Elevated Entertainment

Splurge a little — you and your guests deserve it 

By Paige Aigret

According to industry expert Troy Rentz, the top three ways to entertain your guests are food, beverage and music. Rentz, chief operations officer at John Gandy Events in Tallahassee, notes that the guests deserve a little splurging to create a truly elevated experience. 

“You want them to have a really good time,” he said. “And you want them to continue talking about your wedding for a long time.”

Rentz suggests imagining food as more than catered meals and moving beyond beer and wine for beverage bars. 

He said food trucks are fun for late-night bites, but they shouldn’t serve as your main course. Couples can offer a late-night snack option, an ice cream cart or a martini bar with specialty cocktails customizable to the newlyweds or wedding theme. 

Emerald Coast-based Better Together Beverage custom curates cocktails to the bride and groom’s vision, creating a boutique beverage experience for the cocktail hour and reception. Everything from the printed menu to the garnish is personalized to the couple and theme. Drinks can come out smoking or with edible flowers and glitter for some pizazz. 

Too, the bar service specializes in mocktails, a request recently popularized to cater to guests of all ages and preferences. Better Together Beverage typically offers at least one mocktail option on each curated menu. 

If you’re looking to treat your guests to some good song and dance, prioritize live music. 

Rentz said live instrumentals — string trios, saxophone or harp — are scene setting for ceremonies, and trumpets are great for processionals. 

For the ceremony, Rentz has enjoyed working with fusion bands, like the Miami-based Rock With U, which combines a live DJ set with a live band. “It is a really fun party environment,” Rentz said. “You really get the best of both worlds with that.”

Emerald Coast-based band Stormfolk Music creates its own fusion of folk, bluegrass, rock and pop. The trio, Mick Grocholl, Kaylyn Hastings and Preston Czygan, combines guitar, violin, percussion and vocals to create a unique sound. The band services areas from Pensacola to Tallahassee and offers violin or piano for ceremonies and the full band for cocktail hour and receptions. 

Beyond the top three, keepsakes and interactive entertainment will impress your guests. 

Photo booths are perfect for entertaining a lively reception celebration. Packages often come with a backdrop, themed props and single or three-shot mini prints. Walton County’s Lily Photo Bus brings its vintage VW bus on-site, decked out in themed decor for unique, interactive shots. 

“One of my favorite things is a really pretty, classic black-and-white photo booth,” Rentz said. 

He recommends the traveling national brand, MirMir, whose sleek and elegant photo booths come in black and white with the option for classic, wide or portrait-sized prints.

Live paintings offer guests a unique keepsake. Tallahassee-based Works of Harte owner and artist Alison Fairbrother paints live portraits on-site, creating memorable favors for your guests to take home the day of your event. Live portraits are done in watercolor on 5-by-7-inch cold-press paper and completed within five to 15 minutes for guests to take with them.

Larger form, live paintings of the bride and groom can be entertaining for all and create a meaningful memento for the couple. Fairbrother and Emerald Coast area artist Maxine Orange craft live-scene paintings of moments, including the ceremony, first dance and first kiss. Orange’s portraits can be as large as 36-by-48 inches in acrylic paint. Fairbrother offers a watercolor option. 

To truly wow your crowd, consider a fireworks display. You can make moments like your cake cutting sparkle, your first dance shine or enhance the drama of your grand departure.

Pyro Shows Inc. services areas throughout the Southeast and beyond, specializing in professional fireworks displays, special effects and aerial shows. Displays can be customized for day or night, personalized by color and pattern and choreographed to music.

When planning for fireworks displays and other large-scale entertainment, budget and weather should be top of mind, but it’s most important to consider location. Rentz recommends always confirming with the venue if your desired setup is achievable.  

Depending on location, certain state and local parameters must be adhered to, permitting and contracts may be required and space will determine the scale of your entertainment.

When in doubt, consult your planner to help you handle the details. They’re there to help make your dream day come true and leave your guests with cherished memories.

Featured image by Amy Riley Photography