Every wedding has some sort of entertainment – whether it's a professional band or DJ, games, or the musical stylings of family or friends. Wedding entertainment usually fits with the wedding theme: a tropical wedding might have a steel drum band to play for the reception, while an Indian wedding may hire a sitar player to entertain guests. Whatever wedding entertainment you choose, you can be sure that guests will have a great time celebrating with you on your wedding day.

The most popular wedding entertainment is the wedding DJ. He or she comes equipped with all that's needed for a night of music and dancing, including smoke machines and a disco ball! The bride and groom can choose their playlist or make special requests for songs, and the DJ will ensure that the right mix of fast and slow tempo music is played, and that there are a wide range of songs for many different tastes.

The wedding band is not as common as it used to be, although some couples prefer to hire a group rather than a DJ. A wedding band is more expensive than a DJ, but it adds elegance to any celebration. A classical or jazz band will appeal to many music lovers, or you could hire a band that plays a mix of rock, country and pop songs so that everybody will be pleased with the music selection.

Today, many couples are choosing out of the ordinary wedding entertainment. A couple planning a casual backyard wedding may hire clowns or magicians for wedding guests both young and old. At an informal wedding, wedding games are a big hit. Mini golf for an outdoor wedding, trivia games about the bride and groom during the buffet lineup – any game that you think your guests would enjoy and is safe at your wedding venue can be a unique way to get people interacting.

Often, a talented friend or family member will compose a song or poem to recite during the wedding reception. This type of wedding entertainment is very special, as it is a heartfelt way for a loved one to wish the new couple luck. Even the traditional wedding speech can be injected with the right mix of humor and sentimentality for a truly memorable toast. A funny or serious wedding toast is a chance to share a moment with all of your guests – and your new spouse!

Other wedding entertainment ideas include putting disposable cameras on the tables so that people can take pictures of the newlyweds and other guests at the wedding. You can tie a note onto each camera that says something different, such as “only candid shots” or “take five pictures of children at the reception” so that you'll have a nice mix of photos at the end of the night. If you have a video camera, enlist someone to go around the room and get people's well wishes throughout the reception (and you can always edit out anything said after a few glasses of wine if you want!) for a souvenir of your wedding.