About this vendor
A Magic Castle favorite, Joel Ward’s high energy, original magic has astonished people throughout the world. His talent ranges from stage magic to interactive close-up / strolling magic. Joel performs regularly in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, as well as across the country and around the world.
Joel has performed for hundreds of weddings including destination weddings. His electric, adaptable personality will liven any wedding event, regardless of the size or vibe. He is a repeat vendor at The Four Seasons Westlake Village, Omni La Costa, The Carondelet House, Oviatt Penthouse, Calamigos Ranch, Hollywood Roosevelt, Beverly Hills Hotel, Rancho Bernardo Inn, The Waldorf Astoria Monarch in Dana Point, and is a preferred vendor for The Houdini Estate wedding venue in the Hollywood Hills.
Joel's favorite type of magic to perform is interactive close-up magic, also known as strolling or walk-around magic. It's the perfect fit for the cocktail hour, or can also be incorporated later on during the reception or even at a welcome event the night before. As guests mingle, Joel moves from group to group, performing sleight of hand magic with cards, coins, and smaller props. The magic often takes place right in the hands of the guests. It’s an excellent icebreaker to help kick off the wedding festivities and bring people together.
In addition to strolling magic, Joel can also customize stage shows for the reception. He always personalizes the experience so as to maximize entertainment while not pulling focus from the couple. If requested, he can incorporate the couple into the act itself. Additionally, other magical elements can be woven into the ceremony or throughout the party to provide laughs and surprises.
"I absolutely LOVE performing strolling magic at weddings. It’s incredibly fulfilling to move between groups and get to surprise and astound people in such close proximity. I love interacting with people and, for a moment, making them feel like a kid again. It’s also so fun to find the couple in the crowd and have a special moment -- doing a personalized, memorable trick for them. A wedding is such a momentous day, and it’s always an honor to help bring joy and laughter to those memories."
Check out www.joelward.com or @joelward on Instagram for more information and videos!
Details
Wedding Activities
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Welcome Party
- Wedding
- After Party
Reviews
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5
out of 5.010 reviews
I met Joel at my daughter‘s wedding reception. Deep in the evening I was sitting with her younger sister at a table, resting after a long day and watching everyone dance. Joel st...
opped and introduce himself, chatted a little and then said, “would you like to see a magic trick?” We said sure and he did the most amazing magic literally 2 feet from our eyes. It was crazy! Lilli and I looked at each other and squealed in unison “NO WAY!!!”. We sounded like two 12-year-old friends seeing a magic show for the first time. Joel did another trick, equally amazing, equally delightful to see, and then moved on through the crowd. I saw him later and told him I thought the real magic isn’t the balls or the cards, but making a retired corporate accountant feel wonder and amazement (which you don’t really get in accounting), and giving me a moment with my kid we will always remember. Joel’s an engaging personality with a joyous vibe, and I was very happy to meet him.
LOOK NO FURTHER FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY ENTERTAINMENT!!!! Joel is hands down the coolest guy you will ever meet and will absolutely blow your freaking mind with his magic skills! We ha...
d him for our wedding party and he was the talk of the entire crowd.. they couldn’t get enough of him! He was able to connect with all ages and really keep the crowd coming back for more! I couldn’t recommend him more for your next party so don’t wait!
Joel is phenomenal! I highly recommend having him at any event where you plan to entertain your guest. I have never seen magic like this before, it truly was something so special. ...
I look forward to having him with us in the future.
I recently got married at the Carondelet House in Los Angeles and had struggled to find a spectacular Grand Exit idea that complied with venue rules and city regulations.
My now h...
usband and I went through all of the typical ideas only to be shut down (sparklers, fireworks, smoke bombs, confetti, etc.)
But we are SO glad that it forced us to be creative!! It all turned out perfectly. After lots of brainstorming we landed on the idea of Magic! We do live in Tinseltown after all and we knew we could find some kind of 'special effects' that would be different from any normal wedding exit.
We stumbled upon Ward through several recommendations and research. He was so incredibly talented, FUN, and accommodating to our wacky ideas. He came up with an adorable customized magical routine that we could perform ourselves as we exited the wedding venue. The Carondelet House with its vintage decor lent the perfect touch to our whimsical exit as well. It all fell together so nicely all thanks to Joel!! We recommend his talents and service 100%. He also performed some walk around magic for our guests towards the end of the night and they were all blown away. Thank you so much, Joel!!!
Joel performed at our combination indoor/outdoor wedding in June 2015. Our guests were entranced the entire night! While we didn't have a dedicated "act" for him, he was constantly...
entertaining small groups of guests throughout the evening, from cocktail hour to during dinner and when people were taking a break from the dance floor. He's an incredibly talented magician and he astounded the crowd of scientists/skeptics. Joel would be a fantastic hire for a dedicated performance or for a side activity, and is top-notch entertainment for kids and adults!
We were Joel Wards first couple to officiate and I couldn't have been happier! I highly recommend him :)
Joel is fantastic! Joel did close-up magic casually for our guests throughout the reception, and everyone loved him. It was so fun to see the look of surprise and awe on everybody...
's faces. Joel has a LOT of great card tricks but my wife and I have seen him perform a much bigger act at the Magic Castle in LA. He can do it all!
Joel was an amazing Wedding Officiant and a true entertainer. Our friends and family loved him as well. The wedding ended with 10 white doves magically flying away
Joel performed at our wedding in Cartagena, Colombia ( Yes, he travels!) He did up close magic with our guests spanning over four days of events. He has so much material, and our g...
uests are still talking about how funny and talented he was! He even did a little ring magic at out wedding ceremony that really lightened the mood. He really does make the perfect magician for your destination wedding weekend!
Joel did magic for my friend's wedding in the SF Bay Area a couple years ago and he was absolutely perfect! People still bring up the magic he did at the wedding. He performed for ...
small clusters of people during the reception, and guests were laughing and exclaiming so much that larger groups began to form around him. People's minds were definitely blown and he was a huge highlight of the evening. Joel is super high energy, funny, and positive, and really knows how to liven a party!
Contact
Serving Southern California & Abroad
Magician Joel Ward's photos