, select a mixture of styles which will appeal to a variety of age groups. An idea to find out what the music tatstes of your guests are is to ask guests to indicate on your reply cards what their three favourite tunes are.Then compile a list for the the DJ around those songs. Give a live band your play list well in advance to see if they would be willing to perform some of your favourites. Don't assume popular nmbers are part of their standard repertoire.

Establish in writing exactly when musicians, entertainers and DJ's will arrive, who they'll liaise with at the venue, a dress code, what changing facilities they might require, what options there are between sets and whether they can provide a microphone for the speeches if required. If you have taken dancing lessons and learned to tango to wow your guests, ensure the band can strike the correct tempo. Also remember to give musicians and entertainers refreshments and arrange this with your venue or caterer in advance. During the reception ensure music is not so loud it is overpowering.

In addition to music, there is a whole host of entertainments you can provide for your guests: a close-up magician, mime artists, fire eaters, tightrope walkers, staffed casino tables, fortune telles, a cartoonist or artist to capture the event on paper, a bucking bronco and in good weather a bouncy castle, croquet or boules. Don't lose sight of the fact that you are planning a wedding celebration, not a corporate event. But do consider children, because you want to enjoy their presence and not worry what they are up to, so incorporate some child-friendly activity and entertainment.

To keep them busy during dinner and the speeches, make up children's fun activity bags (there are companieswho'll custom-make these for you). You could hire a clown, a face painter or a children entertainer. You could even section-off an area to provide you r younger guests with their own party and food away from the adults.

Ending an evening with a blast of fireworks is a guaranteed winner! Specialist companies can even set displays to music. If the weather is supect, provide rugs of space blankets for older guests.