10 Alternative Entertainment Ideas For Your Wedding Ceremony (2024)

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Updated: 21st May 2024

When it comes to ceremony music, you don't need to stick to tradition. While the classic church ceremony is often accompanied by wedding favourites such as Canon in D or Wagner, there are plenty of alternative options—the world really is your oyster!

Here are ten alternative wedding entertainment ideas to inject some personality into your wedding ceremony.

1. Hire a Gospel Choir

Looking for something spectacular to wow your guests as you walk down the aisle? Nothing works better in a stunning church than a full gospel choir. Begin the most important day of your life with the sound of heavenly vocals and divine harmonies that will instantly fill the room with emotion. Choosing a live vocal ensemble can feel really special and doesn't have to be tied to church/ religious ceremonies, you can opt for a gospel choir performance for your civil ceremony too. Imagine an ensemble serenading as you enter the room at a stunning stately home or oak-framed barn. Just beautiful.

2. Have a Beach Ceremony With a Steel Band

If you’re thinking outside the box with your wedding plans and love the idea of saying those all-important vows outdoors on a stunning beach, have you considered including alternative music too? Take a look at our wedding themes blog for tropical wedding ideas and create a Caribbean-worthy ceremony! Performing a mix of reggae, calypso, and soca, a traditional steel band will ensure your guests are entertained from the moment you arrive. Including something uplifting and fun as you walk down the aisle can also help to calm those initial nerves and lighten the mood! A steel band at your wedding ceremony will be sure to impress your guests.

3. Choose an Indie/rock Track to Walk Down the Aisle

When planning wedding music, most couples tend to focus their attention on choosing the perfect first dance song, but the music you walk down the aisle to has an important role to play too. And we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to leave this choice up to the ceremony leader. Whether you choose a religious ceremony or a civil service in an alternative venue, you have the opportunity to find a song that really represents you as a couple! 00s indie your thing? Or are you a classic rock fan? Why not hire a guitarist to play your favourite indie/rock track as you arrive? Your guests certainly wouldn't forget that in a hurry!

4. Hire a Full Band for a Ceremony Danceathon

Now, you could go one step further. I think if I had the opportunity to get married all over again, this would be top of my list when planning our ceremony. Often the ceremony itself, all be it filled with love and joy, is a fairly formal affair with set rules and expectations. But here at Bands for Hire, we like to throw the rule book out of the window every once in a while! How about planning a ceremony, but with the feel of a party? Hire a band to play as guests arrive, one who can then turn it up a notch and perform some upbeat tracks for that all-important aisle walk - your guests can be on their feet and dancing as you make your way to your husband-to-be!

5. Have a Vintage-inspired Act to Fit Your Theme

Planning a specific theme for your day? How about tying your ceremony music into your chosen style? A 50s rock n roll wedding, with classic vintage-inspired outfits and decor for example. For this wedding concept, you could hire a three-piece 50s trio like the Retro Belles to serenade you as you walk the aisle! If Elvis and Chuck aren't your thing, perhaps a laid-back folk artist is. If you’re considering a festival/folk-inspired wedding ceremony, you could have music from a rustic to walk into. This would make a fantastic entrance for your bride and her bridesmaids!

6. Hire a Roaming Band to Walk the Procession With You

Don't fancy walking up the aisle alone? If you want to add some drama to your entrance, here’s a unique idea for you. At Bands for Hire, we happen to showcase several roaming bands - musicians who play acoustic music unplugged with the freedom to wander as they perform. Why not walk to your groom procession style with a roaming band as accompaniment? Imagine stunning vocal harmonies and upbeat contemporary songs your guests will know, with acoustic guitar rounding off the performance. The perfect entertainment for your guests as you tie the knot.

7. A Sitarist for a Traditional Indian Ceremony

Many people associate the sitar with a classic Indian wedding. If you want to step back in time and plan your dream wedding ceremony with a nod to tradition, including a sitar as background music would be ideal. An enchanting sound, the sitar is the perfect instrument for creating a magical, ambient atmosphere. Thumri, our resident sitarist here at Bands for Hire, combines his knowledge of Eastern and Western music practices to create a truly inspired sound. Hire a sitarist for your traditional wedding ceremony.

8. Singing Waiters? Or Singing Guests!

I think by now, lots of us are familiar with the concept of the singing waiter, or surprise waiter. By this, we mean musicians and singers in disguise! Working as waiting staff, then bursting into song at an unsuspecting moment to wow your guests. This concept could work amazingly well at your ceremony too. For those of you familiar with Love Actually, they use this exact idea during the movie, and it truly is a magical moment. Have your unsuspecting guests surrounded by musicians within the audience, their instruments quietly tucked away under seats and beneath coats, ready to jump up for that surprise performance at the perfect moment. I can't think of a cooler way to remember your special day.

9. Give Away Your First Dance Song, See Who Notices

Do you have an incredibly special track that means a lot to you both as a couple? If picking your first dance song was as easy as pie, then you really do. Here’s an idea. How about using that important song as a theme for your day, starting with the ceremony? As you walk down the aisle, a version of your first dance could play - perhaps as an instrumental performed on the piano, or an acoustic singer serenading you with a chilled version of the track. Your guests might notice the link later in the evening when the full version is performed for your very special first dance!

10. Don Those Hats and Go a Little Country!

Getting married in a stunning oak barn? Why not choose a rustic all-American country theme for your I-do’s. Combine Western wedding wear with relaxed outdoor seating on haybales. And you could consider including a toe stomping, folk/Americana country band too. A relaxed ceremony with plenty of life and plenty of fun! The band can stay after the vows have been read and get the vibe going with some Country and Western classics during the drinks party later. The Alamaba Two would be the perfect choice here!

So those were just a few ideas for your alternative wedding ceremony. Tradition can be a wonderful thing and some couples will choose to follow the rules of a classic ceremony, but it definitely isn't the only way! We recommend you sit down and think about what’s important to you and also what inspires you, then use this to decide on how you really want to say I do! If you would like help in finding entertainment for your wedding ceremony, drop us a message here at Bands for Hire and we’ll get some ideas to you!