Category Archives: wedding entertainment options

How a Wedding Entertainment Company Can Transform Your Reception

June 5, 2025chicago wedding entertainment, ways to entertain wedding guests, wedding dj entertainment chicago il, wedding entertainers, wedding entertainment ideas, wedding entertainment options, wedding reception entertainment, wedding reception entertainment tipswedding entertainment companyMike Urban

When you imagine your perfect wedding day, you probably picture joy, laughter, music, and moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. A truly memorable reception isn’t just about food and decor. It is also about creating an experience that is enjoyable and memorable. That’s where a wedding entertainment company comes in. A professional team can bring your dream to life with expert coordination, vibrant music, dazzling lighting, and interactive elements that keep your guests smiling from start to finish.

What Is a Wedding Entertainment Company?

A wedding entertainment company does more than just play music. It’s a full-service provider that helps create a fun and unforgettable atmosphere for your big day. From skilled DJs who read the crowd to photo booths that capture candid moments, and from mood-setting lighting to elegant audio setups for your ceremony, the right team can handle it all. They take the stress off your shoulders and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Why Hire a Wedding Entertainment Company?

There are a few great reasons to work with a wedding entertainment company:

Experience and Professionalism

At An Enchanted Evening, our team of professional DJs and event experts has years of experience in creating high-energy, well-organized events. We handle 300–400 weddings a year, which means we’ve seen it all and know how to make your night incredible.

One Team, Many Services

Being a full-service production company, we also offer a full array of available services including, but not limited to, photo booth rental, room décor, ceremony audio, video montage creation, name-in-lights, and many other sound and lighting options. Working with one wedding entertainment company simplifies things and saves you money compared to hiring multiple vendors.

Stress-Free Planning

Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming. When you work with one team for your entertainment, lighting, and other extras, you reduce the need to juggle multiple contacts. Our team communicates clearly with you and your venue to make sure every detail is covered.

Personalized Music and DJ Services

No two weddings are the same, and your music should reflect your style. Our DJ services are performed by experienced professionals who are not only great at mixing music but also at interacting with your guests. They know how to read the room, make announcements, and keep the energy flowing throughout the night.

Whether you want classic ballads, upbeat party hits, or cultural music specific to your background, our team will work closely with you to create the perfect playlist. We believe the music should reflect you, and that’s what we aim for.

Capture the Fun with Photo Booths

A great way to get your guests laughing and creating memories is with our photo booth rental. We don’t use the typical camera-on-a-tripod setup. Our booths are real arcade-style photo booths made from heavy-duty materials that guests step into, just like the ones from the mall.

Your guests can choose color or black-and-white strips, take home a copy, and help create a scrapbook just for you. There’s also an open-air setup available, and we offer an exclusive in-booth video messaging feature so guests can leave you heartfelt messages after snapping their pictures.

Set the Mood with Lighting and Décor

Want your reception to sparkle? Our team can help with lighting effects that turn any space into a romantic, magical venue. From uplighting to monogram projections, we tailor the atmosphere to match your wedding colors and theme. Lighting changes the way your entire reception looks and feels, and we have all the tools to make it shine.

A One-Stop Shop for a Magical Experience

With An Enchanted Evening, you’re getting an entire team committed to making your celebration unforgettable. We offer package deals that combine multiple services for convenience and savings. Whether you need ceremony audio, a custom video montage, or a stunning dance floor reveal, we’ve got it covered.

Working with a wedding entertainment company that offers everything in one place means your event will be more coordinated, cost-effective, and enjoyable for everyone involved. We want to help you create a celebration where you don’t have to worry about anything but having the best night of your life.

We Make It Easy, Fun, and Memorable

Choosing a wedding entertainment company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your wedding. Our team is here to walk with you every step of the way, helping you craft a celebration that is as unique and special as your love story. From personalized playlists to interactive entertainment, from heartfelt ceremonies to epic dance parties, we do it all.

Contact Us Today

Let’s make your dream wedding a reality. If you’re planning a wedding in the Chicagoland area, our team at An Enchanted Evening is ready to bring your vision to life. We invite you to contact us today to discuss how we can help. Contact our team at An Enchanted Evening today by calling (847) 490-1000 to learn more about our services and to request a free quote.

Complete Wedding Entertainment Checklist

March 27, 2017fun wedding ideas, wedding entertainment ideas, wedding entertainment optionsMike Urban

The days of hiring one wedding entertainer for your wedding is over. Today’s wedding guests can look forward to so much more; you can meet (and exceed!) their expectations by choosing from this list of wedding entertainment options (or ask us for ideas!).

Main stage entertainment

____DJ (find a good DJ with these tips)

____Band

____DIY (here are the pros and cons of DIY wedding music)

Off-stage fun

____Photo booth (tips for finding a quality photo booth here)

____Glow-in-the-dark bowling (in the hallways?)

____Face painter

____Celebrity impersonator or mascot to circulate

____Fireworks (only if allowed)

____Interactive food table

____Foosball or pool table

____Yard games (especially at outdoor wedding)

____Photo stand-ins

Table entertainment

____Crossword puzzle using clues that tie into your theme

____Coloring pages (especially for young guests)

____Have guests make their own wedding favors

____Trivia cards

____Advice cards (for guests to give couple tips)

____Wedding-libs

____Hangman

6 HUGE Perks of Hiring a Wedding DJ

March 30, 2016benefits of a DJ, wedding DJ perks, wedding entertainment optionsMike Urban

Band versus DJ? DJ versus DIY wedding reception music? It’s one of the first decisions every couple must make when planning their wedding reception. We’ve broken down the pros and cons of bands versus DJ’s before, but now we’re delving into the specific advantages of hiring a wedding DJ for your big day; specifically, a professional wedding DJ, because there is a difference—a difference that can impact the quality of your wedding reception.

Personalization

Because they are not confined to a certain genre of music, a DJ can personalize your wedding music to your specific tastes (and your pet peeves)—and your guests’ tastes too. A DJ can honor any requests from your guests, from your uncle’s love of the classics to your friends’ more modern tastes.

Dinner music

Many DJ’s provide complementary dinner music as part of their services, giving your wedding dinner a special ambiance—and one less thing for you to worry about on your already-busy big day.

Emcee

A DJ is a built-in emcee for your evening; a coordinator that can work with your venue and vendors to make sure your evening runs exactly as planned. A good professional DJ can make sure your videographer or photographer (or both) are in the right spot for special moments such as your first dance or a father-daughter dance.

Budget

If your wedding budget is a consideration—or if you want the best “bang for your buck”—a DJ checks off all the boxes. Not only is a DJ less expensive than a band, a DJ typically performs longer (such as during dinner) and includes more extras in their dinner package, such as lighting, a photo booth, etc.

Back-ups

We’ve all heard the wedding nightmare stories when a vital piece of equipment breaks or someone can’t come or… If you hire a professional wedding DJ, you not only get an experienced DJ but the reassurance that two of those scenarios won’t happen at your wedding (at least when it comes to your reception entertainment). Professional DJ companies not only have excellent equipment, but quality back-up equipment and another experienced DJ for those “just in case” emergency situations.

Extras

Most DJs offer a package with bonus entertainment options (contact your preferred DJ for information about their specific packages): extra lighting, an enhanced sound system, photo booth—all the extras you need to put your wedding reception over the top.

Wedding Reception Music: What’s the best option for entertainment at your wedding?

December 3, 2015band for wedding, DJ, iPod wedding reception music, wedding entertainment optionsMike Urban

Every couple has to make choices during wedding planning: about the wedding venue, food, décor, ceremony music, wedding reception music…the list could go on and on. When it comes to wedding reception music, brides and grooms have three common wedding entertainment options: a band, DJ or the do-it-yourself entertainment option. You’ve probably heard of the DIY option: a wedding reception with a mp3 player and a speaker or some other kind of equipment playing in a corner while the guests dance.

So what is the best entertainment option for your wedding reception? The answer varies from wedding to wedding, and couple to couple. We’ve done our best to lay out your options for you with the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision—and get working on it. If you choose a DJ or band, the “best of the best” calendars fill up fast so you need to start contacting companies now. If you choose to go DIY, time to get started! You don’t want to be up working on your wedding reception music the night before.

Pros of a DJ

Emcee. A DJ can make announcements for your evening and let your guests know everything from the entrance of the married couple to a warning about a car being towed in the parking lot.

Dinner background music. This depends on the DJ, but many DJ’s offer couples the opportunity to have some quiet background music during dinner, or during the ceremony if needed.

Customized play list. A good DJ meets with the couple to determine what kind of songs they want played at their wedding reception (read how to craft your perfect playlist here). Note the catch: good. A bad DJ takes a one-size-fits-all approach, and doesn’t ask for any input from the couple.

Quality equipment. A quality DJ has state-of-the-art digital equipment that delivers a quality sound during your wedding reception, as well as a great time.

Access to “entertainment extras” (i.e. lighting, photo booth, etc.). Again, this depends on the DJ, but a lot of DJs offer “extras” as part of their wedding reception packages, such as lighting, enhanced sound options, and photo booths.

Cost. A DJ is typically cheaper than a band.

Back-up equipment if needed. A quality DJ company has back-up equipment, and personnel, to handle situations where the equipment fails or the DJ cannot attend.

Cons of a DJ

Cost. A DJ costs more than the DIY option (depending on how much you pay for the equipment and music).

Pros of a band

Emcee. A good band can make announcements and keep things moving throughout your wedding reception, including your guests.

Excellent play list. If you choose a band for your wedding reception, obviously you love their sound, giving you the perfect play list for your big night. A top wedding band can even take requests from your guests.

Quality sound equipment. A good band has excellent sound equipment that can work at almost any wedding reception, giving you and your guests a fantastic night.

Atmosphere. Do you have a particular wedding theme you’re trying to achieve, such as a retro wedding? A band can create the unique atmosphere you want with a sound that fits you as a couple.

Cons of a band

Cost. A quality band costs far more than a DJ or the DIY option. Usually bands won’t provide background dinner music without an additional cost.

No back-up if band can’t come. Unlike a DJ, you won’t have a back-up plan if the band can’t come.

Pros of do-it-yourself

Cost. The cost of the DIY option can be the cheapest, especially if you already have many of the songs downloaded for your wedding reception playlist.

Customized play list. Obviously, if you are the one to create your own play list, the play list is full of songs you want played.

Cons of do-it-yourself wedding entertainment

Time to compile play list. Wedding planning takes a lot of time, and downloading and crafting a play list (and testing your list) is adding another ‘to do’ on your already long checklist.

No emcee (or someone has to take their time away from festivities to do so). You won’t have someone to make announcements, such as for the entrance of the couple and bridal party. The other option is that you, or one of your friends or family, makes announcements, but then you have to take time away from having fun. You also may have to rent a microphone so everyone can hear you, which adds to the cost.

No back up if equipment doesn’t work. If your Mp3 player doesn’t work on your big day, you’re the one scrambling trying to repair, and get your wedding reception music up and going.

No extras. Unless you invest serious funds in lighting, or go out of your way to find a company that rents lighting, photo booths, or whatever other “extra” you want at your wedding reception, you’re not going to get those “extras” that you get with a DJ.

If your wedding budget is a concern, don’t automatically assume that you can’t afford a wedding DJ or band. Contact local DJ’s to get quotes and find out if the cost is within your budget. From there, you can make a decision about the right wedding entertainment that leaves you and your guests dancing the night away.