Magician in Devon for your wedding
Devon weddings tend to involve a long afternoon: the ceremony, the photos, the drinks, then the meal. Close-up magic keeps your guests happy through every stage of it.
If you're looking for a magician in Devon for your wedding, you're probably picturing that slightly awkward hour after the ceremony, when the photographer has you and your guests are left to fend for themselves. Jamie Docherty turns that hour into the bit everyone remembers, with sleight of hand performed in people's own hands rather than on a stage.
Jamie has been nationally Highly Commended for entertainment within the wedding industry. He's a Member of The Magic Circle and "Jay" of Jay & Joss, the double act who appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us in 2021 and on Britain's Got Talent in 2024. He travels to Devon for weddings first and foremost, and for work events and family parties too.
On this page
A wedding magician in Devon from the confetti onwards
The search terms that bring people to this page tell the story: wedding magician in Exeter, magician for a wedding in Plymouth, Devon wedding entertainment. Couples want something for their guests that doesn't need a dance floor or a sound check. Close-up magic is exactly that.
During the drinks reception, Jamie roams. He joins a group, performs for a few minutes, and moves on, so nobody is held up and nobody is missed. Cards get signed and found in impossible places, rings borrowed from guests do things they shouldn't, and two families who met an hour ago start comparing notes on what they've just seen.
At the wedding breakfast he switches to table magic, visiting each table between courses. It suits a long dinner well, because it gives each table its own moment without interrupting the meal. He'll fit around the caterers and step back before the speeches start.
Evening guests often get forgotten. Booking a magician in Devon for the start of the evening reception gives the late arrivals a warm welcome and gets them talking to the day guests before the band kicks off. Gordon Dowdey wrote on Facebook: "You definitely got our day and evening guests to mingle and chat which set the tone for an incredible evening."
Most couples choose two slots: drinks and dinner, or drinks and the evening. The wedding entertainment page explains how the options work, and Jamie is happy to talk through your timings once you've got a running order.
Work events and Christmas parties across Devon
Not every enquiry is a wedding. A magician in Devon is a handy booking for a staff Christmas party, an awards dinner, a conference evening or a product launch. All of them have a crowd that needs warming up, and plenty of people who don't know each other well.
Jamie mingles during the arrival drinks, then goes table to table once dinner is served, so everyone from the board to the new starters gets a look in. At an awards night he works to your running order and stays well clear of the presentations.
Smaller teams are just as welcome. A magician in Devon at a Christmas lunch for fifteen can spend real time with each person, and the tricks tend to become the running joke back in the office on Monday. For a bigger company night, Jamie paces himself so that every table gets a visit before the music starts.
Charity balls follow a similar pattern. Sophie Leanne Carter wrote on Facebook: "We recently had a charity Ball and Jamie entertained the audience of 130 people. His tricks were the talk on everyone’s table." That's the aim at any work do: something people chat about over the main course instead of shop talk.
For trade shows and conferences, close-up magic is a good way to draw people to a stand or fill a long networking break. There's more about work events on the corporate entertainment page.
Good to know for a Devon wedding or party
- Roams or stays at the table He switches between mingling and table magic depending on what part of the day it is.
- Nothing for the venue to arrange No stage, speakers or power needed, just your guests.
- Booking confirmed in writing You get a formal confirmation of all the details and receipts for each payment.
- Public liability cover His Equity membership includes ten million pounds of public liability insurance, which venues often ask about.
- Travel kept sensible Jamie travels all over the UK and keeps travel expenses as low as he can, so a magician in Devon is a realistic booking wherever your venue is.
Devon birthdays, anniversaries and christenings
Family parties are the third part of Jamie's work. That covers 18ths through to 80ths, anniversary dinners, christenings, house parties and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. The appeal is the same as at a wedding: a mixed crowd, a lot of catching up, and a need for something that brings everyone together.
Children love being part of a trick, and they tend to follow Jamie from group to group. Adults get drawn in by the harder stuff, like the glass he bends while a guest holds it inches from their face. Grandparents can enjoy it from their seat, as he'll come to them.
A magician in Devon at a house party doesn't need anything from you except people. No stage, no power, no cleared space. Jamie works in the kitchen, the living room or out in the garden, wherever your guests happen to be.
Christenings are usually daytime affairs with a lot of small children and a buffet. Short bursts of magic suit that well. Jamie works his way round the room in between the food and the cake, and parents get a few minutes to chat while their little ones are busy trying to work out where the coin went.
For a birthday meal in a restaurant or hotel, table magic between courses is usually the best fit. The private party entertainment page has more on birthdays and family celebrations.
Exeter, Plymouth and wedding venues around Devon
Jamie has performed at Langstone Cliff Hotel, The Duke of Cornwall Hotel, The Grand Hotel and Escot House. The county has lots more choice for a wedding or party. Around Exeter alone there are hotels like Southernhay House and Hotel Indigo, the Courtyard Sandy Park, and events venues such as Bickham Barn.
Booking a magician in Devon doesn't limit you to the city, and he travels right across the South West, for weddings and parties of every size. If your venue is over a county line, take a look at his pages for Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall.
Questions people ask
Do you travel to Plymouth and the rest of Devon for weddings?
Yes. Jamie covers the whole county, from Exeter to Plymouth and everywhere in between, and keeps travel expenses to a minimum. Let him know the venue when you enquire, and he'll factor in the journey when he confirms the details with you.
Which part of the day is best for a magician in Devon at a wedding?
The drinks reception is the favourite, because that's the longest wait for your guests. The wedding breakfast is next. Many couples book both so the magic carries on from one into the other.
What happens if rain moves our drinks reception indoors?
The magic simply moves with it. Jamie needs no table, set or stage, so a crowded hall works as well as a lawn. A packed room actually helps, because guests are already standing in small groups, which is exactly how he likes to work.
Can a magician in Devon work a company Christmas party?
Yes. Mingling over drinks and table magic during the meal works well for staff parties of any size, and Jamie will plan around any speeches or awards.
Will young children and older relatives both enjoy it?
They will. Jamie keeps everything friendly, gets children involved in the tricks and brings the magic to anyone who'd rather stay seated.
How soon should we book a magician in Devon?
As soon as your date and venue are fixed. Summer Saturdays especially get snapped up a long way ahead.
Find out if Jamie is free for your Devon wedding
Send your date, venue and guest numbers through the quote form and Jamie will let you know about availability. Booking your magician in Devon early leaves you free to get on with the rest of the planning.