WEDDING MAGICIAN
IN YORKSHIRE
Wedding magic designed around your day, not simply added to it.
I'm Mark Waddington, The Yorkshire Wedding Magician.
I've been performing professionally for more than 20 years and have now been part of over 1,700 weddings. During that time I've learned that being a great wedding magician involves quite a lot more than being good at magic.
You need to understand weddings.
You need to know when a room needs a little more energy, when guests need bringing together and when the best thing you can do is step back and let something else happen.
That's why I don't simply think about what magic I can perform at your wedding. I think about what the magic can actually do for it.
It can break the ice between two families who barely know each other. It can keep everyone entertained while you're away having photographs. It can keep the atmosphere moving between courses and turn one of those slightly awkward gaps in the day into something your guests genuinely enjoy.
The magic itself is modern, funny and performed right in front of your guests.
But it's what happens around it that makes it perfect for weddings.
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"We booked Mark for a 2 hour slot to fill the gap while I went to get photos done by the lake. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t that. I didn't want to leave to get my photos done, I was too busy enjoying seeing my guests faces as Mark blown their minds. Mark, your people skills and knowing how to read a room was impeccable. The magic was another level and it was the best addition we had on our day. Thank you so much"
Cheryl Keating
WHERE DOES A MAGICIAN FIT INTO YOUR WEDDING?
One of the questions I'm asked most often is when you should actually have a magician at your wedding.
There isn't one answer.
It depends on your venue, your timings, the number of guests you're inviting and what you've already got planned.
There are, however, three parts of the day where I find magic tends to make the biggest difference.
Your Drinks Reception
This is probably the most popular time to have me.
Once the ceremony is over, you'll usually disappear with your photographer while your guests enjoy a drink and wait for the wedding breakfast.
The only slight problem is that you've just left a room full of family, friends and colleagues who may not all know each other.
That's where I come in.
I'll mingle naturally between groups, creating laughter and conversation while you're away. You can enjoy your photographs without wondering whether everyone else is getting bored, and when you return you'll come back to a drinks reception that's already full of energy.
EXPLORE DRINKS RECEPTION MAGIC
Your Wedding Breakfast
The wedding breakfast is another brilliant time for close-up magic because I can work naturally around the gaps between courses.
I perform table by table, working alongside the venue and catering team rather than interrupting the meal.
One table reacts, another hears it, and before long guests around the room are wondering when I'm getting to them.
It gives the meal little injections of energy without turning dinner into a show.
EXPLORE WEDDING BREAKFAST MAGIC
Before Your Evening Reception
There's often a slightly strange bit of a wedding between the speeches finishing and the evening reception properly beginning.
The room might be getting turned around, day guests are wandering and evening guests are starting to arrive.
At the right venue, this can be a fantastic time for magic. I'll keep your day guests entertained while bringing new arrivals straight into the atmosphere.
I won't recommend this slot for every wedding, though. If you're at a large hotel where everyone is likely to disappear to their rooms for an hour, I'd probably suggest having me earlier.
Tell me your plans and I'll give you an honest recommendation.
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"We recently got married at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire and hired Mark to entertain the guests in between the Ceremony and the Wedding Breakfast and he was truly fantastic! The guests loved him, my husband and I loved him. Mark certainly has the wow factor and guests are still talking about how good he is now. He’s flexible, I changed the timings a day or two before our Wedding and Mark was more than accommodating.
Not only is he a truly amazing Magician that mesmerised us all, he’s got the personality to go with the magic! You definitely won’t be disappointed and neither will your guests! Highly recommend Mark Waddington"
Jo W - Peckforton Castle Wedding Magician
WHAT IS IT ACTUALLY LIKE HAVING ME AT YOUR WEDDING?
Relaxed.
That's probably the simplest way to describe it.
I don't need a stage, microphone or special area, and I'm not going to gather everyone together for a formal performance. I'll just move naturally around your guests, stopping to chat and perform for different groups as the day unfolds.
Some people will want to see everything. Some will be determined to work out how it's done. There's usually at least one person who announces that they “don't believe in magic”, which is always a slightly odd thing to say to a magician.
And some guests will be perfectly happy watching from the sidelines. That's fine too.
After doing this for more than 20 years, I've got a pretty good feel for different people. Nobody needs to be embarrassed or dragged into something they don't want to do.
The aim is simply to make sure everyone feels comfortable, gets involved if they want to, and has a brilliant time.
SOMETHING YOUR GUESTS DON'T GET TO SEE
There's one part of every wedding booking that I keep exclusively for the two of you.
At some point during the day, I'll take you away from everybody else for a private performance.
It's completely different from anything I've shown your guests and ends with a unique keepsake for you to take home.
I deliberately don't explain too much about what happens.
That's part of it.
Wedding days are incredibly busy and you're surrounded by people almost constantly. I like being able to give you a few minutes together where nobody else is watching and create something that's just yours.
WHY BOOK A WEDDING SPECIALIST?
I've performed at more than 1,700 weddings, and there's very little about them that surprises me anymore.
Photographs run late. Dinner moves by half an hour. Somebody disappears immediately before they're needed for the group photograph. The best man promised his speech was five minutes and appears to have brought seventeen pages of notes.
Weddings are weddings.
That experience means you don't need to manage me.
I know how to work with photographers, caterers, venue coordinators and DJs. I know how to adapt when timings change and how to judge whether a group wants another piece of magic or whether it's time for me to move on.
I'm an Associate of The Magic Circle with Silver Star and a multi-award-winning Wedding Entertainer of the Year, and I'm enormously proud of both.
But on your wedding day, the thing you're probably going to value most is simply that I know what I'm doing.
You can get on with enjoying yourself.
WEDDING MAGIC ACROSS YORKSHIRE
Yorkshire is home, and it's where the majority of my weddings take place.
I perform throughout North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and East Yorkshire, including Leeds, York, Harrogate, Skipton, Sheffield, Hull, Scarborough, Whitby, Ripon, Thirsk, Northallerton and throughout the Yorkshire Dales.
I've worked at everything from small countryside weddings to celebrations at some of Yorkshire's best-known venues, including Sandburn Hall, The Coniston Hotel, Rudding Park, Sneaton Castle, Danby Castle and many more.
Every venue works slightly differently.
If I've performed at yours before, there's a good chance I'll already know where magic fits particularly well. If I haven't, tell me how your day is planned and we'll work it out together.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to have a wedding magician?
The drinks reception is the most popular choice, especially while photographs are taking place. The wedding breakfast is also a great fit, along with the period before the evening reception begins.
Will this work if guests don’t know each other?
Yes, this is one of the biggest benefits. Close-up magic naturally brings people together and helps conversations start.
Is it suitable for all types of weddings?
Yes, it works across a wide range of weddings, from formal venues to relaxed countryside settings.
Do guests have to take part?
No, everything is designed to feel natural and comfortable. Guests can engage as much or as little as they like.
How far in advance should we book?
Popular dates across Yorkshire book up quickly, so it’s always best to enquire early to secure availability.
Areas covered
Wedding Magician in York | Wedding Magician in Leeds | Wedding Magician in Harrogate | Wedding Magician in Scarborough | Wedding Magician in Skipton | Wedding Magician in Whitby | Wedding Magician in Thirsk | Wedding Magician in Northallerton | Wedding Magician in Ripon | Wedding Magician in the Yorkshire Dales | Wedding Magician in Hull