Why Hiring a Magician for a Wedding is Becoming “the Norm”

If you think it’s a joke, it’s only because you’ve never seen it. A magician is not only becoming the “norm,” but it’s now being considered one of the best wedding additions in recent years.

To some people, it sounds ridiculous.

“Having a magician at a wedding?? That’s entertainment for a company party, definitely not a wedding.”

And I can give you a big hint why they say it. They’ve never seen it done. Mainly because a magician at a wedding is a much newer concept. Ask anyone who has seen it done, they will tell you that it’s one of the best things they’ve ever seen at a wedding.

“Bryan performed at our wedding this past weekend…It was priceless!! He was charming, funny, and continually blew our guests away with magic. He made a magical evening even more magical and 5 stars simply isn’t enough.”

Jen A., Wedding at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, Strolling Magic

How to use a magician at your wedding.

I know that you’re constantly thinking about the wedding planning. What do you really want for you and your guests? This is a huge celebration. Obviously it should be special for you. However, you want it to be special for the friends and family that you’re sharing this day with. You want them to feel like they were a part of the day…you want them to feel welcome.

But what happens when the wedding party is taking pictures? That wonderful group of people you invited are left alone. Drinks and appetizers may be served, but the mingling is up to people. The problem is, in many cases, you’re just a mutual friend of everyone, so many of these people have likely never met.

You may think that your friends will just naturally interact with each other, and it’s possible. But wouldn’t you rather have a way that’s instantaneous? Something that gives groups of people, who ordinarily would’ve never met, something to talk about.

A good magician at a wedding doesn’t just interact with the guests…he has the guests interacting with each other.

The magician needs to acknowledge this before you book!

If you’re the bride-to-be and you’re reading this…you are the star of this wedding! I’m telling you this like I tell every bride for every wedding that I’m a part of. You are the one and only star of this wedding. In other words…I am not the star. Please get that now. I’ve been on national TV, performed on stages around the country, including Vegas and Hollywood and I am NOT the star of your wedding!!! You are the star! And the groom-to-be is the costar.

I’m telling you now, if a magician doesn’t acknowledge that early in your conversation with them, I would be hesitant to book. I’ve heard of what some would call “horror stories” where a magician hogged the spotlight all night and even one notorious story in my collection where a magician embarrassed the maid of honor so much that he made her cry.

You need to know that the magician you’re booking understands their role at a wedding. A very valuable role…but a small one.

Maybe this will help…

What’s my go-to format when doing magic at a wedding?

The second the wedding party sneaks off to take pictures, and cocktail hour (or similar) begins, that’s when I emerge onto the set.

1. Strolling Magic for the Guests

During the cocktail hour, I mix and mingle with guests with the specific intention of getting them to meet each other. I take two or more different groups and bring them together just to get them interacting.

It might be important for you to know that the magic I perform at weddings is different than when I do magic at a corporate event. This magic is specifically designed to get people smiling, laughing, and interacting. It’s not designed to get people screaming and running away like I’m a witch that needs to be burned. That attracts a big audience and that’s not what I’m there to do. Subduing the magic, even slightly, prevents me from hogging the spotlight.

As a side note, I also have an opportunity to say with each group, “Hey everyone, I hope you have a great night and I just want you to know that it means the world to Nick and Jessica that you’re here.”

2. Magic for the Wedding Party

About 15 minutes before the cocktail party ends, someone comes to get me and I’m taken to the location where the wedding party is. I perform for them for about 10 minutes so the bride and groom get to experience the magic with their closest friends.

3. Special Trick for the Bride and Groom

Once I’ve performed for the wedding party, everyone is sent away except for the bride and groom. I do the best thing of the night just for them. Not only do I show them a special trick, but I give them a gift that’s very specific to our time together, which includes a picture to remember that time. It’s a very special moment that no one other than the bride and groom get to be a part of.

As a side note, I’ve been told by couples years later that they framed the picture and keep it with the gift on their mantle.

And as soon as that’s done…

4. I leave!

Yes, I am gone. Remember me saying that the bride is the star and I’m not? Well, except during the performance for the wedding party, I am never seen in the same room with the bride again. All attention is directed towards her and I don’t even want to give people the opportunity to come up to me and ask, “Can you show our group a trick?” If they just happen to react big, despite all the precautions I take, I don’t want it to ever come across as disrespectful to the bride. The bride and myself are never seen by guests in the same room at the same time.

5. The Bride has nothing to think about!

I make this an absolute rule, but outside of the initial booking conversation, I avoid asking the bride-to-be any questions about details. I’ll interact with the wedding coordinator to get the details I need, but because of the number of weddings I’ve been a part of, I got this! I don’t want the bride to have to spend one second worried about me. Remember…I’m not the star.

Are there exceptions?

Yes! Big ones! For one, I’ve had couples on quite a few occasions tell me it was the second marriage for each of them and they both love magic. They even take their pictures before the wedding because they want to be in the room watching me with everyone else. I’m told by those couples directly to come in and shock their guests. In that case…you better believe I will.

Another scenario I’ve encountered are couples telling me that their friends and family really “aren’t dancers.” So rather than bringing in a DJ, they bring me in to literally do my hour long show after dinner.

This happened several times during Covid because dancing was not allowed in certain venues.

“Bryan is an absolutely incredible and thoughtful performer. We had to change our wedding plans last second to have a “COVID compliant wedding” which meant…no dancing. While at first we were upset that our guests wouldn’t be able to dance, we were…without a doubt…SO HAPPY that we ended up booking Bryan for a 1hr magic show for entertainment instead. Bryan waltzed around cocktail hour, impressing guests with his strolling magic and completely amazed them with his incredible performance after dinner. Bryan was SUCH at a hit. I never thought in a million years I’d be hiring a magician for my wedding, but boy am I SO GLAD that I did!”

Nicolette A., Wedding Magic Show in Raleigh, NC

Know the budget!

Trust me, I get it. My wife and I were married (at the time I’m writing this) just a handful of years ago. I know all too well the price gouging that goes on, simply because…it’s a wedding.

None of that here. You need to know how much a good magician costs. I wrote a whole article on this topic which you’re welcome to read, but I’m going to give you a little window into what you should be spending for a magician at your wedding. I know a lot of magicians and there’s no one I would personally recommend for a wedding that’s under $1500. If the performer is local, the range can go from $1500-$3500 for a true professional. Some will be higher, especially if traveling.

To some, this may seem like a big expense, and you can definitely find a lot cheaper out there. But if this day is truly important to you, please take my word for it and do not gamble when it comes to entertainment. I would rather you not book someone at all, than spend a limited entertainment budget on someone who may embarrass you, your spouse, and potentially your guests.

This is a very big day and, as I tell every bride and groom, it’s likely the only time this exact group of people will ever get together. These are the people in your life that you thought enough of to invite to your wedding. Spending a little extra is an irreplaceable opportunity to give them a special gift, that they were in no way expecting. It’s your way of saying, “Thank you for being with us today.”

I act from personal experience.

People don’t really think about this, but I had a lot of magicians at my wedding. One magician was a former pastor and even officiated my wedding. As much as I love magic, I would not have been ok with a killer lineup of magicians pulling out tricks and overshadowing my wife (not that they could’ve done it). When I have the privilege of being a part of a couple’s wedding day, I take it as seriously as if my wife was the bride. I know how I wanted her to be treated on our amazing day in 2018. That’s the respect I give every bride…and groom too…but he’s not the star. The bride is.