We’re getting ready to help a client with her entertainment tomorrow, as we kick-off our “Wedding Season” here in the desert. Her wedding vision included a “Big Band” feel with other special elements that we are excited to be a part of. It’s hard not to envision Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer, whenever the subject of “Wedding Entertainment” comes up. That movie did a pretty good job of stereotyping the typical “wedding band” of the 1980’s.
But it’s not the 1980’s anymore!
It’s been fun in this industry (corporate entertainment) to watch over the years as brides and wedding planners have really pushed the envelope of “Wedding Entertainment.” For the most part, our calls aren’t just for a band or just for a DJ anymore. A lot of proposals we have done have included exciting ancillary elements – the type of entertainment you think is just reserved for corporate entertainment events.
Whether it’s a couple’s or a wedding planner’s personal vision, a theme, or a venue driven decision, deciding to go “outside the box” for wedding entertainment can be a daunting task. Just like in corporate entertainment, wedding entertainment needs to consider the same elements: budget, audience, venue limitations, sizes, sounds, and “bang for your buck.”
Today traditional strings may be replaced with a cool Southwestern sound, guests may be greeted by Venetian dressed performers that guide them down the aisle to their seats, some brides have asked for Mariachis to walk the guests from the ceremony to a reception area. Other brides have asked for dance performers between meals and others have enjoyed a themed tribute band, like a cool 70’s group to entertain the crowd. We’ve even used The Rat Pack. There are even those calls we’ve had for only background music, but some type of “show” instead because the bride and groom don’t like to dance. There are those who have asked for cirque performers and fire dancers to entertain the crowd, as well. Other brides have been attentive to the age span of their guests and have asked for such things as caricature artists for younger guests to The Candyman and even Hollywood look-alikes for photo-ops for a more adult crowd. Others have asked for cigar rollers. We’ve even proposed Speed Painting done of the wedding couple during their reception.
Just like in corporate entertainment, wedding entertainment is a dynamic and ever evolving with endless possibilities of entertaining ideas.
But bride beware: just like in hiring for a private, corporate event, making sure you are working with professionals (in all aspects of a wedding) is a cornerstone to a successful event. Unlike a corporate event, of which one might plan many, this may be the only event of this caliber that a bride may ever plan. It’s paramount in making sure that the entertainment that is hired for such a special occasion is in line with what their vision is (and we don’t mean in line at the bar, or walking through the buffet line!) The entertainment should be of the same high quality of any performer tasked to perform in front of a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
So much has changed just in the last 10 years that we can’t wait to see where this industry takes us in the next 10 years.
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