Michael Bloemeke is a wedding magician based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and weddings are a big part of what he does. He does close-up magic all through your cocktail hour, and then a private set for the wedding party right before the reception starts.
That way your guests have something fun going on while the two of you are off taking pictures, and you still get to see some of the magic yourselves.
Check your date for your wedding
- Your guests entertained while the two of you are away for photos
- Guests who only know one of you, talking and laughing together
- A private set for the wedding party, and two keepsakes for the two of you
Coverage. Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, and all of North Carolina
Insured. Certificate of insurance sent to your venue on request
Check AvailabilityWhat your wedding looks like with Michael there
After the ceremony, the two of you are off taking pictures, and your guests head over to the reception venue. Michael is already there and ready to go before the first guest walks in.
As people arrive, he walks around and mingles, going from group to group and doing close-up magic for a few people at a time. It is a bunch of mini performances, very conversational and very, very interactive. Sometimes a few people notice and walk over, then a few more, and before long he is doing a trick for ten or fifteen people. It is very easy for him to adjust in the moment, read the room, and feel it out.
And if you, your planner, your parents, or anybody else wants him somewhere specific, just tell him, “Hey, this guy loves magic. Will you go do something for him?” Then of course that is where he goes.
And as the cocktail hour wraps up, Michael does a private set just for the wedding party.
Why book a magician for your wedding?
If you have ever been a guest at a wedding, you know how the cocktail hour goes. You are really hungry, and if you are lucky, there is a plate of crackers. At your own wedding, your guests are in the same spot. Everybody is happy for you, but people start getting a little impatient. They are thinking, all right, hurry up with the pictures, I want to have dinner.
Magic is great for that. It helps the time pass, and everybody always has a lot of fun with it.
Your guests are ready for it, too. They just sat through the ceremony. They are excited, they are happy, and they are a little bit ready to do something fun, even if they do not want to admit it. Everyone is primed for entertainment, so they react really well. Weddings are a lot of fun for that reason.
Weddings are also one of those unique places where a good chunk of the guests know each other and another big chunk do not. Some guests only know one of you. Magic is a great icebreaker for that, because now they have something natural to talk about. And then of course that leads to more personal conversations, and people end up getting to know each other.
And people love being part of it. Everybody always says their favorite stuff was the stuff they participated in, the trick that happened in their own hands.
It is also something a little bit different for a wedding, which is fun. People are talking and laughing, and Michael always loves being there for it.
"We hardly have words to describe how phenomenal Michael was at our wedding. The guests loved him, the staff loved him, and most importantly, WE loved him! I still don't understand most of his tricks... HIRE HIM. You will not regret it"
"Michael was awesome at the wedding and I'd highly recommend hiring him. Great showman and excellent close-up magic that gets people excited"
"My daughter had wanted to see close up magic. I arranged for Michael to come to her bridal shower. The show was amazing. He involved so many people. Everyone thought the show was wonderful."
Read all 400+ five-star Google reviews
A private set for the wedding party
Michael always thinks it is a shame when a couple hires him and then spends the cocktail hour taking pictures, so they miss the magic. A lot of the time, the whole wedding party is off at pictures too. They are part of the wedding, and they should get to experience the fun.
So at the end of the cocktail hour, once everyone has gathered to line up for the entrances, Michael takes the wedding party aside for a fifteen-minute private set. A private room works, or just a space off to the side. That way nobody misses anything, especially the VIPs, and especially the VVIPs, the two of you.
It can be the whole wedding party, bridesmaids and groomsmen included, or just the two of you when that suits the day better. Michael has done both, lots of times, and it always goes over great. Everybody loves it.
The set ends with two keepsakes for the two of you. The first is a wedding-themed impossible object that Michael makes right there during the set. It gets framed, and it is yours to keep and hang on your mantel forever. The second one stays a surprise.
Every wedding is a little bit different
Seeing each other before the ceremony?
If you finish pictures early and join the cocktail hour, you get to see the magic right there with your guests.
Ceremony and reception in different places?
That is totally normal. Michael goes straight to the reception venue.
Photos running long?
That is totally fine. The magic just keeps going until you get there.
Cocktail hour outside?
Close-up magic works indoors or outdoors, in a garden, on a patio, or in a ballroom. And if rain moves everyone inside, Michael just heads inside with them.
A smaller wedding, with less dancing?
Then the Stand-Up Show might be the better fit, with Michael doing a show for everybody as dinner wraps up.
A different order of events?
A cocktail hour before the ceremony, dinner first, or anything else. Michael works with whatever your timeline looks like.
Working with your wedding planner
Michael knows weddings have a lot of moving parts. After the first call, if you want to hand him off to your wedding planner and say, “Talk to this person,” that is totally fine. It can be an official planner or coordinator, or even just a family member helping you out. Michael works out the finer details with them, so whoever is helping you knows exactly what he is doing and when. It is one more thing off your plate.
How it fits your wedding day
After you book, Michael sends over his rider, a short rundown of what to expect and how to prepare. For a wedding, there is nothing for you to set up. He asks for both of your names early, to make things special and intentional. And he checks in as the date gets closer, to make sure everything he has on file is still accurate.
And if you want, let your guests know there will be a magician there and hype it up a little. That is always a lot of fun, because people come up to Michael saying, “I heard there is going to be a magician. Are you the guy?” Then they all swarm him.
On the day, Michael texts you or your coordinator when he is on the way, and he arrives early, while your planner and the vendors are still setting up.
As the two of you head in for the entrances and speeches, the rest of the night is all yours.
What you are paying for
When you hire a magician, you are paying for the magic, and you are also hiring the experience and professionalism that go into helping you organize the day. That includes:
- Close-up magic through the whole cocktail hour, so your guests are entertained while you are at pictures.
- A private set for the wedding party, ending with two keepsakes for the two of you.
- Someone who works directly with your planner or coordinator after the first call, from the timeline to the venue's paperwork.
- Over a decade of performing professionally, so Michael knows how to adjust to the tone and vibe of the day.
- Liability insurance. If your venue asks for proof, Michael can send a certificate of insurance straight to them at a moment's notice.
Pricing is flexible. It depends on what Michael is doing, the guest count, the type of event, how long he performs, and the date. Michael's events can range anywhere from under $1,000 to $3,000 and up.
Quick facts
- When
- The cocktail hour, plus a private set for the wedding party.
- How long
- The whole cocktail hour. In Michael's experience, wedding cocktail hours run up to an hour and a half.
- What it needs
- A spot to leave a small bag.
- Booking
- Many couples reach out a year or more ahead.
Who this page is for
This page is for couples, and the planners and coordinators helping them, booking entertainment for the wedding day itself. If you are planning the bachelorette party, the page you want is bachelorette parties. For more on how Michael works a cocktail hour, see close-up magic, and for a show everybody watches together, see the Stand-Up Show. For company events, see corporate events.
How booking works
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1Fill out the formFill out the formInclude as much information as you are able to provide, and Michael will follow up with you personally.
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2Talk it throughTalk it throughYou and Michael hop on a short call, and he walks you through every last detail. Together you go over the different packages and performance styles and figure out what works best for your event. Afterward you get a written proposal with all the details included.
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3Lock it inLock it inSign the performance agreement and pay the invoice, and you are all set. Michael checks in as the date gets closer and handles the details with you or your planner.
Why book Michael for your wedding in North Carolina?
Michael is a magician based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and he has been performing professionally for over a decade. He performs at weddings all the time, along with corporate events, galas, and private parties all over the country.
In 2025 he represented the United States at the FISM World Championship of Magic in Turin, Italy, and won Most Original Act. FISM is often called “the Olympics of Magic.” He is also the 2022 International Brotherhood of Magicians Close-Up Champion (with the People's Choice award the same year), a Brad Jacobs People's Choice recipient, and the holder of a “Masters of Magic” degree from the invite-only 4F Convention.
Michael's work has been featured on The CW's Masters of Illusion and on Charlotte Today (WCNC). He performed as part of the cast of The Magician's Table, and he has more than 400 five-star Google reviews from couples, planners, and hosts across North Carolina and beyond.
If you want your guests talking and laughing all through the cocktail hour, Michael would love to be part of your day.
Questions about booking a wedding magician
When does a magician perform at a wedding?
At most weddings, it is the cocktail hour, which is when magic works best. Guests are arriving at the reception and waiting on dinner, so close-up magic gives them something fun to do. Then Michael ends with a private set for the wedding party just before the entrances.
Will we get to see any of the magic ourselves?
Yes. At the end of the cocktail hour, Michael does a private set for the wedding party, or just the two of you. It is your chance to see the magic yourselves, and it ends with two keepsakes for you to take home.
Is the private set optional?
Yes. A lot of couples do both the cocktail hour and the private set, and some keep it to just the cocktail hour. It is totally up to you, and you can decide closer to the day.
What if we are at the cocktail hour ourselves?
Then Michael makes sure you and the wedding party get special attention right there. In Michael's experience, it is about fifty-fifty whether the wedding party is off at pictures during the cocktail hour or right there with everybody.
Does Michael perform during dinner and dancing?
At most weddings, Michael performs through the cocktail hour and the private set, and once the entrances and speeches begin, dinner and dancing are all yours. When the day suits a show for everybody, the Stand-Up Show starts as dinner wraps up.
Our guests do not all know each other. Does that help?
Yes. Magic makes a great icebreaker. When guests see it together, they have something to bond over, and people who just met end up talking and laughing together.
Is it appropriate for kids and grandparents?
Yes. Everything Michael does is totally clean and family friendly, and appropriate for all ages. Kids and grandparents can enjoy it right alongside everybody else.
Will magic fit a formal or elegant wedding?
Yes. The magic is conversational and happens for a few people at a time, so it suits an elegant cocktail hour. Michael matches the tone and feel of the day.
Can we have the Stand-Up Show at our wedding?
Yes, when the day suits it. The Stand-Up Show is for all of your guests at once, and you can pair it with close-up magic at the cocktail hour. The full show is about fifty minutes, with twenty-minute and thirty-minute versions too.
What size weddings does Michael perform at?
Couples have called Michael about weddings anywhere from around fifty guests to more than two hundred. Close-up magic at the cocktail hour works best with about fifty guests or more, and for a smaller group, the Stand-Up Show can be the better fit.
Can Michael work directly with our planner or coordinator?
Yes. Once you have talked with Michael, your planner, coordinator, or whoever is helping out can be his point of contact. They can send him the full timeline, and his check-ins and his text on the day can go straight to them.
What does Michael need from our venue?
Just a spot to leave a small bag, like a closet. Michael brings everything he uses, so the venue has nothing to arrange. For the private set, a side room or a spot away from the crowd works, and he can bring a small table along.
Our venue needs a certificate of insurance. Can Michael provide one?
Yes. Michael carries liability insurance, and if your venue or planner needs a certificate of insurance, he sends it to them directly.
How far in advance should we book a wedding magician?
Weddings book further out than most events. Couples have reached out to Michael a year or two ahead, and Saturdays in April and May fill up. One couple even booked him just days before their wedding, because the date was still open.
Can Michael hold our date while we talk it over?
Your date is locked in once the performance agreement is signed and the invoice is paid. Until then, take the time you need to talk it over together. The proposal Michael sends after your call is a simple link, easy to share with anyone helping you decide.
How much does a wedding magician cost?
Pricing is flexible. It depends on what Michael is doing, the guest count, the type of event, how long he performs, and the date. Michael's events can range anywhere from under $1,000 to $3,000 and up.
The form is the quickest way to an exact number.
Book now and make your event amazing.
Check AvailabilityWhere Michael performs
Michael performs all across the United States and beyond. He is based in the Raleigh-Durham area, so most of his events take place in North Carolina, including:
- Raleigh
- Durham
- Chapel Hill
- Cary
- Apex
- Morrisville
- Wake Forest
- Holly Springs
- Fuquay-Varina
- Garner
- Knightdale
- Clayton
- Hillsborough
- Research Triangle Park
- Charlotte
- Concord
- Huntersville
- Cornelius
- Mooresville
- Gastonia
- Greensboro
- Winston-Salem
- High Point
- Burlington
- Fayetteville
- Pinehurst
- Southern Pines
- Sanford
- Wilmington
- Greenville
- Rocky Mount
- Wilson
- Goldsboro
- New Bern
- Jacksonville
- Asheville
- Boone
- Hickory