Article on wedding day entertainment for The White Pages magazine.

1. FeaTure
ThaT’s
Entertainment
Your entertainment should be your pièce de
résistance, the final hurrah of your wedding.
From the reception staples to the wedding
wow factor, Laura Bury helps you find the
perfect entertainment for your big day.
182 The WhiTe pages

2. FeaTure
let’s dAnCe
dancing is synonymous with weddings.
unfortunately (well, fortunately if it’s not
you and it’s been captured on video) a
lot of the time people who truly believe
they’re dancing like michael Jackson are
actually dancing like michael moore. so
tell them to kick off their dancing shoes
and leave it up to the professionals.
you can relive your childhood by
hiring an irish dance troop – it’ll let
you reminisce over all those medals
won at the feis ceoil. There are plenty
of fantastic groups available for
weddings, like celtic rhythm (www.
celticrhythmdancers.com). The sets
vary from group to group but most
last approximately 30 minutes and
include crowd participation. This will
cost approximately €550 depending on
the location, but you’ll be guaranteed
T
that guests will be dancing The Walls of
he food has been polished There are a huge range of wedding band limerick long after the troop has left.
off and the speeches have genres, from jazz and swing to indie and if you want something a little more
been given. your dad even madness tribute bands. although it inventive, sign up dancers that will make
has finished regaling the is your wedding and you should choose your parents wish they grew up with the
reception with embarrassing something that you are happy with, do mTv generation. stiletto creative (www.
tales of your youth, while the best man remember your guests – if 20 per cent stilettocreative.ie) organise all kinds of
has managed to embarrass the entire of your guests are at retirement age, you show-stopping dancers for weddings,
room by telling the guests, and you, don’t want them to have to sit through including belly dancers, salsa dancers,
what your groom was really like before The killers all night; after all, aunt mary cheerleaders and breakdancers.
he met you. so what’s next on your and co are usually the first ones on the
wedding agenda? dancefloor. This is not a cheap option sAy hello to the CirCus
and will set you back about €1,500, with britney is still as influential as ever, and
thAnk you for the musiC a dJ weighing in at approximately €500. although we wouldn’t advise you to go
music is always a crowd pleaser and can if you want to avoid that cost then near ‘that’ haircut for your big day, you
really set the mood for the evening. if there is an alternative. you can purchase can always emulate her latest show with
your wedding is a laid back affair you a good quality mp3 player with a large a little circus of your own.
could have some light music, like reggae memory and make a playlist for your
or soul, pumped through the speakers wedding. This gives you the added
of the venue, while if you’re looking bonus of picking every single song you
for the big white wedding, a harpist or want played... of course the downside is
a pianist may suit. niamh Francis, an you’ll have to pick and download ever
accomplished pianist who caters for single song you want played! once you’ve
weddings (www.niamhfrancis.com) says chosen your songs, check that your venue
the average rate for a pianist to play at a has a pa system, and if not you can rent
reception would be €200 for two hours. one quite cheaply. a word of warning
“This of course can vary from musician though: bring a charger and make sure
to musician, as a highly experienced you keep the mp3 player out of reach of
professional may charge more and a children and inebriated guests…!
young student musician may charge less;
but it would be no less than €150 and tip: Most prices are up
rarely more than €200.” for negotiation, so don’t
The most popular choice for a
wedding reception is a band followed
be afraid to haggle if you
by a dJ. a wedding band may conjure really want something
up images of The Wedding Singer, but that seems a bit out of
rest assured this is no longer the case. your price range
The WhiTe pages 183

3. FeaTure
tip: No matter what you don’t have to be in las vegas to lAsting impressions
entertainment you source, feel like you’re a part of cirque du soleil. if a picture says a thousand words, then
stiletto creative, arcana and galaxy why not put together your very own
ensure you have a contract entertainments (www.galaxygroup.ie) wedding day ulysses? make your guests
drawn up in case you need all provide a wide range of performance your personal photographers. buy a
to refer back to it artists. remember, you don’t have to disposable camera for each table and
have the entire circus at your wedding; watch the memories flow in. and of
ireland has it’s very own simply source one or two options to suit course if you develop the pictures and
professional artistic performance your budget. there are ones that should never see the
scene and you can be the ringleader light of day, you can simply destroy the
of it all with the varied selection of the best mediCine evidence! disposable cameras can be
entertainment available – from fire- you know people are happy and relaxed purchased from as little as €3 and are
breathers and jugglers to stilt-walkers, when they’re laughing. a great way to available in a wide range of stores across
contortionists and acrobalance break the ice between all your relatives ireland, including boots and penneys.
performers. “our most popular and friends is to hire a comedian. it another novel way to capture the
package for weddings is a drumming will ensure that your guests are wholly moment is to hire a caricaturist. The
performance on stage with three to entertained so you and your husband portraits drawn could even be given as
five drummers that lasts for about can just sit back, relax and enjoy the a departing gift for guests or as a perfect
six minutes and is very high energy,” show. dependent on your budget, you wedding favour – leaving you safe in
explains Johnny donnelly of arcana. can even hire top comedians like Joe the knowledge that they’ll always
They provide a one-stop shop for rooney. it will certainly give all your remember your wedding. check
creative services and can provide guests a talking point. audio networks out www.entertainers.ie for more
a samba drum and fire-breathing have a great range of comedians available information on their caricature service.
performance for around €970 plus vaT. for hire (www.audionetworks.ie). photobooth hire is a relatively new
concept to ireland but is going down a
storm at weddings. you can get booths
in various styles so you can choose
one that will work in your venue. your
guests enter the booth and the shots are
printed as they’re taken, so your guests
can walk away with their photos straight
away. With this service you also get a
personalised online gallery of all images
so you can see exactly what went on! you
can even opt for a hardback album of your
favourite pictures of the night. This service
will set you back just over €900 and travel
kiddies’ Corner video games – The Wii was a charges are added if your wedding is
s
o now you’ve got the adults wonderful invention and it’s kept outside the greater dublin area. visit
looked after, how do you many an adult happy for many www.photobooth.ie for more information.
cater for the kids? an hour. This is no less true for
children have bundles of energy children. if your venue has a big CAsino royAle
and seem to have even more on a screen, rent or borrow a Wii and Think 007 and opt for a casino theme.
big day out. here are some ways to some high energy games, such as This can provide a highly energised
keep them entertained. singstar, rock revolution or Wii and entertaining evening. you can hire
source a wedding crèche – ireland Fit. it’s an inexpensive way to keep blackjack tables, roulette wheels and, of
has caught up with the times and them entertained for hours. course, croupiers to man them. Just be
there are now wedding crèches hire a children’s entertainer – an sure to let your guests know that it’s not
that will come to your venue and easily sourced and very effective real money, before they think they’ve
entertain the children, leaving you option, an entertainer will certainly become a millionaire and call their boss
and your parent guests to enjoy a keep the kiddies happy. They range to let him know where to put his job!
day off. companies like The from magicians to punch and Judy Whatever entertainment you decide on,
Wedding crèche and little Wedding shows, face painters and balloon remember that it’s your day so make sure
crèchers have plenty of activities modellers. really grand events you’re completely happy with your choices
to keep the little ones entertained, (www.reallygrandevents.com) and everything is planned well in advance
whether it’s during the dinner or provide a magician and balloon – so all that’s left to do on the big day is
the dancing. modelling service that starts at €200. rest easy and enjoy every minute!
184 The WhiTe pages