Glitter Bar Hire: Everything You Need to Know for Your Event
Looking for something colourful, interactive and a little bit different for your next celebration? A glitter bar is a fun form of event entertainment where guests can choose their favourite colours and have cosmetic glitter professionally applied to their face, hair or beard.
Once mainly associated with festivals, glitter bars have become increasingly popular for weddings, birthday parties, children’s parties, hen parties, corporate events, festivals and private celebrations. They give guests something to do, add a splash of colour to an event and, perhaps most importantly, are just as much fun for adults as they are for children.
If you’re considering hiring a glitter bar for an event, here’s everything you need to know.
What is a glitter bar?
A glitter bar is an interactive entertainment station where guests can visit throughout an event and choose from a selection of cosmetic glitters.
At Glitter Elements, our glitter artist applies your chosen glitter to the face, hair or beard, creating anything from a subtle sweep of sparkle across the cheekbones to a much bolder festival-inspired look.
The bar itself becomes part of the event too. Our glitter station is styled and set up with a colourful selection of glitters and an illuminated neon sign, creating an inviting little corner for guests to visit.
There’s no need for guests to know exactly what they want. Choosing the colours is half the fun.
What events are glitter bars suitable for?
One of the best things about glitter bar hire is how versatile it is. You certainly don’t need to be throwing a festival-themed party to have one.
Glitter bars work brilliantly for:
Birthday parties
Children’s parties
Teen and tween parties
Weddings
Hen parties
Festivals
Family fun days
School and community events
Christmas parties
Corporate events
Brand activations
Summer parties
Pride events
Charity events
Outdoor celebrations
The style of glitter can also change depending on the occasion. A wedding guest might choose a delicate shimmer around the cheekbones, while someone at a festival may decide that enormous amounts of sparkle are entirely appropriate.
We support both decisions.
Why hire a glitter bar for a party?
Finding party entertainment that works for different ages can be surprisingly tricky.
A glitter bar is interactive without taking over the whole event. Guests can come over when they fancy it, choose their glitter, get sparkled and then head back to the party.
It also creates a natural talking point. People compare colours, encourage their friends to have increasingly adventurous designs and, inevitably, start taking photographs.
For children's birthday parties, a glitter bar can provide a dedicated activity during the celebration. For adult parties and hen dos, it can become part of getting everyone ready for the evening.
And for mixed-age events? The grown-ups quite often end up enjoying it every bit as much as the children.
Are glitter bars suitable for weddings?
Absolutely.
Wedding glitter bars are particularly good for couples looking for alternative wedding entertainment or something guests can enjoy during the evening reception.
They work especially well once the formal part of the day has finished and the party is beginning. Guests can add some sparkle before heading onto the dance floor, while the glitter bar itself adds another colourful feature to the reception.
It can also be a great choice for festival weddings, tipi weddings, marquee weddings, alternative weddings and relaxed outdoor celebrations.
Not every wedding needs a glitter bar, obviously. But if your wedding involves a packed dance floor, colourful styling and guests who won't object to leaving slightly more sparkly than they arrived, it could be right at home.
Are glitter bars suitable for children's parties?
Yes. Glitter bars are a particularly popular option for children's birthday party entertainment because every child can choose their own colours and style.
Rather than everyone receiving exactly the same design, each guest gets to make their own choices.
A glitter bar can work as a standalone activity or be combined with another creative activity. At Glitter Elements, we also offer jewellery-making workshops and combined party packages, giving children the chance to make their own jewellery as well as getting glittered.
This works particularly well for birthdays where parents are looking for creative children's party ideas rather than traditional party entertainment.
What glitter should be used on the face?
This bit matters.
Not every type of glitter is suitable for cosmetic use. Craft glitter should never simply be substituted for cosmetic glitter and applied to someone's skin.
A professional glitter bar should use products designed for cosmetic application and appropriate tools and hygiene procedures.
At Glitter Elements, we use cosmetic-grade biodegradable glitter selected for use on the face, hair and body.
We also use fresh application tools and appropriate hygiene supplies throughout our events.
Sparkle is important. So is doing it properly.
Is biodegradable glitter better for events?
Traditional plastic glitter can contribute to microplastic pollution, which is why we choose biodegradable cosmetic glitter for our glitter bars.
For couples, parents and event organisers trying to make more environmentally conscious choices, it provides an alternative to conventional plastic glitter without losing the colourful sparkle that makes a glitter bar so much fun.
If sustainability is important when you're planning your event, it's worth asking any glitter artist what products they actually use rather than assuming all cosmetic glitter is biodegradable.
How long should you hire a glitter bar for?
The ideal amount of time depends on the number of guests and the type of event.
A smaller birthday party may only need a glitter artist for a couple of hours, while a wedding, festival or large public event may need a longer session to give more guests an opportunity to visit.
When planning glitter bar hire for a wedding or party, think about when guests are most likely to use it.
For weddings, early evening can work particularly well as guests move from dinner into the party. For children's celebrations, the glitter bar can form part of the planned entertainment. At public events and festivals, it may run continuously while visitors come and go.
If you're unsure, we can recommend a suitable hire period based on your guest numbers and event schedule.
How much does glitter bar hire cost?
The price of hiring a glitter bar will vary depending on the event, location, number of guests and how long you'd like the bar to operate.
At Glitter Elements, private glitter bar hire starts from £150 per hour with a minimum two-hour booking.
This includes the glitter artist, styled glitter bar, cosmetic-grade biodegradable glitter, application equipment and hygiene supplies, illuminated neon sign, set-up and pack-down.
For larger events, festivals and public celebrations, we can also discuss different arrangements depending on how the glitter bar will operate.
What should be included with professional glitter bar hire?
Before booking a glitter artist, it's worth checking exactly what is included.
A professional service should be able to explain what products they use, how the glitter station will be set up and whether they hold appropriate insurance.
With Glitter Elements, our glitter bar hire includes:
A professional glitter artist
A beautifully styled glitter station
A wide choice of cosmetic-grade biodegradable glitter
Glitter application for faces, hair and beards
Application tools and hygiene supplies
An illuminated neon sign
Full set-up and pack-down
Public liability insurance
Optional extras are also available if you'd like to build the glitter bar into a larger entertainment package.
Do you need to provide anything for a glitter bar?
Usually, very little.
We bring the glitter, equipment and everything required to create the bar.
Before the event, we'll confirm the practical details with you, including where we'll be positioned, access arrangements and the space available.
If your event is outdoors, weather needs to be considered too. Glitter may be magical, but sadly it has yet to develop the ability to stop British rain.
Glitter bar hire in Oxfordshire and beyond
Glitter Elements provides glitter bar hire in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas for private parties, weddings, children's celebrations, corporate events, festivals and public events.
Based in Oxfordshire, we can travel to events across the surrounding counties and further afield for larger bookings.
So whether you're planning a birthday party in Oxfordshire, a wedding in the Cotswolds, a children's party, a company celebration or a festival, we can create a glitter bar to suit your event.
Ready to add some sparkle?
If you're looking for glitter bar hire for a wedding, party or event, we'd love to hear what you're planning.
Tell us your event date, location, approximate guest numbers and the kind of celebration you're organising, and we'll help you work out the best glitter bar option.
Explore our Glitter Bar packages or get in touch with Glitter Elements to check availability for your event.
