By Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting, Richmond, Va.
A mind-blowing truth in wedding planning is that entertainment is often undervalued and misunderstood. Anyone who has ever watched guests dance the night away on a packed dance floor and had to convince partiers that the event must end knows the power of amazing entertainment. Yet, couples spend too little time considering their options and wait far too long before securing contracts with preferred providers. They fail to properly prioritize entertainment among their many wedding needs, and are unfamiliar with the range of services available today.Even savvy professional planners may not realize all that is now possible, inadvertently missing out on some of the best possible opportunities to engage the crowd. Planners must work harder than ever to match their clients with the vendors they deserve and stay abreast of the latest in wedding entertainment trends. It’s time to think beyond the standard “Grand Entrance” and traditional first dances, and take your couples’ wedding entertainment to a whole new level!Keep an eye out for what’s newOffering clients top-of-the-line advice starts with knowing what is hot in wedding entertainment. According to Peter Merry, owner of Texas-based Merry Weddings, and author of The Best Wedding Reception…Ever!, many couples are “doing sketches or choreographed dance routines in hopes of becoming the next YouTube viral video sensations." Liz Daley, owner of Liz Daley Events and president of WED Guild®, a source for top national and international wedding entertainers, sees more couples adding “personal tidbits during the Grand Entrance to add more excitement and fun.” There is also a resurgence of unique musical acts such as bagpipes or blue grass bands.Mitch Taylor of Taylored Weddings in Gladstone, Mich., finds brides are more technology driven and “showcasing footage of their proposal or special wedding party video introductions.” Technology can enhance sentimentality as well, as in the case of Taylor’s couple that videotaped a grandmother giving the blessing just before she passed away, because the groom couldn’t fathom getting married without her.Glenn Mackay of G&M DJ’s in Australia says that “couples are utilizing more than just music for their entertainment, as many choose to enhance the night with light and special effects. Various lighting options can also be used to enhance certain aspects of a wedding celebration, such as highlighting a particular space or feature in the room.” Many entertainers have noticed that more clients are choosing to combine the talents of a great DJ with live musicians to liven up later parts of the party. You might even “see a drummer, guitarist or saxophonist playing in sync with the DJ to spice things up a bit,” says Mackay.Know what not to doAlmost as important as what is “in,” of course, is what’s "out." “Stuffy” events with dated formalities take a backseat to personalized celebrations focused on fun and sentiment. “My couples want the traditions and ceremonies at their celebration to have purpose and meaning,” says Mike Anderson of Mike Anderson Weddings in Minneapolis. “The garter toss, bouquet toss, and dollar dance are all regularly shunned.”Follow best practices in selecting entertainmentA great entertainer is a hot commodity, and couples should make a priority of locating and contracting with theirs early in the planning process. They should also carefully consider how their budget reflects their priorities. “If having a fun and memorable wedding reception is a priority to you, then you should seriously consider setting aside at least 10 to 20 percent of your overall budget for entertainment,” says Daley.Merry reminds planners to screen prospective entertainers thoroughly. “Do not hire anyone to serve as Master of Ceremonies without first demanding to see uncut video footage of the way they perform their duties on the microphone at a wedding. This prevents couples from getting stuck with someone who uses a ‘cheesy’ DJ voice to make generic, impersonal announcements at the wedding reception. Remember, you want somebody with talent, so don’t be afraid to ask him or her to audition.”Be the number one resourceYou can be your clients’ very best source of top-notch entertainment. “The easiest way is by developing relationships with the best wedding entertainers in your region,” says Merry. Daley agrees, adding, “Don’t be afraid of researching ‘outside’ your market to keep on top of what is new and exciting. Look to the innovative markets like New York and California, and see what they are doing. Follow the blogs and video diaries of wedding entertainment leaders.” The time you spend searching for the best and brightest will pay off in smiles and squeals of glee from your outrageously happy newlyweds as they dance the night away.