Ultimate Wedding Entertainment Guide and Ideas

Budgeting for any event is a matter of priorities. What is most important to you? You could, for example, spend 50% of your budget on the cake, and if that's what will bring you the most joy on the day then who should stop you? However, I would suggest that for most couples the big costs will be the venue and the catering.

The budget for entertainment is usually between 10 - 15% of the total wedding spend, but I would recommend that this is closer to 15% or more. In a recent survey, 1,000 couples were asked what they would change about their wedding and guess what 78% of couples wished they had spent more on the entertainment.

After all, long after the final champagne flute has been sunk, what will you want remember most about your day? Will it be where you were (the venue), what it looked like (the decorations), what you were wearing (the outfits) - yes, probably all of those things! But also, the memories you made while celebrating with your friends and family. That's what entertainment brings to your day. The chance to relax, celebrate and enjoy spending time with those closest to you.

In short, I can't give you a figure for how much you should spend on entertainment, but what I can say is that I strongly recommend you consider spending a little more in order to get exactly what you want, rather than spending less and it not meeting your expectations.

A quick side note on agencies. While they can be a benefit in that they will have access to many wedding entertainers. As they charge a commission fee, you are most likely paying more if you book through an entertainment agency, rather than going direct.

1. Read through this article and decide on what type of entertainment you are looking for and where you see it fitting in. What are your priorities? When do you want to add in entertainment to your day (where are the quiet periods)? If you're still not sure, that's OK. An experienced entertainer will be able to guide you with just a few quick questions.

Need even more suggestions? Why not have a look at this article with 110 wedding entertainment ideas.

2. Find your wedding entertainment. If you have a recommendation for supplier, then that's a good place to start. If not, then search for wedding entertainment online and look for a few suppliers that appeal to you. The secret is to look for evidence of their experience. Are there photos and videos from previous weddings? Not just pictures shot in a studio. Do they have any reviews?

3. Get in touch. I would suggest choosing two or three from each type that you like the look of rather than trying to message ten or more. It's also a great idea to speak on the phone. The best wedding suppliers are the ones that feel like your friends, so speaking to them on the phone, or via a video call is a great way to get an instant idea about the personality of the person you are considering hiring.

5. Don't just choose your suppliers by who is cheapest. A professional wedding supplier brings a wealth of experience to your event. In contrast, a cheaper supplier is often just starting out (or cutting corners). That's probably not what you want for your big day. Of course, weddings can be expensive, and you want to get great value, but just remember that paying a little more to get someone who can do the job is better than paying less for someone who can't.

6. Organise the final details. The supplier you choose will tell you the details they need in order to book you in. After that, it's simply a case of paying the deposit and waiting for the big day.