Entertainment Other Than a DJ to Book for a Wedding

DJs are considered by many to be the bearers of good vibes and merriment at weddings, but there are other options if that’s not your thing! From live painting and casino games to magicians and fire breathers, your wedding reception can be far more varied and entertaining if you decide to get creative.

If you took a survey of all the couples planning a wedding right now, you’d quickly see that DJs are pretty much the go-to for reception entertainment. As Washington, D.C., area wedding planner Kristy Silva, owner of Weddings by Kristy, puts it, “A DJ can read the room and adjust accordingly to get people moving.”

However, just because it’s the status quo, that doesn’t mean hiring a DJ is your only option. You can think outside of the box, even beyond music, and discover plenty of alternatives that will make your reception uniquely you and give your guests something to talk about for years to come.

“If you’re not going to be dancing,” Silva says, “then you need to ask yourself, ‘Will my guests dance without me? Is that the crowd?’ You know your people. And if the answer is no, maybe you don’t need a DJ and can find something else instead.”

Here are 28 entertainment options other than a DJ to consider booking for your wedding.

Musical Entertainment for a Wedding That’s Not a DJ

If you don’t want a DJ at your wedding, but still want to include some form of dancing or music during the reception, alternative options include:

• A live band that specializes in your and your partner’s favorite music genre
• Live music that reflects your cultural heritage, from bagpipes to steel drums
• An elegant small ensemble or a string quartet
• A solo performer, like a pianist or harpist
• A silent disco (a great option if your venue has noise restrictions)
• Karaoke (if you’re brave enough)

“One of my favorites was a wedding where they did dueling pianos,” Silva says. “The piano players took requests. It was really fun.”

Whatever musical entertainment you book for your reception, be sure to discuss the vendors’ cancellation policies and insurance coverage before booking. Then, for extra backup, purchase wedding insurance that will help you recoup your costs if the entertainment act cancels at the last minute.

Unique Performers for a Wedding Reception

If you don’t really care about wedding reception music and dancing all that much, but you’d still like to entertain your guests while they’re dining, drinking, and mingling, consider one of these more unique options:

• A roaming magician
• A live painter, which also results in a super-cool memento after the painter’s work is done
• A caricaturist, so everyone gets a fun little piece of art to take home as their wedding favor
• Drag performers
• Traditional, cultural dancers
• Celebrity impersonators

“My sister is a circus performer, and at her wedding she had friends come and do circus acts,” Silva recalls. “You can hire people to do that. She spins fire and it would be hard to find a venue that would allow that, but they could spin other things, or do stilt walking.”

Interactive Guest Experiences at a Wedding Reception

Sometimes the best entertainment is an experience, rather than a performance that your guests have to sit and watch. If you want your guests up and moving, these experiential entertainment options are sure to please:

• A photo booth with plenty of fun props
• Gaming tables, whether you want to break out your favorite board games, rent actual casino games (and the necessary croupier), or bring in old-school arcade games like pinball machines
• Garden games for outdoor weddings, including badminton, croquet, and similar (the croquet could be a particularly nice option if your wedding has a Bridgerton-inspired vibe)
• Tarot and palm readings
• A build-your-own flower crown bar

A glitter bar or face-painting station is an increasingly popular option with, yes, adults, and one that’s perfect for a wedding with a fairy-tale or romantasy vibe. Silva just worked on a wedding with an artist painting faces — after the formal photos, of course. “I imagine it will make for really great photos at the end of the night,” she says, “rather than just a bunch of pictures of people dancing.”

Truly Unique and Out-of-the-Box Wedding Reception Entertainment Ideas

If it’s something truly unique and one-of-a-kind that you want, something that your guests have never seen at any wedding they’ve attended in the past, consider incorporating one of the following into your reception:

• A bouncy castle or inflatable obstacle course. Yes, adults can have them, too. Just make sure you have wedding liability insurance!
• Roaming decorative birds, such as peacocks, for outdoor spaces. Some couples have even managed to pull off having roaming penguins at their wedding, but that one might be slightly more difficult.
• A petting zoo — perfect for outdoor weddings, particularly if your venue is at a farm-style venue. You may find that this is particularly an option at venues that specialize in a certain type of friendly farm animals.

“We just had a wedding where there were two alpacas and a baby goat,” Silva says. “There’s a company here that rents out those two alpacas, who are very well-trained and very well-groomed. They’re so soft. For weddings, they dress them up as a bride with a veil and a groom in a little tux. It’s super cute.”

Before booking any unusual entertainment for your wedding, though, always be sure to check with your venue regarding their rules and restrictions.

Food and Drinks as Entertainment at Your Wedding Reception

If you and your honey are true foodies, then you may want to skip the stuffy sit-down dinner and make your wedding meal the entertainment of the evening. Consider experiences like:

• A mixologist-led, build-your-own cocktail bar
• An expert-led whiskey (or your other libation of choice) tasting bar
• A s’mores station (again, check your venue’s guidelines regarding open flames)
• A build-your-own pizza, burger, ice cream sundae, or mashed potato bar

You can also incorporate a living champagne wall into your décor. This is often set up to be a large wall covered in greenery; guests approach the wall, ring a bell, and then a gloved hand pops out, holding the guest’s glass of champagne.

What to Consider as You Pick Your Wedding Reception Entertainment

As you mull over your various options for your wedding reception entertainment, ask yourself a few key questions:

• How will this impact my budget?
  Some entertainment ideas, like board game tables, are going to be relatively affordable, while others may be much more expensive than the typical cost of hiring a DJ. However, some could also help you save money in other areas. If you hire a caricaturist, for example, this negates the need to purchase extra wedding favors, and if you make your dining the entertainment for the evening, you’re also combining two elements into one package.

• Does this reflect my and my fiancé’s personalities?
  While some of the above ideas may seem really cool and fun, they may be more over-the-top than actually representative of you and your fiancé’s personalities and love story. Go with an entertainment option that fits who you are, versus one that’ll just impress your guests.

• What are my venue’s rules?
  Lastly, before booking any entertainment that might be outside the norm, check with your venue. Many venues have rules against things like open flames and live animals.

Protect Your Wedding Reception with Comprehensive Wedding Insurance

Opting for unique wedding entertainment can make your big day more memorable, but it also comes with some risks. You can mitigate these with the proper wedding insurance.

Wedding liability insurance keeps you and your venue from being financially liable in the event of personal injury or property damage occurring over the course of your wedding day. Meanwhile, wedding cancellation insurance allows you to recoup your nonrefundable deposits if you need to cancel your event or if a wedding vendor cancels on you.

Policies start at just $125. Get your quick and easy online wedding insurance quote now.

Wedding Entertainment FAQs

What can you do for music at a wedding instead of a DJ?

Instead of a DJ, consider a band or solo performer, a previously recorded playlist if you’re on a budget, or a silent disco/karaoke if you’re looking for something more unique.

How can I make my wedding reception interactive?

Give guests something fun to do beyond just dining, drinking, and dancing. Rent a photo booth. Let them interact with performers. Offer games or build-your-own drinks, food, and craft stations.

How much does wedding entertainment cost?

For more typical wedding entertainment options, like a DJ or live band, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000, depending on factors such as the length of your reception, location, time of year, and wedding size.

What are some cheap wedding entertainment ideas?

If a DJ isn’t quite in the budget, consider using a prerecorded playlist and incorporating lawn or board games into your reception.

How long should the DJ play at the wedding?

A DJ will typically provide music all throughout the cocktail hour and reception, from light background music to the actual dancing. You can expect them to be there for around five to six hours.

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