Whether you are having a small wedding with just a few guests or are just looking to plan a wedding on a budget, finding ideas to entertain guests at a wedding is still important.
There are many ways to get married on a budget. Lots of great wedding reception ideas can be affordable if planned correctly and with plenty of imagination.
If you are trying to figure out how to plan a cheap wedding, getting value for your money is the top priority.
We will show you the best cheap wedding entertainment ideas and also offer some great tips on how you can get the most value out of the wedding entertainers you book.
Solo Acoustic Singers
Solo acoustic wedding singers are usually one of the go-to entertainers when planning a wedding on a small budget.
Things have changed a lot since this type of affordable singer became popular weddings.
Loop pedals and song choices make them extremely versatile nowadays. Upbeat solo sets can be played at wedding receptions and of course, you can have a more intimate set with cheap wedding ceremony musicians.
If you have hired a live wedding band, you could also ask them to perform an acoustic set earlier in the day to get more value from your wedding entertainment.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- Many live musicians and wedding bands can double up as acoustic singers for earlier parts of your day! You can hire one outfit and secure cheap wedding music for your whole day.
Children’s Wedding Entertainment
On the surface, hiring wedding entertainment for kids might seem like an unnecessary expense. It really isn’t.
If you are looking for outdoor wedding ideas on a budget, children’s wedding entertainment is a great place to start.


Keeping kids busy at a wedding is easy to do and is definitely worth your time if you want the adults and parents at your wedding day to have fun without worrying.
These wedding ideas will usually take place during the day and are great options for injecting a bit of life into your wedding day on a budget.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- Keeping the kids entertained is the cheapest way to remove elements of potential stress from your wedding day.
Wedding Pianists
For an elegant wedding on a small budget, wedding pianists are a great idea.
They are one of the most affordable wedding musicians and can look absolutely amazing when used well on your wedding day.
A wedding pianist can be cheap and adaptable to different scenarios.
One wedding idea is to use them as a centre of attention during a big moment at your wedding day.
You can also use wedding pianists as accomplished background music during drinks receptions or other gaps in your wedding day.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- Many wedding pianists are also highly accomplished vocalists. Pair this with their huge repertoires, you can switch up styles in an instant at the cost of just one performer.
Caricaturists
Hiring a caricature artist is one of the best cheap wedding ideas around.
Wedding caricaturists can vary in price depending on the package you choose. These talented artists will create an unbelievable likeness of your guests in lightning speed!


Whilst having a live caricaturist at your wedding is one the most popular ideas for daytime wedding entertainment, you can also ask your caricaturist to help with designing wedding invitations or even bespoke signing boards.
Adding these little touches to your wedding day is low cost and high reward. These moments becoming instantly memorable and unique without costing the earth!
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- Get more value from your wedding caricaturist by including pre-wedding touches! Signing boards, seating plans and place cards are just some ideas.
Wedding Harpists
Some of the best small wedding ideas come to life when hiring special musicians to elevate special moments on your day.
A wedding harpist is synonymous with elegant and beautiful weddings.
If you are interested in cheap wedding ceremony ideas to make this all-important moment stand out, a wedding harpist is a great option.


Walking down the aisle is one of the biggest moments of your wedding day.
If you are have already chosen your aisle walk song, it can made even more special by having it played live by a wedding musician!
Harpists for weddings are more versatile than they seem at first glance. Some contemporary or quirky songs can be played by your harpist on request.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- If you have the opportunity to have your aisle walk song played live by a musician, you absolutely should. Most performers will offer to learn this special request free of charge so don't miss this opportunity!
Wedding Magicians
When trying to have a wedding a budget in the UK, we notice that a lot of couples will tend to overlook daytime entertainment in the hope of saving some money.
Whilst this might make sense initially, daytime wedding entertainment can create some of the most remarkable moments at a wedding.


One entertainer that does this better than any other is the wedding magician.
If you are searching for cool things to have at weddings, magicians can be cheap and incredibly exciting for you and your guests.
Breaking the ice at a wedding is so important and magicians are the perfect style of wedding entertainment to achieve that.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- The cost of breaking the ice early on in your day will repay itself (and then some!) later on at your wedding reception.
Unique Wedding Ideas
There is a common misconception that the more unique wedding entertainment ideas will tend to cost more.
Whilst some outlandish wedding entertainment can be on the higher end of the spectrum, there are some incredible wedding ideas out there that you can still hire on a budget.


These unusual wedding ideas will have a huge impact for a low price!
Allocating just a small amount of your budget towards wedding entertainment of this type can pay off in a big way.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- Hire cheap wedding ideas that are close to your venue. You will be surprised at how much of your budget you can save by spending less on travel expenses!
Solo Wedding Guitarists
Some of the most talented wedding performers available to hire are solo wedding guitarists.
Arranging a wedding on a budget isn’t easy, so considering these entertainers as a way to provide live wedding music on your big day is worth your time.
Solo guitarists only need a small amount of space and are one of the best cheap wedding entertainment ideas for small weddings.
Again, these musicians are highly versatile and can be used for wedding ceremonies or background chilled music later on in the day.
It is always worth asking your wedding venue if music can be played outside so your guitarist can move to different spots throughout the day.
Wedding Entertainment Budget TIP!
- One of the most common ways to plan a wedding on a budget is to book on off-peak dates like weekends or out of season. You can cheap wedding entertainment with the same method!
As you can see, hiring wedding entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive or break the bank.
Many couples will look to cut corners or get a great deal by hiring someone with less experience performing at weddings.
Hiring someone less experienced isn’t always recommended and our advice is to always to go to professional performers!
As there are so many great wedding ideas on a budget, there is no need to take a big risk with your entertainment. If you are unsure on what prices are on average, check out our guide on wedding musician costs.
For more wedding entertainment ideas and help in booking the perfect acts for your event, visit Warble Entertainment.
Published by Warble Entertainment, where entertainment lives.
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