Live entertainment doesn’t have to be an enormous expense. There are plenty of entertainment options for smaller weddings that’ll fit in with your theme and won’t overwhelm the occasion. Steven Robertson at Entertainment Nation shares his expert knowledge of the best entertainment ideas for small weddings.
We’ve helped plan (and performed at) weddings of all varieties, and in our experience, the key to a successful wedding isn’t how big and outrageous you can make it, but whether it’s been planned with love and care. Join us as we take you through just a few of the acts that could make your small wedding super special.
Acoustic Duo
Thanks to Ed Sheeran, people have come to realise that an acoustic guitar and a good song are all you really need to entertain an audience. Acoustic duos come in various permutations, but generally feature one or two acoustic guitarists combined with vocals. A versatile option, an acoustic duo can perform throughout your big day: as you walk down the aisle, as you sign the register, during your afternoon reception and on into the evening. Just like Ed, some acts will make use of loop pedals to really fill out their sound as they lead you and your party in a good old-fashioned sing-along.
Rat Pack Wedding Singer
A sophisticated addition to your evening reception, you and your guests can enjoy an evening with a swing singer in the style of Frank Sinatra or Michael Bublé. Smooth and charismatic, these charming crooners perform to professionally recorded backing tracks for an unforgettable night of entertainment. Perfect in an intimate setting, Rat Pack wedding singers eschew all the fancy bells and whistles, all they need is a mic and an audience to show off their talents.
Trio with Backing Track
If a full 5-piece band would look out of place in the cosy surroundings of your venue, then why not consider hiring a pop and rock or soul and Motown trio? Consisting of core instruments like guitar, bass, drums and/or sax and vocals, a trio complement and enhance their performance with the use of studio-recorded backing tracks, giving you that authentic live band experience, while avoiding your venue being dominated by a huge band and all their equipment.
If you do fall in love with a larger band, then have a chat with them to see if they’re willing to perform with a reduced line-up. An added bonus of persuading a band to reduce their line-up is that fewer members means a smaller fee!
Wedding DJ
Maybe you don’t want a live music act at all, in which case a wedding DJ could be just the solution. DJs will be able to work with you to curate your perfect wedding reception playlist to ensure all your favourite tunes get played, keeping the floor full until the early hours. A good DJ can also quickly adapt to what is happening on the night – if the floor is full, they’ll keep giving the crowd what they want, if things start to get quiet, they’ll mix things up to lift the mood again. Even if your venue lacks sound and lighting equipment, a DJ will bring along all the kit necessary to put on a professional standard disco.
Pianist
A pianist can fill your big day with whatever style of music takes your fancy. Just like acoustic duos, pianists are adaptable performers who can provide music for all parts of your day. Whether you want to evoke a laid-back atmosphere with some lounge music or go full Great Balls of Fire, a pianist is a fantastic choice no matter the size of your wedding. Every pianist will offer a wildly different repertoire, so be sure to do some research to find one that plays the styles of music you desire.
DJ and Live Musicians
Get the best of both worlds and hire a DJ accompanied by live musicians. These acts are hugely popular right now, bringing a sunny, Mediterranean vibe to proceedings. Just imagine your reception erupting as the DJ spins blissed-out Ibiza tunes while accompanied by a percussionist to bring a pulsating heartbeat and a saxophonist blasting out huge floor-filling melodies. By hiring a DJ and live musician combination act, you get all the benefits of booking a DJ, as well as the unrivalled spectacle of a performance from live musicians.
Entertainment Nation
No matter the scale of your wedding, there are heaps of entertainment options for you to choose from. If you need any wedding entertainment planning advice, the Entertainment Nation team are always happy to help and offer suggestions to help you achieve the wedding day you’ve always dreamed of.
For more wedding entertainment ideas please visit Entertainment Nation.
