Bring in the costumes, cages, and live animals, and engage the audience with an over-the-top extravaganza. Now we’re not suggesting that you and your beloved crawl around the stage scantily dressed and put each other in cages, but you may want to take note of the growing trend to add a little (or a big) something to the deejay and live band when planning your wedding.

“Couples really want their weddings to be different and unique and are taking it beyond venues and flowers,” says Tina LaMorte of Oh So Fabulous in Maywood (201-981-7280; ohsofab.com). “They are really taking more risks when it comes to entertainment.” LaMorte sees a lot of clients incorporating ethnic elements into their weddings. One couple brought in a Bollywood show to celebrate their Indian heritage, while another hired three Italian tenors to augment their amour. Couples have featured cigarette girls, flamenco dancers, and mariachi bands during the cocktail hours.

“The entertainment element needs to fit the general feeling of the wedding,” notes LaMorte. For example, when she recently worked with a client whose wedding was at Gotham Hall in New York City, aerial artistry was totally appropriate given the high ceiling and opulence of the venue. Guests were also treated to performances by acrobats and contortionists. In a less grand venue, the performance may not have worked as well. Hiring bands with famous front singers is another way to raise the bar.

Candice Benson, of the Finishing Touch Wedding and Event Planning in West Orange (973-525-5884; thefinishingtouchevents.com) also sees her clients adding special touches to entertain their guests. Some couples add a deejay to complement the live band, while others add a few vocalists to spice up the deejay. Benson also works with couples who are interested in incorporating their ethnic cultures. “I see a lot of cultural dancers being added into the reception,” she says.

Benson also observes that many of her clients want to entertain the children at their weddings and bring in magicians (some with live animals) and balloon artists. Many couples add something extra to the cocktail hour. One couple even added a mime statue to set a fun tone to the cocktail hour. “There really are no rules when it comes to creating a footprint for a wedding,” says Benson. “It’s your day. It’s really an open slate so feel free to add creative and fun elements to your wedding menu."