Other Wedding Entertainment in Manchester
Ceremony, drinks reception and daytime entertainment in Manchester
From ceremony rooms at country houses around Manchester and Salford to drinks receptions on the lawn near Stockport and wedding breakfasts in barns and marquees across Manchester, the hours before the evening band starts are where the right entertainment makes the biggest difference. A singer for the aisle, a string quartet over the canapés or a magician working the tables keeps the day moving and gives guests something to talk about between the photos.
Other wedding entertainment covers the specialist and smaller acts that most weddings add around the main band: solo singers, acoustic duos, harpists, pianists, classical guitarists, string quartets and ensembles, close-up magicians and roaming musicians. Each one is booked for a particular part of the day, and many can learn a special song for the ceremony or the signing of the register.
Hireaband has been booking live entertainment for weddings since 1999. Every act listed here travels to Manchester as standard, brings the equipment it needs, and sets up and clears away around the timings of your day — use the instant quote button on this page to check pricing and availability for your date.
The essentials:
- Typical cost: £300 to £1,500, depending on the act, how long they play and the date
- Always included: travel costs and any amplification the act needs, in every quote
- From solo musicians for the ceremony to quartets, ensembles and roaming acts for the drinks reception
- Most couples book several months ahead, sooner for a summer Saturday
- Every booking carries a 14-day change-of-mind refund
Think about where the act will be and what guests will be doing. A harpist, pianist or string quartet suits a ceremony room or a church, where the music needs to carry without amplification. A drinks reception outdoors or in a busy courtyard is better served by an acoustic duo, a roaming band or a solo singer with a small PA, and a close-up magician can move between groups wherever they gather. Tell us the venue and the running order and we can suggest what has worked there before.
Most bookings fall between £300 and £1,500. A solo musician for the ceremony alone sits at the lower end; a string quartet or an act covering the ceremony, drinks and wedding breakfast sits towards the upper end, with the date and time of year making up the rest of the difference. Travel and any equipment the act needs are included in the quote you receive, so the figure you're given is the figure you pay.
Every act's page carries video and audio of that exact performer or ensemble, so you can hear how they sound in a real room rather than relying on a generic demo, alongside their repertoire list. Underneath are written reviews from couples who have already booked them. Between the videos, the repertoire and the feedback, you can form a clear picture of the day well before you commit.
Use the instant quote button on this page and enter your date and venue to see pricing and availability straight away. Once you've chosen an act, we handle the contract, the deposit and the arrangements, and stay in touch through to the day itself. Every booking comes with a 14-day change-of-mind refund, and an emergency contact line is available on the day if anything needs sorting quickly.
