Our most asked question is always… How can you ensure that our guests have an unforgettable party? And how can you ensure that we will have a packed dance floor all night?
Fantastic question… and please allow us to drop some knowledge for a moment that is sure to help any prospective client achieve a night full of dancing.
First thing first, you need to ensure that you have selected a Band or DJ Entertainment team that you mesh well with. This means you need to feel comfortable that they can provide you with the music style that you are anticipating you and your guests to dance to for the evening (yes, you want to make sure of a few other things when shopping for vendors but that’s a different blog post…lol).
Once you feel like you have just the right guy or girl… Here are a few tips and tricks of the trade to ensure a great evening to achieve a high energy dance floor.
You want to ensure that the distance between your DJ/Band and the dance floor is as minimal as possible. If you could setup up their gear in the middle of the dance floor and it still be acceptable, I would do it. What this does… is it puts your performer’s energy as close to the crowd as possible. Your guests will automatically vibe off the energy of your DJ/Band just like you would at a concert venue. With this theory in mind, “the closer you are to the stage, the better your experience will be…”, its just one move you can make when trying to achieve a fun dance party.
Next thing, would be to limit the size of the dance floor to the most logical size possible. What in the world does that mean, you ask? If you’re expecting 300 guests at your wedding or event, please understand that you do not necessarily need to have a floor that accommodates that many people.
Think about it this way FIRST, when its time for all 300 people to put on their dancing shoes, not everyone is going to jump out there all at once. You will find people are socializing at their tables, hitting the bar for another cocktail, or lighting a cigar with old friends on the patio. So, lets plan for at least a 250 person dance floor, just to start with so that this way you are ensuring even more probability of having a great dance party.
Consider this SECONDLY, if you’re in a room that has a huge dance floor for 300 people, and at the end of the night you are expecting only 100 of your closest family and friends to hang around and jam with you to the bitter end… Then a smaller dance floor is perfect for you!
Honestly, if I’m choosing, a good rule of thumb is to plan for a dance floor for 150-200 guests for this size of event. I always tell clients at a minimum plan for 2/3rd’s of your guest-list. This way you minimize the dead space on the floor and it encourages that raging dance party you have always dreamed about for your big day.
The LAST thing you want to ensure you do, which will increase your chances of having a night you never want to end… is to make sure you are selecting music that you know your guests want to dance to. Yes! This day is about you and celebrating your love for your fiancé, however you are buying dinner for your friends and family and wanting to show them a good time… So please keep them in mind as well. Numerous times we receive client’s that have exceptional music taste that is completely different from what you would expect to hear at a wedding.
Genre’s that are including Punk, Aggressive Rock, Polka, Etc… Even though there are many tunes in these genre’s that most people can appreciate, the people on your dance floor most likely won’t want to tap their toe’s to it that evening. Make sure to pick a good range of upbeat songs, or tunes that you think all of your friends will know. Not to say that imputing some of your favorite high school jam’s won’t keep the party going. I’m just saying make sure to keep your guests music taste at the forefront as well, to ensure a fun filled evening of dancing.
Giving your DJ the free range to pick what everyone is vibing with will also help with this. Handcuffing them to a specific ONLY PLAY THESE songs will only make it more difficult to keep the party going.
Once again… to ensure a jam packed dance floor all night, make sure you have an entertainment company that represents your style. Put them as close to the dance floor as humanly possible, using discretion for guests, when planning your layout of the reception space.
Make sure that you can limit the size of dance floor to comfortably hold 2/3rd’s of your expected guest count. Finally, and I think maybe the most obvious, would be to make sure you’re catering to your GUEST’s music taste and not just own.
“May the transitions be smooth, and the song choice be flawless”-DJFyerFly
How to ensure a full dance floor all night by Fyerfly Productions.
Have you always wanted the classic wedding experience, or are you more of a modernist? We’re here for you either way. Hear our favorite ceremony picks for both the classy, traditional couple and the contemporary duo below.
Traditional Ceremony
Butterfly Waltz – Brian Crain
Canon in D Major – Johann Pachelbel, Music Lab Collective
Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”) – APM Wedding Players
Trumpet Voluntary – John Stanley, Wynton Marsalis
A Walk in the Forest – Brian Crain
The Prayer – Andrea Bocelli, Céline Dion
Clair de Lune from Suite Bergamasque – Claude Debussy, Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy
Modern Ceremony
A Thousand Years – The Piano Guys
Marry Me (Train) – Timothy Espinosa
Marry You (Instrumental Version) – The O’Neill Brothers Group
Chasing Cars – Vitamin String Quartet
Just the Way You Are – The Piano Guys
Who You Love (Instrumental Version) – The O’Neill Brothers Group
Need some help setting a mood for your cocktail hour? Here’s a taste of some great tunes to get your sip on…….. whether you’re looking for a traditional night or a more modern vibe!
Traditional Cocktail Hour
Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra, Count Basie
Dream a Little Dream of Me – Dean Martin
Cheek to Cheek – Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
The Way You Look Tonight – Tony Bennett
A Wink and a Smile – Harry Connick, Jr.
Love Me or Leave Me: My Baby Just Cares for Me – Nina Simone
All of Me – Michael Bublé
Modern Cocktail Hour
Valerie (Live at BBC Radio 1 Live) – Amy Winehouse
Just the Way You Are – Boyce Avenue
Collide (Acoustic Version) – Howie Day
Come on Get Higher – Matt Nathanson
Budapest (Live from Spotify Stockholm) – George Ezra
The best day of your life deserves to end on a high note. These songs are sure to have everyone on their feet and leaving feelin’ goooood. Here’s our list of killer closers:
Drink You Away – Justin Timberlake
Super Bass – Nicki Minaj
Friends in Low Places – Brooks Jefferson
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Piano Man – Billy Joel
Take Me Home Tonight – Eddie Money
Good Riddance – Green Day
I Would Walk 500 Miles – Kenny and the Scots
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
The Impression That I Get – The Mighty Might Boss Tones
Want to make your reception one no one will ever forget? It’s all in the moments. Songs make moments. Check out these playlists we’ve created for all of your reception essentials.
Songs for Your Bouquet Toss
Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) – Beyoncé
Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Girls – Beastie Boys
Wannabe – Spice Girls
It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls
Ladies Night – Kool & the Gang
Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – Shania Twain
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Songs for Your Cake Cutting
Sugar – Maroon 5
Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard
Eat It – “Weird Al” Yankovic
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
Ever wanted to start a conversation but didn’t know how? Ooh… that’s awkward. Ever tried to start a party but didn’t know how? Ooh… that’s really awkward. No sweat, we’ve done all the work for you. Here are our top picks to break the ice so you can break it down at your reception.
photo by The Roots
photo by Rudy and Marta – How to ensure a full dance floor all night
Closing Songs for Your Reception
