How much value do you place on having a vibrant, packed wedding dance floor? If you had to prioritize it on a list of top things to take place your wedding day, where would you rank it? If you answered somewhere in the top 10, then these notes are for you.
There are many tips that are self-explanatory, such as booking the right entertainment for the vibe you are going for. If you prefer live music, hire a band. If you prefer a club mix, hire a DJ. If you want the best of both, hire a hybrid DJ/ band experience.
Regardless of what type of entertainment you hire, if you want your dance floor to be a fun lasting memory for you and your guests, you’ll want to avoid these things that are likely to sabotage your dance floor:
GIVING TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE DIRECTION
Every couple has a different expectation of how the music should flow for the night. Some couples want a full stage production with perfectly timed cue points, fades, and introductions. And then some couples are realistic. Your DJ or band won’t know what you want unless you tell them.
To the inverse of this equation – another common mistake we see couples make is providing a 500-song playlist and saying, “Only stick to this list – no guest requests”. I’ll never understand why someone will spend so much on their wedding and then refuse to let their guests enjoy themselves with a sensible song request. Or worse, having too many “do not play” songs.
“Do Not Play” lists are intended to dodge potentially traumatic moments at your wedding. For example, if you and your high school sweetheart, who is now your ex, used to dance to “All of Me” by John Legend (because everybody did), then it’s reasonable to add that one to the list. But if you just think Taylor Swift is overplayed, leave her OFF the do not play list. She doesn’t have the most successful world tour in history because people dislike her music. If you hear a song at your wedding that annoys you but keeps the dance floor poppin, just shake it off and go grab a drink from the bar.
YOU AREN'T DANCING
Guests want to be where you are. If you’re recuperating in the private suite because mimosas started at 5:30am, your guests will wonder why they’re even there and whether or not they should leave and take your neatly gift-wrapped toaster with them. If you’re outside having a smoke break, guests will be outside second-hand smoking with you. If you’re on the dance floor, they’re going to be twerking with you. I think you get the picture.
DISJOINTED EVENT FLOW
Another rookie mistake is a disjointed event flow throughout the reception. As your DJ, we’ll advocate for a reception flow that is collaborative for achieving your entertainment goals, while also setting your other wedding professionals up for success. We want to make sure your caterer isn’t overwhelmed and causing food delays. We want to make sure your photographer can grab all the right shots. We want to make sure your planner can properly prepare for the upcoming events in time, keeping them at their best to deliver the best experience for you and your guests. This all becomes difficult with hard starts and stops or gigantic ebbs and flows of energy.
An unpopular opinion of mine is that doing the first dance after the grand entrance is one of the most disjointed highs and lows your guests can experience. They’re on their feet, clapping and singing along to “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I. one moment, then forced to sit in silence while Ed Sheeran sings, “Perfect” to a sweet, soft melody. My recommendation is to condense all the “dance floor stopping” occasions into one streamlined series of events so that they don’t interfere with the building energy of your event. Or offer flexibility and save those events (bouquet, garter toss, etc.) for when the dance floor naturally starts slowing down.
PLANNING TOO LONG OF A DANCE PARTY
The average wedding guests can sustain about 2-3 hours of dancing or 3-4 hours with alcohol. I encourage wedding couples to be realistic about their dance floor expectations. If the ceremony is at 4:00pm and open dancing is scheduled from 6pm-midnight – it’ll typically be sparse by 10pm.
Unless your signature cocktail is an energy drink and vodka, guests will be tuckered out. For our clients, we find the sweet spot of a wedding dance floor. A super up beat and vivacious group could last for up to 5 hours, but more commonly, wedding guests will dance for only about 2-3 hours. Think of who is listed on your guest list as a whole and plan an open dance floor for the time that you feel will best fit your crowd.
DISCONNECTED FLOOR PLAN
Some venues don’t give you the choice. You have to do the ceremony across the property, cocktail hour in the lobby, the dinner on the other end in their tent, then dancing is back up by their reception hall. Guests are going to get lost, confused, and distracted. Keep it simple. And keep all your reception activities together as much as possible.
That example may be a little over the top, but the same concept applies when the bar, photo booth, or late night snacks are moved away from the dance floor. Guest attention is pulled away from the main attaction, the dance floor.
NOT INVESTING IN THE RIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
Straight and to the point, you get what you pay for. If entertainment is a top priority, give it more than 3% of the wedding budget. Hiring an inexperienced DJ could cost you your dream of an awesome dance party. If having guests remember how fun the party was is important to you, then budget entertainment accordingly to get the talent you need.
DEREK HOFFMAN
COMPANY: Levity Events
Derek Hoffman founded Levity Events in 2015, and with his team of DJs, they’ve celebrated with nearly 2,000 couples, and have been recognized regionally and nationally as one of the best DJ companies by multiple organizations. For more information visit their website at levityevents.com.
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