A guest blog with Close-Up Chris
Magicians have been part of entertainment history for centuries, yet let’s be honest — many folks just can’t stand them. Perhaps it’s the eye-roll-inducing performances or the idea that wedding magic equates to cheap parlour tricks. But here’s the twist: while plenty of cringe-worthy magicians are out there, the world of magic is gradually shaking off its bad rep. Thanks to hit shows like Britain’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller, people are starting to see the genuine skill and artistry behind a top-notch magic trick. Great wedding magicians can really liven up your wedding reception and get guests talking – they’re actually a brilliant entertainment choice for weddings!
Breaking Down the Stigma around wedding magicians
Let’s be real: the old stereotype of the wedding magician with rolled-up sleeves, hideous ties, and an air of self-importance is a tough one to shake. It’s enough to make you want to dodge magicians altogether. And let’s not even start on those experiences with less-than-stellar performers. No wonder people are hesitant to give wedding magicians a shot.
But here’s the twist: magic can be genuinely enthralling when done right. Take Penn & Teller, for instance. They’ve created a reputation for their craft by blending humour, skill, and a pinch of scepticism. This mix has transformed magic into something beyond simple tricks—it’s evolved into a true art form.
Why People Dislike Magicians
Despite the growing appreciation for the art of magic, some couples still avoid the very idea of this kind of wedding entertainment. Let’s delve into why:
Invasion of Space: Your uni friends are catching up as they sit down for the wedding meal, and a magician materialises at their table. It could feel a bit like having an uninvited guest at a private party — awkward and unwanted, especially if they’re not feeling it. The good news? At weddings, most people are up for a giggle and curious to see who you’ve booked to entertain them!
Fear of Looking Stupid: Nobody enjoys feeling like the butt of the joke. Your wedding guests might be sat with people they don’t know very well, so the fear of being duped or outwitted can make some folks rather prickly. A good wedding magician will read the crowd and take care not to make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Fear of “Real” Magic: Believe it or not, some genuinely worry that magic might involve the paranormal. Umm….
The last magician they watched was sub-par. Unfortunately, a single bad performance can make all wedding magicians look like amateurs. But let’s be real: not all magicians are created equal. One dud doesn’t spoil the whole deck, and you can soon bring your guests around by hiring a great magician for your wedding!
Close-Up Chris’s Approach to Magic
I totally get it. I rarely watch other magicians since they’re often less than thrilling. My magic focuses on fun and entertainment, with the trick itself playing a supporting role to the overall experience. No rolled-up sleeves, no hideous ties, and certainly no taking myself too seriously. Just some good old-fashioned fun with a sprinkle of amazement!
One reason I champion my Close-Up Corner format is that it offers a personal and tailored experience for you and your wedding guests. It sidesteps the usual pitfalls of traditional magicians, like feeling awkwardly cornered or forced into participation.
By letting guests approach me on their own terms, I avoid the awkwardness of performing for someone who isn’t in the mood for magic.
Personal Experiences
Approaching a group of wedding guests and introducing myself as the magician sometimes leads to eye rolls and a quick “No thanks,” which can be pretty exasperating. I mean, just give me thirty seconds, and I’ll win you over. Seriously, it’s going to be fun, and we’ll have a great time. While I do manage to change their minds often, it’s still a bit discouraging that they initially brush me off so quickly.
Winning Over the Crowd
Fortunately, there are some well-kept secrets that a wedding magician can use to captivate guests.
Here are a few tricks I use to charm a tough crowd:
1: Make an impact! I’m not suggesting violence — I’m talking sharp, BANG WALLOP tricks that leave a lasting impression. “Wow, Julie. This guy’s skilled — let’s see what else he’s got.”
2: Comedy: Food might win a man’s heart, but humour is the key to cracking stone-cold misery guts over here. Get them laughing, and we’re nearly at the finish line!
3: Identify the leader: They’re like a rotten apple trying to boss around the poor magician. Not on my watch. I’ll charm them with a few compliments, lay on the charm THICK, and soon enough, they’re putty in my hands. For good measure, I’ll swipe their wallet, watch, and security number—after all, they had it coming for being a jerk. Of course, I jest. (a little).
4: Keep it short: Ultimately, when hired to entertain your wedding guests, I maintain respect and professionalism. If my tried-and-true tricks fall flat, I trust my judgment and wrap up the close-up show quicker than usual. That’s the brilliance of close-up magic – it’s so flexible, you can wrap it up faster than a disappearing act.
Remember, you can’t win ’em all. I’ll just save my tears for the drive home!
So should you book a wedding magician?
Not everyone dislikes magicians, which is fortunate for my career! However, some people still have the old perception that wedding magicians haven’t evolved since the 1980s. Don’t let this put you off booking! Do your research, find a wedding magician with great reviews and someone who’s approachable so you can ask questions.
Consider this a friendly dare if you’ve never been keen on magicians. The next time a wedding magician steps up to you at a wedding showcase or event, give them thirty seconds. You might find yourself entertained in ways you never saw coming.
When we feature real couples’ weddings on our blog, we don’t ask if they had a magician. It’s a rare choice – but it’s absolute genius. Those couples who fill out our interview and who did hire a magician always, always point them out as one of the very best decisions they made. And that’s thanks to a new breed of exceptional entertainers, including our lovely friend Close-Up Chris. Wedding magicians have levelled up – big time. We’ve got 10 brilliant reasons to hire a magician for your wedding, inspired by Chris’s blog ‘Reasons to hire a wedding magician‘.
1. A good magician brings groups together
Without a magician, your wedding guests will stand around in groups with a handful of social butterflies flitting between family and friends. But it’s the dream to have everyone at your wedding chatting and laughing together… and a magician is where that starts. Picture the scene: your mates from work are huddled around the canapés, while auntie Jane and the family are chatting by the cocktail station – it’s all a bit subdued. A magician will easily bring both groups together, and have them laughing in no time!
2. The best ice breaker
Even if you’re away having your photos taken, a magician will make sure the ambience begins early. While entertainment like garden games might appeal to some of your guests, they can actually separate groups. But a magician will bring people together, looking after your guests who will be in very capable hands! As he steps away to entertain another group, the crowd that’s gathered around him will have something to keep talking about!
“Imagine the whirlwind of laughter, chatter, and good times as I steal thoughts, wallets and watches to get the fun started.” ~ top wedding magician Close-Up Chris
3. Photo opportunities – Photographers. Love. Magicians.
This is fabulous: “The true magic of any wedding (no pun intended) is those candid, unplanned moments that have your photographer clicking faster than a teenager texting their crush.”
And it’s absolutely true. I’ve heard wedding photographers say time and again that the last photos they want are the ones where guests have spotted the camera and stiffened into their ‘photo face’. Those belly laughs and eyes wide open, surprise and delight are what brings characters to the fore. That’s a dream for every wedding photographer: off guard, having fun, joyful moments and connection!
4. The lull buster
A great magician is there to fill any potential gaps before they happen. Every wedding day will have quiet bits – the vibe can’t run at 100 miles an hour all day long! And while the two of you might need some quiet time to breathe and relieve the pressure, or to feed your baby, or give some time to your little ones… your magician is there for your guests. Lulls are necessary: they’ll keep you sane. Meanwhile, a great wedding magician will mingle with guests, take hungry uncles’ minds off their tummies and make sure no one look at their watch (except if they need to check it’s still on their wrist!)
“It’s crucial to have some emergency “entertainment parachutes” ready to deploy during the lulls. In my experience, the most monotonous part of a wedding is right after the wedding breakfast… Pump in some fun that’ll invigorate your guests, shaking them out of their food stupor and gearing them up for an evening of revelry.”
5. X-Factor – unforgettable memories of an epic day (to outshine any other, if that’s your goal!)
Do you remember the weddings you went to last year? What was the best bit? (I’m guessing it was the food… and nine times out of ten, it’s the evening food. Am I right?) Or you might remember a stand-out wedding you went to – and that will be down to the entertainment.
If you want your wedding to be THE one your guests remember, you might be looking for something “more dazzling, more thrilling, more momentous – and I’ve got just the ticket. Close-up magic is like a secret weapon for weddings… There will be stories told long after the last slice of cake has been devoured, about how the magician invaded Zoey’s mind, how the magician made off with the groom’s watch, and so forth.”
6. Just the most awesome FUN!
A great magician at a wedding means guests will be laughing so hard their cheeks ache – and they’ll be laughing toegther. “Bringing in a top-notch wedding magician (or any other form of live entertainment, for that matter) is like performing CPR on your party. It injects a much-needed jolt of fun into the proceedings.”
Other entertainment will have guests smiling or tapping their feet, but only a magician can look after everyone and have the air ringing with laughter!
“While the chocolate fountain might offer a saccharine delight and the DJ can crank up the decibels till the cows come home, close-up magic is the real game-changer here.” I can almost hear the joy…
7. Versatile and there for you too!
“Procuring the services of a top-tier wedding magician is like getting an insurance policy against any wedding day hiccups:
The caterer’s timing on the roast beef has gone awry? Not an issue. Position the magician in front of your famished guests for an impromptu performance that will distract them from the delayed dinner.
The groom is a jittery mess before his speech? No worries. Let the close-up magician work his charm and provide some light-hearted entertainment to lift his spirits.
One side of the family glued to ‘their spot’ in the corner? Don’t stress, your trusty entertainer will draw them out of their shell, diffusing any awkward tension.” – Close-Up Chris
Experience and empathy will really tell, and this is where it’s super important to hire a magician who is familiar with your style of wedding (e.g. in a formal setting, or a festival style wedding, or a mix of cultures) and the running order of the day!
8. It’s not down to the two of you to keep everyone happy all day long!
At some point in your wedding day, you’ll need to breathe… and ideally, you’ll be relaxed and enjoying the entire day! That doesn’t mean your wedding won’t be a whirlwind…
“You’ll be whizzing around like a pinball on steroids, and the last thing you need is to worry about guests nodding off during what should be the bash of the decade… Just wind me up and let me loose – I’ll keep your guests so riveted they won’t even notice you’ve snuck off to snap some pics”
9. Worth every penny and a thousand times more!
“It’s a strange paradox that we wedding magicians often find ourselves at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to wedding planning/wedding entertainment. But let me tell you, the seismic shift we can trigger at your reception is nothing short of extraordinary.”
10. A focal point – the ‘Close-Up Corner’.
After your wedding meal and speeches, there’s a gap in most weddings. We see lots of couples have an outfit change, or time to put little ones to bed, or just a breather and a chance to take it all in! Guests will be waiting to see what comes next… and many will be looking forward to evening guests’ arrival. But what you don’t want is for everyone to mark their territory (chair) at the back of the room away from the dance floor, park their bums and settle in for the night. You want them standing, walking around, and still in the mood for a party! Cue the wedding magician…
“Most receptions, especially in the evenings, suffer from a common ailment. Following the room turnaround, the first dance, and the cake cutting, guests tend to glue themselves to their seats, eyes fixated on the deserted dance floor, waiting for someone to make the first move.”
Chris’s trademark “Close-Up Corner” gives guests something to go and check out – an area to hang out and be entertained. It keeps the atmosphere light and happy, and your evening reception will kick off before people realise they were even waiting for it to begin!
To sum all of this up, a great wedding magician will create talking points and memories, and that’s what makes a wedding unforgettable.
“It’s not every day that Nanna has her watch stolen (relax, she gets it back eventually), or “one of the lads” gets completely taken to the cleaners with some slick back-and-fro’ banter from yours truly.
These unique moments are the stuff legendary weddings are made of. They cast your special day in a golden glow that lingers long after the last guest has left.”
Close-Up Chris offers all day solutions for wedding entertainment. His popular showman package is perfect for grandiose weddings, offering amusement during the drinks reception and evening, with a sprinkle of bonus extras. See why it’s become a crowd favourite at https://www.closeupchris.co.uk/
Header image by Kent wedding photographer Benjamin Toms
I loved this idea for a blog post about wedding day mistakes. It’s tongue-in-cheek, and the last thing we want to do is worry you! But mistakes can happen; and they often become favourite wedding stories over the years. Wedding magician Close-Up Chris asked around his wedding supplier friends and discovered some common wedding day mistakes couples really do make – and how to avoid them!
Sticking with wedding traditions even if they’re not your thing!
You don’t need cringe moments at your wedding! Don’t feel pressured to wear a tie / garter / toss your bouquet etc. if it doesn’t sit right with you. If the thought of a slow shuffle in a circle pit of camera phones makes you squirm, ditch your first dance! If not seeing each other the night before makes you nervous as hell, spend every second together in the 24 hours before you say your I do’s. Be comfortable, pick only the wedding traditions that mean something, and be you!
“Not all parts of a wedding are essential so don’t be afraid to ditch tradition if you’re not keen on certain parts of the day” – wedding photographer Terri Pashley
Inviting people you don’t know
You’ll enjoy the day more if you know everyone who’s there with you! Work on your guest list together as a couple, and when parents and families try to edge in more guests, stand strong! If your favourite auntie insists on bringing her bestie and you just can’t say no, get to know them first – pop round for tea and cakes or something!
Rushing it in the morning
Give yourselves time. If you’re having hair and makeup done, ask the experts how long it will take. And if you’re wearing a wedding dress, give yourself plenty of time to get into it and fasten all the faffy bits!
credit: Fallon Michael on Unsplash
Getting ready in chaos
Tidy house, tidy mind, right? It doesn’t matter how many of you are in the room – delegate someone to stay in control of keeping everything tidy. This way you won’t lose anything, and your photos will look uncluttered! (It’s a myth that your photographer can happily ‘Photoshop out’ all the Sainsburys carrier bags in the background!)
Messing up your wedding day timings
Think your day through, and figure out what people will do for each hour of your day. You’ll need just enough time to get from place to place, without any long gaps in between – and food in all the right places!
credit: Thomas William via Unsplash
Spending too long on group shots
Keep your lists for group photos short. English Wedding photographer member Hannah Hall has some top tips to help you manage your wedding group photos beautifully!
Not putting anyone in charge of events!
A wedding timeline is a good start: knowing when you’ll have canapés, when the entertainment will start and when everyone should be heading in for food is crucial! But it’s super handy to have someone there to shepherd you and your guests from place to place, at the right time! This could be a wedding toastmaster if you like the traditional look, or a helpful wedding coordinator or even your celebrant. Perhaps one of your bridal party is outgoing and organised enough to take on the role!
Snoozefest drinks receptions
The afternoon wedding ‘lull’ is famously best avoided – but how? Getting your timings right will ensure any gap is filled with something fabulously fun: organised garden games and challenges, old school board games with prizes, a wedding quiz or a magician can all help to ‘plug’ a wedding lull – but the best way to avoid a lull on the afternoon of your wedding is to start proceedings later: you don’t need the event to last from 12 noon until midnight! Start at 3 or even 4!
Bringing the band on too soon
A wedding band is there to fill the dance floor and bring the party atmosphere – so you want the perfect conditions for their performance! Instead of asking your band to start before dusk, have an acoustic guitarist or a quiet Spotify playlist. Then when the band kicks in for their first set it’ll be a little darker – just enough to really feel like party time!
Not asking for suppliers’ advice
If you’re wondering anything about your wedding day, ask the experts! Never assume ‘it’ll sort itself out on the day’. Suppliers can answer all your questions about logistics – when and where and how stuff will happen, the best way to do certain things… it’s all about experience and asking for all the advice they can help you with! Giving suppliers a little flexibility is the best thing you can do. For example, trusting your florist to find the right seasonal flowers without specifying the exact blooms you need. Or trusting your band and DJ to gauge what will get your people up and dancing! It’s always best to give them a list of songs you hate, than telling them exactly what to play, even if your guests aren’t dancing!
Taking responsibility for everything
credit: Jen Theodore on Unsplash
I worry when I hear people talking about ‘my wedding’. Whichever one of you is taking on more responsibility, please stop! Having just one of you being responsible for the decor, suppliers, logistics and guests is too much. Avoid wedding stress by planning together beforehand, and make sure you both know all the plans for the day. That way if something goes wrong, it’s not just on you. Wedding stress and on the day worries should never get in the way of you enjoying the day.
Wedding planner Michelle J tells how she and her team have resolved some major wedding day challenges, all in the background while the couple are happily oblivious to goings-on behind the scenes! For example, when an event hire company was struck down with Covid at the very last minute and couldn’t build a stage: “We worked swiftly to find an alternative company with just hours notice and, against the odds, made it happen… Guests began to arrive at 3.30pm. Luckily, the venue had beautiful gardens and so we worked quickly to screen off the set up which was still being finished. While not ideal, guests were unable to see the goings on and were served a pre ceremony drink while they wandered the gardens. As far as they and the couple were concerned, everything was going to plan.” – luxury and destination wedding planner Elegante by Michelle J
Leaving kids to entertain themselves
Kids at weddings are brilliantly fun and entertaining – but if you’re inviting little ones it’s important to entertain them too! A wedding creche or activity area is a fab idea, but if that’s beyond your budget try goodie bags to keep them occupied, or a dressing up corner or games for all your younger guests!
“Our tip for weddings where there are lots of children, make sure there is some form of entertainment and someone to look after so you can your guests can relax and settle into enjoying the day without running around after the little ones! Arrange an area packed with games and activities, and most importantly, someone to be in charge of them! There are companies that can do this for you, making this side of your wedding day totally stress-free.” ~ Lapstone Barn wedding venue
Forgetting to feed hangry suppliers
Now we’re not saying your suppliers will be mean if you don’t feed them. They’re professionals and will be there for you no matter what! But laying on a really decent meal for your photographer, videographer, band and any other suppliers who’ll be at your venue for more than an hour or two is the right thing to do. (And remember not to miss anyone out!)
“We can often find ourselves in the middle of nowhere, working long hours so having a hot meal provided is really appreciated. At a recent wedding, they forgot to feed the musician, whilst the photographers and myself were tucking in!” ~ Lucy the Event Artist
Mis-timed sparkler shots and smoke flares
Always read the safety info on your explosives, people! Smoke flares make beautiful pics but they get hot! Smoke and sparkler shots look amazing but make sure everyone lights theirs at the same time (esp. sparklers), knows where to wave them about and where your photographer will be. The same applies for bubbles!
Forgetting what you’re there for
Wedding mistakes happen. Cakes tumble. Flowers wilt. Guest books get forgotten. Outfits get dirty. But on the morning of your wedding you’ll wake up as singles and go to sleep as your married selves. Don’t let anything spoil that feeling of making a lifelong commitment to the best person in your world.
Happy Monday, lovely people! We have something rather special to share with you today – a fantastic idea to brighten up any wedding ‘lull’ and bring astonished grins to your guests’ faces!
The Close-Up Corner is a unique idea from wedding magician Close-Up Chris – one of the best-reviewed wedding magicians in the UK. The concept is brilliant: a focal point for your guests so they can choose to check out the entertainment, and a camera to capture their reactions!
Think of the Close-Up Corner as a photobooth-style area with amazing magic, plus a video of your guests’ reactions for you to keep!
Last week we shared wedding planning advice for introverted couples, where lovely Ross Willsher suggested having some form of wedding entertainment. Imagine: if you’re a shy couple and anxious about being the centre of attention all day long, the Close-Up Corner could be the perfect way to keep your guests occupied, interested and happy!
“The format that I offer for weddings a little different to any other wedding magician. It’s called the Close-Up Corner. A focal point that guests can interact with on their own terms.” – Close-Up Chris
I read some lovely advice from Glorious by Heidi on the Your Individual Wedding instagram over the weekend, with suggestions to make your wedding more autism-friendly. She suggested creating “a ‘no pressure’ environment for your guests with Autism. If they don’t want to be involved in games or group photos, make sure they know that that’s okay”.
For neurodivergent couples or for guests with specific needs, having a quieter form of wedding entertainment which is set off to one side (ie, the Close-Up Corner) means they can choose to go and have a look on their own terms – in contrast to a roaming magician who could approach at any time. The thoughtfulness and consideration behind Chris’s Close-Up Corner says a lot about his outlook on weddings, his understanding of people, and his commitment to providing a happy and enjoyable wedding experience!
Over to Chris to explain a little more
“I have both a lite and full set-up which also includes the option of the Reaction Cam where we capture all the amazing reactions of the guests and provide a professionally edited montage.”
Typically, guests arrive at an event, grab a drink and sit down at a table and then what? They wait for something to happen…but guess what? Nothing happens!
Your guests need an excuse to get out of their chairs and become active at your event. Of course, this doesn’t have to be the Close-Up Corner experience (but what a great idea!), it could be a photo booth, cocktail making, interactive games etc.
There’s a much better dynamic in a room when people are mingling with other guests – sparking conversations – creating memories!
Find out more: https://www.closeupchris.co.uk/the-closeup-corner/
Close-Up Chris is a member of English Wedding – tap to find out more!
Web: https://www.closeupchris.co.uk
We want your wedding to be a fun-filled, joyous event from the beginning to the very end. Imagine your guests smiling all day long, even the couples who don’t know a soul. Keeping every guest entertained through the quiet, in-between bits of your day can be a challenge… but we have the solution right here!
The dream is to get all your guests talking to each other, laughing and having a brilliant time. Imagine your introverted guests, or the ones who’ve come from a long way away and don’t know anyone. Your uni mates from the other end of the country, or your school friends who’ve travelled half way around the world and have never met your work pals. Rather than hovering around the edges of the crowd, what if there was a way to get them involved, right in the centre of things… loving the experience and making friends?
As much as we love a Big Jenga, the budget-friendly wedding entertainment that is garden games isn’t going to draw a mega crowd. You need ripples of laughter, an easy talking point, someone – a nice human! – to draw in your guests and bring them together.
May we suggest, as your nice human – modern wedding magician Close-up Chris?
Do NOT close this tab. Wedding magicians are BETTER than you think these days. The good ones – and Chris is absolutely one of the leading lights in wedding entertainment – the good ones will gather your guests around and have them chuckling (at each other’s reactions, most of all!) in such a natural way. There’ll be no awkwardness – Chris himself is well aware that a wedding magician’s role is to help your guests overcome any awkwardness that’s already there! (Because, wedding, small talk and not knowing anyone – you know?)
Chris’s blog has so much personality you’ll feel as though you’ve made a friend just by reading it! He describes wedding magicians as “creating an experience for your guests that intensifies the joy of the wedding. It’s about delivering opportunities that encourage people to talk, feel good, and ramp up the vibe…
It’s a subtle icebreaker that brings strangers together in a way that feels effortless and natural. With magic as a shared experience and a common talking point, everyone has a topic they can bounce off.”
If there’s a ‘gap’ in your wedding day – and most often, that’s during the afternoon when you’ve done your group photos and you’re waiting for the meal and speeches – Close-Up Chris will keep your guests smiling. He’ll mingle, he’ll entertain and he’ll bring everyone together. That’s the real magic, we think!
“There’s something magnetic and transformative in the power of a shared experience… Magic has this beautiful ability to get strangers talking and laughing together – and it’s an atmosphere so contagious, it spreads.
Other guests want to get involved and the vibe rises as more and more people discover the tricks that got other people laughing.” ~ Close-Up Chris
I could go on… but I really want you to discover Chris’s talents for yourselves now! I thoroughly recommend grabbing a cuppa and reading 5 wedding magician myth busters (because yep, I learned stuff!)
If you need to convince your other half that a wedding magician is a genius idea, then share Close-Up Chris’s ‘Guests that I meet at every wedding‘ – it’s so funny you’ll be shouting out your mates’ names as you read it!
