WE LOVE TO BOOGIE

ENTERTAINMENT WE LOVE to boogie22 ideas for keeping your wedding guests entertained in 2022!

1PHOTO BOOTH From standard photo booths, to selfie mirrors and even boomerang booths the wedding market well and truly has it covered when it comes to letting guests in on the photography action. All provide prints for loved ones to take home and treasure and many offer guest books so you can get copies to laugh about later too! You can even hire a photo booth housed in a retro VW Campervan for a super-cool vintage vibe. Check out www.retrovwhire.co.uk

Getty Images 2 GARDEN GAMES What could be better to entertain wedding guests on a balmy summer’s day than a selection of garden games? Ideal to spread out on the lawn as your loved ones mingle and sip on reception drinks – think quiots, giant Jenga, boules, giant Connect 4, croquet, we could go on... Check out https://whitstableweddinggames.co.uk

3MINI GOLF Mini golf is a British institution and heaps of fun to boot. Sure to delight nearest and dearest of all ages, you can even enjoy wedding-themed obstacles. You could even set up a leaderboard for the day – who doesn’t love a bit of healthy competition? Check out www.crazygolf4u.co.uk

4FIREWORKS Folkestone-based AJ Pyrotechnics was born from a love of fireworks, so the team who create the displays are naturally a passionate bunch. The business offers individually designed firework displays for weddings around your own requirements, featuring fantastic effects and innovative elements including coordinating colour schemes, low noise, hearts and bespoke firework signs.

Wedding packages give you and your guests a high impact display using only the best professional materials. The bronze, silver and gold options last for a maximum of 10 minutes and have been put together to suit most budgets. For further information, head over to www.ajpyrotechnics.co.uk

Image courtesy of Matty Evans Magic 5 DJ From DJ to dancefloor 20-20 Sounds has you covered! This is a company that prefers to put you in the driving seat and will talk to you openly and honestly, answering every one of your questions and using a wealth of expertise to make you feel at ease.

The DJ package includes a state-of-the-art light show and incredible sound system. Meanwhile, hire of the white LED dancefloor allows you to step into Tony Manero’s disco shoes for the evening as you strut your stuff in style! With a pure white gloss finish and dazzling star lights, it’s bound to impress.

Check out www.20-20sounds.com

6MAGICIAN Renowned for being one of the UK’s top magicians, Matty Evans has added a new string to his bow with an additional wedding-day service as Your Magical Host. A contemporary twist on the traditional toastmaster, he’ll also bring his blend of comedy, magic and mind-reading to the proceedings.

Matty tells us, “I’ll welcome your guests and get the buzz going from the start, getting everyone chatting and laughing instead of just waiting around. I’ll guide everyone to where they need to be, entertain at any slow points and make all the key announcements.” As a seasoned entertainer, Matty has spent years performing the length and breath of the country, has appeared at hundreds of weddings and won multiple wedding awards. He knows exactly what it takes to keep things running smoothly and on time, as well as supplying you with memorable entertainment.

For more information, including full details of the new Half-Day, and Full-Day Host & Entertainment packages, check out www.mattyevansmagic.co.uk/weddings

Matty’s top tip “Take your time. Don’t be rushed into booking any wedding supplier. What others recommend might not be the perfect fit for you. I’d highly recommend meeting the supplier and seeing what they do in person.”

7LIVE BAND Whatever your style there’s a band out there for you. Experienced musicians are adept at judging the vibe on the dancefloor, making sure they keep those dancing feet busy all night. Many will learn that special first dance song for you at your request and some offer super-flexible options to bring you suitable entertainment from low key drinks reception music to full-scale floor-fillers in the evening. Our golden rule? Make sure you get to a live gig to see what they can do before you book. It’s well worth seeing what’s out there. 8 CARICATURES Give your loved ones their own unique piece of artwork to take home. It’s easier than it sounds when you hire a caricaturist. Everyone will be so busy lining up for their turn, they won’t even notice when you disappear with your photographer. Check out www.theartfuldoodler.co.uk 9 SINGING WAITERS The looks on your guests’ faces will be priceless and worthy of tagging when singing waiters are in town. #Awks turns into joy, laughter and delight in a heartbeat.

13 HARPIST Nothing beats the sound of a harp for oh-so romantic ceremony music. Gentle and melodic, it sets just the right tone as you prepare to walk down the aisle. A harpist is also wonderful to bring an air of class to the drinks reception – you’ll be surprised at how good this instrument makes the Disney greats sound! 10 AXE THROWING Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but fear not, an instructor is provided when you book with Joe’s Bows, who also offer archery, laser clay shooting and falconry experiences. Your wedding will be sure to create some fun memories for all. Check out www.joesbows.co.uk

11 BOUNCY CASTLE Oodles of fun for little and big kids alike. Keep it classy with a white wedding version. Check out www.abcastlehire.co.uk

Getty Images 12 COCKTAILS Make the drinks reception all the more fun and personalised with your own wedding-day cocktail, whether it’s your favourite or something of your own creation. Faversham-based Wild Box Events offers a bespoke package serving custom cocktails from it’s trendy horsebox bar. Check out www.wildboxevents.co.uk

14 VOCALIST If you’re a fan of live music, why not hire an acoustic soloist for the parts of that day that aren’t necessarily suited to a full plugged-in band. Check out www.facebook.com/Hannah.sings.weddingsinger

15 CASINO Bring a sophisticated touch of Bond to your big day with casino tables. Ace Casino Hire offers a choice of blackjack and roulette, which come complete with their own croupiers. Check out www.facebook.com/acecasinohire 16 FURRY FRIENDS It is a truth universally acknowledged that we are a nation of animal lovers and if our furry friends are something you can’t do without on your wedding day, then help is at hand in Kent.

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve near Hythe (www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/weddings) gives you the opportunity to treat guests to a safari when you host your wedding day there. Also, Maidstone’s Kent Life (https://kentlife.org.uk) offers a selection of novel farm entertainment, such as lamb feeding and meet-and-greet sessions with its farmyard friends.

Image courtesy of Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, © www.lorna-elizabeth.co.uk

Professional Firework Displays by Professional Firework Displays by Professional Firework Displays by

Whatever the occasion AJ Pyrotechnics can light up your night! Whatever the occasion AJ Pyrotechnics can light up your night!

We offer professional, bespoked designed, fully insured, high impact display packages and can tailor our displays to accommodate most budgets. We pride ourselves on We offer professional, bespoked designed, fully insured, high impact display packages Whatever the occasion AJ Pyrotechnics can light up your night! the content, design and value for money that all our displays bring. and can tailor our displays to accommodate most budgets. We pride ourselves on We offer professional, bespoked designed, fully insured, high impact display packages WEDDINGS • BONFIRE NIGHT • ALL YEAR CELEBRATIONS • RETAIL FIREWORKS the content, design and value for money that all our displays bring. WEDDINGS • BONFIRE NIGHT • ALL YEAR CELEBRATIONS • RETAIL FIREWORKS and can tailor our displays to accommodate most budgets. We pride ourselves on the content, design and value for money that all our displays bring. WEDDINGS Tel: 01303 867011 or 07826 658996 Email: enquiries@ajpyrotechnics.co.uk www.ajpyrotechnics.co.uk Tel: 01303 867011 or 07826 658996 Email: enquiries@ajpyrotechnics.co.uk www.ajpyrotechnics.co.uk Tel: 01303 867011 or 07826 658996 Email: enquiries@ajpyrotechnics.co.uk • BONFIRE NIGHT • ALL YEAR CELEBRATIONS • RETAIL FIREWORKS www.ajpyrotechnics.co.uk

Wedding

VIDEO GRAPHY UK

17 GLITTER BAR The perfect addition to a festival-themed wedding, a glitter bar will bring all the sparkly fun. Keep it eco-friendly and look for a company that supplies biodegradable glitter. Check out www.luxuriousglitter.co.uk

18 SAXOPHONIST Strike a laid-back Ibiza party note with a live saxophonist to accompany your DJ on the dancefloor. Mingling with guests, that edge of interactive excitement will truly create the wedding wow factor. Check out https://kentweddingsaxophonist.co.uk

Getty Images 19 TRIBUTE ACT Wish ABBA could play at your wedding, but can’t quite stretch to it? There are plenty of uncannily accurate tribute acts around, so why not opt for the next best thing?

20 STRING QUARTET Many of us have been Bridgerton obsessed since it hit our screens, and it’s easy to recreate that oh-so romantic Georgian atmosphere with a string quartet. While the show’s innovative soundtrack of modern hits make it a standout, this is something our modern day string musicians have been doing forever. Check out https://leonquartet.co.uk

21 FAIRGROUND You can have all the fun of the fair at your wedding when you tie the knot at some of Kent’s wonderous venues. Marleybrook House (https://marleybrookhouse.co.uk) near Canterbury boasts the UK’s largest, private fairground, while nearby Preston Court (www.prestoncourt.co.uk) has a gorgeous Victorian carousel, fairground organs and heaps of other quirky features.

22 MURDER MYSTERY Get your guests working together to solve a head-scratching mystery unfolding before their very eyes, courtesy of a team of actors and a storyline that would have Poirot working those little grey cells. An icebreaker that can’t fail to bring friends and family together, whether they’ve met before or for the first time at your nuptials, murder mystery events are tons of fun. Check out www.moonstonemurders.co.uk

THE PERFECT PLAYLIST

The first dance will be one of the standout moments of your big day, so choose a song that means the world to you. Do you go for a golden oldie or a current chart hit? Based on the analysis of 998 Spotify playlists found when searching for “wedding first dance,” here’s 2022’s top 20 most popular to give you some inspiration. 1. Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran 2. Perfect by Ed Sheeran 3. All Of Me by John Legend 4. At Last by Etta James 5. Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley 6. Say You Won’t let Go by James Arthur 7. You Are The Best Thing by Ray La Montagne 8. Can’t Help Falling In Love by Haley Reinhart 9. Your Song by Elton John 10. Perfect Duet by Ed Sheeran & Beyonce 11. You Are The Reason by Calum Scott 12. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri 13. From The Ground Up by Dan + Shay 14. Everything by Michael Buble 15. I Get To Love You by Ruelle 16. Marry Me by Train 17. Stand by Me by Ben E. King 18. Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett 19. Speechless by Dan + Shay 20. Beyond by Leon Bridges Data compiled by www.reassured.co.uk