Ways for Keeping the Dance Floor Full at Your Wedding Reception
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Want to have a wedding reception party that goes full steam until the end? Would you like your guests to say yours was the best wedding reception ever? Here are some suggestions for keeping the dance floor full, guests happy and the party going.
- Keep the dance floor small. The key to having your wedding reception be a great party all the way until the end is keeping the dance floor full. Guests are more likely to dance if they feel like they can’t be seen and they are not alone. A small packed dance floor is better than a large floor that cannot fill and leaves guests feeling intimidated. If guests have to dance off the dance floor it leaves the impression of how great your party was that your guests overfilled the dance floor.
- For the same reasons as using a smaller dance floor, darker lighting on the dance floor is better than bright light. Guests feel “on display”. Keep it darker and you’ll be keeping the dance floor full.
- Have your band where everyone can see them. Great bands are experts in keeping the dance floor filled and the party going, but it is more difficult if they cannot see and interact with your guests.
- Avoid letting the party peter out. End the reception while the party is going strong. Your guests will leave wanting more instead of thinking, “Let’s leave, I’ve had enough.” Their memories of your wedding will be about how fabulous it was.
- A basket of flip flops for guests to wear will help in keeping the dance floor full. Guests can only dance so long with dress shoes especially the women in high heels.
- Keep the bar open from after dinner until the end of the night. If the bar closes before the end of the reception, the party is likely to end.
- Make sure the bar is located near the dance floor so guests may quickly get a drink and return to the dance floor. Bottles or trays of water out near dance floor help dancers quickly refresh. Make sure the bar is set up near the dance floor but so that the line does not interfere with the dance floor.
- Having a closed room keeps guests from gathering in foyers and outdoors. Keep the doors closed and your guests won’t see others out of the room so they will tend to stay and dance. Closed doors keeps the focus on the dance floor and wedding activities. Open doors also flood the dance floor with light which will damper the party.
- Make sure guests have everything they need in the main room. If there is a lack of seating or the bar, food or desserts are in another room, guests leave. The other rooms are competing with the dance floor and creating other spaces to gather. Fewer guests in the room at one time leads to an empty dance floor. More guests in the room helps in keeping the dance floor full. No one wants to get up and dance when the dance floor is empty and it feels like the party is dying. Having dessert in another room often ends the party.
- Upbeat music keeps the party going. Good bands know how to pace songs.
- If you request that your band perform lesser known music it will be harder to fill the dance floor. People like to dance to music they know. A good band will play a variety of well-known music to get everyone of all ages on the dance floor. A good band will read the crowd and play the appropriate music to get everyone dancing.
- You’ve had a great relationship with your vendors preparing for your big day. Ask your wedding planner about ways to make sure everyone working at your reception feel appreciated. Vendors that are treated with great kindness and respect will go the extra mile to make your reception memorable.
- Avoid down time whenever possible after dinner. It’s easier to keep people dancing than to get them back up to dance again after the floor is cleared for an event. Think about having pictures taken before the reception, introductions and first dances before dinner, and speeches right after dinner.
- When it comes to vendors, experience is key. Vendors, including wedding reception bands, learn from every event they do and refine their services. Good service means happy guests. Happy guests dance.
- Older guests may not be used to loud music and have more sensitive hearing. Ensure they have a good time and seat older guests away from the dance floor/speakers.
- Make sure your band has great MC skills and has done many wedding receptions. You will need wedding party, toast, first dance, father daughter dance, mother/son dance, cut the cake, garter toss, bouquet toss and bride and groom exit announcements. You will also want MCing from the band to keep the party going. Great MCs will take requests, interact with the crowd, go out into the crowd to do line dances, talk with guests and let them sing-a-long on mic. They will also have a bag of tricks to use to get different guests on the dance floor. Our Music Remembrance Reception Band has everything from fun sing-a-longs and line dances to blowup guitars for guest to play on stage and hula hoops for 50’s music.
For more another article about keeping your dance floor full
How to Use Music For the Events of the Wedding Reception
There are many different events of the wedding reception that will be greatly enhanced by music. Here is a guide on helping you in your choice of wedding reception music for the various events that make up a wedding reception.
This is a list of the events that are traditionally accompanied and enhanced by music with descriptions on how it can be done effectively.
Cocktails
If you are having a cocktail hour before your guests enter the main room you can hire a small pop or jazz group, classical musicians from your ceremony, solo guitar, or many other small ensembles. Many brides and grooms hire a small ensemble from within the reception band or musicians from the ceremony because they can receive cost savings.
Music Preceding the Bridal Party Entrance
Traditionally the reception band performs background music while your guests find there tables and await the wedding party entrance. If you would like to get the party started right away you can request dance music.
Introduction of the wedding party
The typical format for the introductions is having the music start while an announcement is made by the reception band that the bridal party is about to enter. Music is played throughout the introductions. The music is played softly as the names are announced and louder as they make entrances. Another option is to have fanfare trumpeters play a fanfare before each name is announced and the band play only as they are they are entering.
First Dance
The first dance of the wedding couple is one of the most special events of the wedding reception. All good wedding bands will be happy to suggest traditional songs for this or fill your special request.
Mother/Son and Father/Daughter Dances
Ask your wedding band for a list of popular songs for these or make special requests. If you only know one dance step, make sure that you request something that will work well with that dance.
Toasts
The wedding reception band can play a fanfare. announce the toasts and introduce each toastmaster. Those proposing the toast should talk with the wedding band during cocktails to be shown microphone technique.
(A helpful article about proposing toasts) http://honeymoons.about.com/od/weddingsaway/ht/wedding_toast.htm
Cake Cutting
Music is played for the cake cutting and for the announcement of the cake cutting. The announcement is made and music is performed as your guests gather for the event. You can request a special song or have the traditional “The Bride Cuts the Cake” performed.
Garter and Bouquet
Some brides and grooms choose to omit some of these events. All of these events are accompanied by announcements, narration and music by the reception band.
- Taking off the Garter: The groom takes the garter of the bride. “The Stripper” is the traditional song but many brides make special requests or just request the wedding band select something more subtle.
- Garter Toss: Music accompaniment or a drum roll until the garter is caught.
- Bouquet Toss: Music accompaniment or a drum roll until the bouquet is caught.
- Placing of the Garter: The recipient of the Garter places the Garter on the leg of the bouquet recipient. “The Stripper” is the traditional song but many wedding couples make special requests or request that the wedding band select something more subtle.
Departure of the Bride and Groom
The wedding band announces the departure of the wedding couple and performs music as everyone gathers for the rice, bird seed or confetti throwing or bubble blowing.
These are some of the traditional events of the wedding reception that music are used in conjunction with.
MusicRemembrance.com offers the top wedding bands in Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Central Florida and we’ll be glad to customize music for these and other events that you may add to your special day.
How To Personalize Music For Your Wedding
If you rush through the process of selecting wedding songs and music ensembles you miss a great chance to personalize your special day. The right wedding musicians in Orlando will help you customize your music to make your wedding personalized and memorable.
Do you already have ideas about personalizing your music? Have your Orlando wedding musicians help you take it to then next level and “wow’ your guests.
Below are questions that can help you discover a way to personalize music for your wedding.
1. Do you, the couple, have a song?
Remember that if you have several songs that are special to you, they can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony or reception.
2. Do you play an instrument.? If one or both or you play guitar maybe a guitar ensemble would add that wow touch.
3. Do you have a favorite style of music. or band? If your favorite band is a punk rock band don’t limit yourself to using that music at the reception. Have a punk rock band play the prelude to your ceremony. If that would shake up your guests a little too much, then how about having your string quartet or guitarist play a mellow version of one of their songs?
4. Is there someone that cannot be at the wedding, or a family member that is no longer with you, that you would like to have there in a special way? If so, is there a song or style of music that you could include in the ceremony or ceremony prelude? Did a Grandmother love a certain hymn or big band music? Is your brother overseas a Bruce Springsteen fanatic? In personalizing music for your wedding, incorporate these ideas. They make for a memorable and meaningful wedding.
5. You wanted to have your pet at your wedding but the venue couldn’t allow it. Maybe a song that contains the pets name, or a song about dogs during the wedding prelude, dinner or dancing music.
6. Do you have a theme for your wedding? Here are some examples.
Irish: Bagpipes for the walk down the isle or an Irish band for dinner or for dancing. Have the musicians wear full costume for more effect.
Princess theme: The long fanfare trumpets playing a fanfare before the bride enters sets the tone.
Christmas wedding: A Norman Rockwell costumed brass quintet playing Christmas carols.
Mardi Gras or New Orleans theme: Instead of just having a dixieland band, have one in New Orleans parade band costume and have them march everyone from the ceremony to the reception throwing beads.
Music Remembrance has a variety of event musicians who would even dress up according to your event’s theme!
7. Like to add a little fun and humor? Don’t forget that you can do it with music. I will always remember a wedding that Music Remembrance played in Tampa. No one thought that the groom would ever marry, so the couple decided to have the Hallelujah Chorus performed after they were pronounced Husband and Wife. The guests loved it and they most likely still remember it.
You can have a lot of fun, and often save some money, setting a tone or theme when your use personalize music for your wedding. When hiring wedding musicians in Central Florida, think first of the tone or theme that you would like to set and then have your wedding music consultant guide you through the process of personalizing your music.
visit: http://www.bestweddingnj.com/wedding_music to have a personalized song written just for you.
