Keep Your Wedding Guests Dancing
So much planning goes into creating the perfect wedding, from picking the right flowers to taste-testing all the food. For these months and months of effort to end in a wedding reception with an empty dance floor and a room full of bored guests just itching to get home would be an absolute disaster!
Luckily, you can avoid this nightmare scenario with some smart planning to make sure everyone invited is a part of your big day celebrations and turn your wedding reception into the unforgettable party it deserves to be. Here are some reception tips to help you create the ultimate night of merriment to keep your wedding guests dancing the night away!
Music Makes Night as You Keep Your Wedding Guests Dancing
Your music choices make all the difference when it comes to creating a festive atmosphere, so make sure you have the right songs lined up to set the mood, but don’t be scared to get creative when it comes to genres, lighting, and surprise entertainment! Choosing the best band with an experienced band leader is crucial to having a great party
Don’t Limit the Genre
Even if you and your partner fell in love listening to alternative rock, this doesn’t mean it should be the only genre of music playing that night. It gets monotonous, and that can bore your guests. The same is true for any genre-focused playlist, whether country, rap, or 80s dance.
Of course, you should always include some songs that speak to you as a couple but be sure to incorporate genres that all your guests, young and old, appreciate, for example:
- Include some popular songs from your parents and even your grandparents’ heyday
- Mix fast numbers with slow songs so your guests don’t get tired too fast
- Let your guests request songs via the RSVP invite or take a poll if you have a wedding website
- Avoid artificial dances that force guests to dance.
- Keep the first dance, mother-son, and father-daughter dances brief so your party flows with energy.
Keep It Exciting Dim the brighter lights at your venue and switch to colorful lights or projections on the walls – and even the dance floor – for an authentic club vibe!
Plan Ahead to Keep Your Wedding Guests Dancing
A little organizing and planning can go a long way in setting up your venue that encourages wedding-goers to get up and dance. So think about the size of your dance floor, the seating arrangement, and the reception timeline.
Size Your Dance Floor Right
Your guests need the space to move their arms and legs comfortably, so if your dance floor is too small, guests will keep bumping into each other and may prefer to sit down. On the other hand, if the dance floor is too spacious, guests might feel too self-conscious to let loose.
A good measurement is to aim for at least 3 ft2 of space for two guests, so if you have:
- 100 guests, you need a 13 x 13 ft. dance floor
- 150 guests, you need a 15 x 15 ft. dance floor
- 200 guests, you need an 18 x 18 ft. dance floor
Also, keep the dance floor front and center, with the speakers closer by, so the second your guests walk into the venue, they immediately know that dancing will be a big part of the night.
Align Your Seating Chart
Do you have family or friends who can’t stay in their seats when the music starts? Well, seat them right by the dance floor! Not only will they keep your dance floor filled, but seeing them having fun encourages others to follow suit.
As for your elderly guests or those not much for dancing, do them a favor and seat them away from the speakers. This way, they can still talk comfortably without the music drowning out their conversations.
Set a Dance Focused Timeline
It’s never a smart move to clear the dance floor for photos or cake-cutting because it disturbs the dance flow, making it always harder to get everyone back on their feet. So, consider moving some traditions around, like:
- Taking your wedding portraits right after the ceremony
- Mingling with all your guests during the cocktail hour and dinner
- Move the cake cutting either before dinner or right after
- Moving your first dance and special dances after the dinner and speeches
With the formalities done, guests can relax, let loose, and focus on spending their time having fun.
Let the Pros Help!
You and your partner may have some great ideas for a wedding playlist, but hiring a professional wedding band or DJ can take out much of the guesswork of creating an entertaining night. These professionals know how to read and interact with wedding guests and can adjust the music accordingly to entertain everyone.
It may seem like an expense, but trust us, it is worth the money to have a professional take care of the songs so you don’t have to micromanage. Now, you and your partner can join the fun instead of worrying about what to play next!