Wow Your Guests: 14 Creative Wedding Entertainment Ideas

You booked your event venue in New Orleans, and now you’re looking for creative wedding entertainment ideas to keep the guests on their toes at the reception. The entertainment you choose should appeal to most guests and be meaningful to you and your partner. Consider the venue’s restrictions and other legalities when hiring entertainers for your wedding. Here are more fun wedding entertainment ideas.

Planning a New Orleans wedding? Elevate your celebration with these creative wedding entertainment ideas. From a vibrant Second Line Brass Band to a fun Dance-Off Competition, we’ve got you covered. Explore unique options that cater to all guests. Plus, find valuable tips on selecting the perfect entertainment for your venue and budget. Make your special day truly unforgettable with these wow-worthy wedding entertainment ideas.

14 Wedding Entertainment Ideas to Wow Your Guests

Second Line Brass Band

Give your wedding reception a taste of Mardi Gras with live performances from a second-line brass band.

The band can play throughout the reception, or you can book them as the final performers as the bride and groom exit the reception hall. Give the guests their decorative umbrellas and let them dance out of the building when the band plays its soulful tunes.

 

Surprise Family First Dance

Instead of you and your partner having the first dance to a slow song, surprise the guests with a choreographed dance routine that includes you, your partner, and extended family members. Choose an upbeat song the guests know and invite them to dance and sing along.

 

Glitter Station

Festival-themed weddings are lavish for a glitter station at the reception. For hours, guests can choose from various glitters and paint cute designs on their faces. Your makeup artist can also hang out at the glitter station and put whimsical makeup on guests.

 

Hot Chocolate Bar

A hot chocolate bar will be a hit with guests if you’re having a winter wedding. Supply guests with edible accessories such as marshmallows, cinnamon sticks, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and sugar. Stock the bar with desserts such as cookies, scones, and Smores.

 

String Quartet

String quartets add a classic and romantic touch to wedding receptions.

The string quartet can play both traditional classical songs and contemporary pop tunes, providing a neat balance between tradition and modern times. The instruments that string quartets usually play are violins, cellos, and violas. Give the quartet director a playlist of songs you want to hear a few months before the wedding.

 

Wedding DJ

You can’t go wrong with a wedding DJ since he’ll play songs that appeal to your guests.

 Before you hire the DJ, ask him how many years of experience he has and which types of music he specializes in. Discuss your wedding theme and the music you want at the reception. Ask him to demonstrate his skills to determine if his style matches yours. Get references from his former clients. 

 

Local Bands

Invite your favorite local bands to perform at your reception. Start by contacting the bands and discussing why you want them to perform at the reception. Tell the bands your wedding date and time. Meet with the bands in person and give them a playlist of the songs you want them to play. Discuss payment, how long the bands will perform, and other details. Let them know where the venue’s address is, and be sure to consider the venue’s guidelines for live performances.

 

DIY Dessert Station

Let the guests satisfy their sweet tooth with a DIY dessert station. One idea is to provide plain cupcakes, which the guests decorate with icing and sprinkles. You can also set up an ice cream sundae bar where guests apply their favorite toppings, such as caramel sauce, chocolate chips, and sliced fruits.

 

Video Booths

Set up a video booth where guests can do fun videos and let loose. Some guests may record stories of their favorite memories from the wedding, while others may do a video where they offer marriage advice to you and your partner. Then there are the guests who will be funny and show off their dance moves even if they’re corny.

 

Dance-Off Competition

Add some competition to your reception with a dance-off competition. Start with a contest between you and your partner, then let the bridesmaids compete with the groomsmen. Then you and your partner’s in-laws will have a contest, and some guests can join the fun.

 

Wedding Wheel of Fun

Are you looking for a unique aisle runner for your wedding?

Buy a spin wheel and let the guests spin it throughout the night. When a guest spins on a certain part of the wheel, he’ll have to do the activity listed on the wheel. Create interactive activities that will keep everyone happy during the reception.

 

Sketch Artists

Hire a sketch artist to draw fun pictures of you, your partner, and your guests. The guests will gladly receive personalized drawings of themselves; this is a fabulous keepsake from the event.

 

Wine Tasting Stations

Your guests can sample the latest wines at your reception. Hire a sommelier to stand at the wine-tasting station to answer guests’ questions and recommend certain wines for them to try. In addition to the wines, you can have assorted cold meats, crackers, cheeses, and small fruits.

 

Some Tips On Choosing Wedding Entertainment

You should choose wedding entertainment that you and your partner enjoy, but don’t forget about your guests. Some traveled from far away to celebrate your wedding, and you should think about what appeals to them. A wedding DJ is the best choice if most of your guests are in their 20s and 30s. A jazz band or string quartet is great if your guests are older. If kids will attend the reception, keep them entertained with age-appropriate activities. Consider your budget when choosing wedding entertainment. The size and restrictions of your venue also determine the kind of entertainment you have.

Four Columns is the place for you if you need a quality event venue in New Orleans. Our dazzling ballrooms provide an elegant atmosphere in which to enjoy your special day in style. We also offer onsite and off-site catering services with a mouthwatering and diverse menu selection your guests will love. These menu choices include jambalaya pasta, oyster Rockefeller, vegetable lasagna, turtle soup, Creole corn soup, and shrimp bisque.