A party photo booth is a fun, interactive experience where guests can take a series of photos (usually three or four) that are immediately printed out on a strip as a keepsake. When you rent a party photo booth, the company sets up the booth or photo station at your event; a photographer staffs the booth and coaches guests on how to use it throughout the event. Often the photo booth rental company provides props like silly hats, wigs and glasses. There are different types of party photo booth rentals. An open-air booth has a curtain or backdrop that allows more freedom of movement and enables more people to use it at one time. The traditional enclosed photo booths that you may have seen at the mall or the fair tend to cost more to rent, as they are harder to transport and also cost more for the pros to purchase. The national average cost for party photo booth rentals is $400-$500.

Mariachi bands are rooted in Mexican culture. Traditional mariachi bands consisted of two or more members playing stringed instruments, wearing regional costumes adapted from the charro (Mexican horseman or cowboy). Modern mariachi bands, which are likely what you’re looking for when searching for a mariachi band for hire, feature at least four members who play stringed instruments (violin, vihuela, bass guitar called guitarron) and one or more trumpets. The costumes have remained the same, but now trumpets are synonymous with mariachi music. Mariachi bands for hire often play a wide range of music, including styles originating from Mexico and adopted from elsewhere. These include jarabes, waltzes, serenades, corridos (Mexican ballads), ranchera, cumbia, and more. Mariachi bands for hire bring a festive and soulful element to a party, birthday, wedding, corporate affair, fundraiser or community event. UNESCO has inscribed mariachi music on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

A mariachi band will bring your party or event alive with their fabulous costumes, beautiful playing and strong vocals. The cost of a mariachi band for hire will depend on how many players are in the group. Each musician in a performance group needs to be paid, so pricing is usually based on the number of mariachis (musicians), the location of the event (and travel time required), and the length of the performance. Day of the week also affects cost, as does day — Christmas, New Year’s Eve and other major holidays will cost more than regular days. The national average cost for live bands of all types ranges between $740 and $1,200. Depending on where you live and regional rates for performers, you might expect to pay between $65 and $120 per hour, per player. Mariachi groups may have 12-15 players available for performance at one time, depending on your budget. Here are some examples of how the number of players affects average cost:

• Four mariachis: $300 per hour for weeknights, $400 per hour for weekends.
• Five mariachis: $350 per hour for weeknights, $400-$450 per hour for weekends. Weekends may have a minimum number of hours.
• Six mariachis: $400 per hour for weeknights, $450-$500 per hour for weekends.

A mariachi band for hire can have as many players as you like. Modern mariachi bands typically have a minimum of four players with the trumpet playing a vital musical role along with stringed instruments such as the violin, guitarrón (a Mexican bass guitar with a deep body), vihuela (a Spanish stringed guitar) and guitar. Strong vocals are also an important component of mariachi bands for hire, since one or more of the players will be singing during the performance. For a truly spectacular show, you can hire a mariachi band with 15 or more players. The medley of stringed instruments, multiple trumpets, soaring vocals, and even an accordion or harp is powerful and beautiful. Mariachis typically wear the traditional costume of charros — Mexican horsemen. The look is a very regal, monotone suit, often in black or white, with silver adornments and embroidery. Mariachi bands often wear sombreros as well. Traditional mariachi bands were only made up of two or more players, according to a UNESCO report celebrating the cultural heritage of the musical style. The style of music originated in the state of Jalisco. Now the style of music is symbolic of Mexico but is celebrated all over the world, and adds a fabulous vibrancy to any group’s events, parties and weddings.

Renting a party photo booth for your next event will get your guests engaged and provide a take-home favor for attendees. The cost to rent a party photo booth will vary depending on the type of booth, the day and time of year, the length of the rental, and any add-ons you select. The national average cost for party photo booth rentals is $400-$500. Here are some examples of average party photo booth rental costs:

• Weekday packages: $300-$550, depending on features included and length of rental. A three-hour weekday package for $500 could include guest book, personalized photo strips and DVD of all the photos.
• Weekend packages: $450-$700, depending on features included and length of rental.
• Additional hours: $100-$150 per extra hour.
• Add-on features:
• Photo guest album services: $75.
• Personalized photo strips: $30-$50.
• Custom photo backdrops or vinyl skin branding of the booth: $150-$300.
• Live social media connectivity (ability to share photos to social media accounts): $100-$250.

Creative or DIY-savvy couples can make a wedding photo booth backdrop in no time. You can ask your rental company to incorporate a custom backdrop into your rental party photo booth, or do your own custom photo booth with a friend serving as photographer. It’s easiest to make your own backdrop for an open air photo booth, which you can hang on a wall at an indoor reception, or hang from a tree or in a homemade frame at an outdoor reception.

One simple yet glamorous option is a tinsel curtain. Choose silver or gold for classic elegance, or go for a wild color like bright pink. For a more refined look, you can purchase three or four yards of a luxe fabric that fits your wedding color theme. Creative couples may want to get funky and spray-paint or hand-paint designs onto a cotton canvas backdrop. Don’t forget to provide props for your guests; the props are half the fun and encourage guests to get playful for the camera. Paint an oversized picture frame gold (don’t forget to take out the glass!) for your guests to hold up. Provide a chalkboard where they can write cute messages to hold in their photo, and colorful items from your costume box: think hats, wigs, funky sunglasses, and sequined accessories.