About the show

About
We have been involved with the planning and attended countless weddings over the years (over 1200 and counting!) certainly enough to know that there can be a fair amount of stress involved!

So we wanted to create a service that ticks all the boxes, everything we do at Surprise Shows is all about entertaining and helping to create memories that will last a lifetime and we wanted to offer an option that would take all of the headache out of your entertainment needs in one simple solution.

The solution was Elite Wedding Hosts™. A collection of performers who are skilled in different areas and can offer the services of multiple suppliers.

Plus with different connotations to pick from, you can choose full day, half day and DJ option!

How It Works

We offer a comprehensive consultation service in the run up to your event to ensure everything is to your needs and tastes.

From the tone of the day, the background music, we take the time to really understand your 'wants and needs', we want to help make your vision a reality and leave no stone unturned!

No matter if the brief is to make a fuss of a certain guest, to add a little banter to the proceedings with the speakers and best man or to be understanding and sensitive of situations, we are with you every step of the way to make the wedding of your dreams and turn your perfect day into your perfect night.

Toastmaster/ M.C.

Some people love the idea of a traditional toastmaster decked out in the red jacket and white gloves, while some think of them as a little old fashion or antiquated.

Whatever your view, the role they take on is actually quite an important one as they help keep the proceedings from running late and are there to help guide you smoothly through the day.

So, think of your Elite Wedding Host™ as a modern take on this role, no red jacket or white gloves but from engaging with your guests to consulting with your wedding planner or room manager, our job is to make sure you can sit back and enjoy your special day!

Sometimes a room manager may introduce you into your wedding breakfast and announce and compere your speeches but they are not professionals at doing it! Our experienced Elite Wedding Host™ take over this role and ensure everything not only runs smoothly and on time but with confidence, humour and a relatable, friendly rapport.

Your Elite Wedding Host™ will be on hand to help and keep the flow of the day moving in the right direction as a constant calming hand and a fun, personable, lively host!

Plus, we offer the use of their professional PA system, so you can be confident the sound will be sparkling clear and every one of your guests hears exactly what is being said rather than using the ancient in-house system!

They will also liaise with your photographer and videographer to make sure that things go to plan and you get those memorable pictures and video.

Singing Waiter Style Show

Singing Waiters are an exceptional addition to any event but we understand that sometimes timing or budget constraints prevents clients from be able to have a show at their wedding breakfast.

This is where Elite Wedding Hosts™ come into their own, because not only are they able to competently M.C. your wedding breakfast, they can also get the party started with their own version of a Singing Waiter Show!

It’s still a big surprise when you Elite Wedding Host™ bursts into song and gets everybody joining in, your guest may think he’s part of the venue staff and will have no idea that he is also a fantastically talented performer too!

Experience the fun and excitement of a live vocal solo performance encapsulating all of the classic sing-a-long numbers that our shows are known for!

This part can even have added ‘singing waiters’ to make the surprise even bigger. *Ask for more details when enquiring.

Evening Host/ DJ Service

Elite Wedding Hosts™ get the evening reception off the best possible start as they have already built a rapport with you and your daytime guests, by this time of the proceedings they are more like an extended guest themselves!

So why not add the option of a fully professional DJ? Some of our hosts offer this service themselves but we also have a selection of fantastic preferred suppliers that integrate with us on the night, boasting a fantastic set up with superb sound and lighting, watch as they continue where they left off in the daytime and seamlessly transition into the evening reception.

Playing the music that you love in order to set the right tone at the right time, a warm up in the early evening, hosting of the cake cutting and first dance, you can even have some fun with a game or two if requested!

All of our performers are carefully vetted to ensure that they represent our vision and standards and we don’t accept just anybody. Being talented is only 50% of the job! The interaction with you and your guests is paramount, their punctuality, their appearance, the quality of their equipment is all incredibly important in creating those memories that will last a lifetime.

FAQs

Yes, please do let them know about your intentions to have us perform for you, they may have limitations or restrictions that we need to know about.

Yes absolutely, as well as contacting you prior to the date, we also call the venues to discuss logistics with your wedding coordinator, this is also when we sort out fine details and pass on any information that they may require from us, such as PAT & PLI documents.

Our show works best when we have a ’captive’ audience, so the best time for us to start is essentially as the last plate of dessert is served, (or equivalent). You will need to decide when you would like your speeches to happen but we can discuss this in more detail when we speak on the phone.

We like to keep things simple and always positive, so we begin by raising a toast to the bride and groom ‘on behalf of all the staff who have served you today’ it then proceeds from there. We do not do any falling over, arguments or amateur dramatics!

The performance times are very flexible, whenever performing at a wedding or corporate event there are lots of things going on and often, we have to fit within certain sections of the day, this is no problem for us and will always go out of our way to fit within your needs. This is the reason we say often say 'performance time of up to one hour' although we try not to put a specific timing or limit on things, the show really comes to life with the audience interaction (which is hard to put a time on), essentially, we are there for your event and will perform as long as we are needed!

No, not specifically, performances have a structure to it, the songs we perform are in the set to ‘do a job’ for us and gain a specific response, (We never sing songs just to ‘fill time’).

When it comes to getting an audience to participate in the show you have to sing songs they will know and love, we don’t sing songs for our own benefit, they have to really connect with an audience, if you perform something vague or too unusual, the audience will disengage – which we don’t want to happen, audience participation is very important!

Of course, there are always options when it comes to booking entertainment for your event, the essence of any wedding, birthday, anniversary, corporate event or charity night is to celebrate and make memories!

You only need to look on the internet for a few minutes to see that there are many companies offering singing waiters but how can you tell you are booking the right ones for your event? Especially when you consider that;

  • There are many companies that are ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ they are constantly looking for trends they can replicate in order to make money.
  • There are companies that look big and have lots of adverts etc but the people who run them are not performers and have no real-world experience of an event from the view of the performer getting the best from an audience.
  • There are companies who think that an amazing event starts with them having a big argument or causing a huge commotion, alienating the audience and venue alike.
  • There are companies who charge a fortune and only pay their performers a third of the fee, taking the lions share for themselves!
  • There are companies who regularly advertise for literally anyone to cover their ‘singing waiter booking this weekend – no experience necessary!’ because they took the money without having confirmed availability of performers.
  • There are companies who are happy for their performers to just turn up and do whatever they like – ‘just drop a plate and start singing’
  • There are companies who offer so much bespoke flexibility to the client that the performer is given set lists the week of a booking and are forced to sing songs that they don’t know and have never performed before!
  • There are companies who insist on performing at a specific time (after main course) so they only do a quick 15 - 20 minutes so they can get off to another booking.
  • There are companies who think that the day is about them, bringing ‘diva’ behaviour and expecting everything to revolve around them.
  • There are companies who quote a fee and then ask for more money for PA hire, accommodation and travel expenses.
  • There are companies who aggressively market to you almost to the point of stalking!
  • There are companies who market their performers as ‘all West End trained’ but they have little details about experience of performing at a wedding or corporate event!

This list could go on and it may seem like we’re just being unkind to our competitors, however, these are actually things that we have seen and been told about people’s interaction and experience of ‘other companies’.

We have always had a clear vison of what we wanted to achieve with our business, from the ways and methods we market, to the straightforward and convenient booking process, the detailed interaction and communication in the run up to the event, the high standards on the day of the occasion, all with the goal of helping you to have the best day ever!

All of our performers are carefully vetted to ensure that they represent our vision and standards and we don’t accept just anybody. Being talented is only 50% of the job! The interaction with you and your guests is paramount, their punctuality, their appearance, the quality of their equipment is all incredibly important in creating those memories that will last a lifetime.

This depends on which show and package you choose, the essence of what you are trying to achieve is to celebrate and create lasting memories, to have an experience you and your guest will never forget and we are well aware that you have many options when choosing a surprise show for your big day. We understand that you want to be sure that you have made the right choice and can trust every supplier you hire.

Some things to bear in mind when booking is what you actually get for your investment,

We offer;

  • The most competitive pricing
  • Dedicated support and advice at each step of the process
  • Multiple options to suit every event and budget
  • Award Winning shows
  • Professional contracts and paperwork, freephone number and incredible client service
  • Highly rated and acknowledged within the industry
  • Bespoke performance options and themed shows

And remember, we do this full time. We are not a part-time group, we are constantly working on our content, methods and business in general to ensure we are meeting and surpassing the expectations of our clients and the extremely high standards we set ourselves.

For a specific quote, please fill out the enquiry form.

Let’s chat about your big day!

When you make the decision to hire something a little different for your special event, choose Surprise Shows, experts in celebration and event professionals.

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