Keep them Dancing

This was really important for us too - and honestly, for us it was about hiring a DJ that not only fit the budget and had good reviews, but we felt like knew how to read the room. The DJ we hired had a background in night clubs so we knew he knew how to keep a crowd going and how to manage the music to keep the dance floor full (and he DID!) I would definitely suggest asking any DJ you talk to what they do in order to get the dance floor going. Ask if they have a go-to set of songs that always seems to work, if there's a special "thing" they do or say, etc.

So for my wedding we definitely didn't have a ton of people on the dance floor til later but basically my friends said when my husband and I get on there we would be like the flame and everyone else would be moths aha. So in other words it seems like people would be more inclined to be on the dance floor if you guys are there pumping everyone up

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Yes thank You! We hired our Dj almost 2 years ago and we love his personality, his reviews, and he sent us videos of his work at previous weddings so I think were good to go there I just didn't know if there's anything else! Thank you again!

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We plan on it Haha thank you! We will definitely be up there as well as our bridesmaids and groomsmen!

The key is a great DJ and a good song list. Our dance floor was packed from the first song til the last and then we struggled to shut it down. We spent a long time making our song list and knew our friends and we had so many friends say it was the most fun wedding they've ever been to. Don't let your DJ pick the music......you know your friends and family best. Good luck

It really helps if you play music the guests know and like. We asked the DJ to stick to 80s and 90s music because that's what the majority of our guests enjoy. Every time one of those songs played, tons of people danced. Unfortunately the DJ threw in some newer songs and everyone would leave the dance floor. The kids also helped get people on the dance floor. For the most part our wedding was child-free but we had 2 flower girls, a ring bearer, 2 junior bridesmaids and 2 junior groomsmen and they kept dragging people out on the dance floor! Alcohol also helps, most of my family will not dance unless they've drank. As far as getting people on the dance floor early... feeding them early might help. A lot of wedding guests don't eat before and are too hungry to dance in the beginning. So I'd recommend doing a lotttt of appetizers or doing dinner early on. We had a lot of cocktail hour food and passed appetizers during the first dance, and father/daughter and mother/son dances which helped

A few things to consider:

A DJ who also acts as MC. This person really helps guide the event... in the mic mentioning "cake cutting " "dance songs..."

Alcohol. The majority of weddings that I've attended that have little or no dancing were all sober weddings. If you would prefer not to offer booze, think of how to replicate that vibe "social" "carefree" "fun" engaging". You might be able to accomplish this with games or activities.

Song selections. The earlier in the event, the better to play older "throwback" songs... your parents and grandparents will be more comfortable to dance. Consider the play lost of songs carefully. If you have a DJ include a "DoNot Play List" as well. A guided dance "cupid shuffle" always helps get people on the floor, but good music keeps them there.

You. Most people follow the lead of the bride and groom. If you're out there having a good time, they will be. Even taking turns dancing with other guests rather than just you two.

A good DJ/MC is the way to guarantee this, but we managed to get tons of people dancing without one. We were just using a Spotify playlist and someone at our venue was supposed to MC but he disappeared with the microphone right as we opened up the dance floor 🙄 we got my mom and brother out to begin with, and then played my father in laws favorite song so he HAD to join us lol, and then had a few songs where it was literally just me, my husband, and his best man dancing, and then his other groomsmen joined eventually, and honestly that was kind of fun for a few songs 😂 but then we started to get to the point where we really wanted to get everyone else more hyped up and our MC and microphone were both still MIA, so I put on Club Can’t Handle Me (which was like my husband’s hype-song in high school hahaha) and he and his best man started yelling and gesturing people onto the dance floor and within 60 seconds the dance floor was FULL.

Granted, my husband is one of the loudest and most energetic people in the WORLD, so we really lucked out with that working for us 😂 tldr it’s totally possible to get people dancing without a DJ or MC but if you want the guarantee it’s definitely better to hire one.

Agree that a good DJ will get the party moving! I’ve seen the RSVP cards that say “I promise to dance if you play _____” which is really cool! Then you can form your song list around that and know what your guests want to hear. Guests will follow your lead though! After our first dance, cake cutting, etc we’re going to do a bridal party dance, basically something fun and up beat with just us and our party, then half way through have the DJ open it up to everyone

1) alcohol. 2) a good DJ. 😀

It's all on the DJ/entertainment to keep people on the dance floor. They usually have their own ideas on what works and what doesn't.

i'm planning on not having any breaks in the dancing once it starts. Every tradition will be done in the beginning or at the end so people stay on the dance floor. I'm also planning on seating people who I know will dance near the floor so they are more encouraged to get our of their seats. Another idea is to have group dances like the Electric Slide and of course...Alcohol is the biggest component of getting people to dance lol!

A good DJ/band for sure, but I find as long as the bride and groom are up there having a good time, everyone else will follow. Luckily for me and my FH, we’re big dancers at weddings and don’t leave the dance floor so we plan on doing the same at ours. One wedding we went to, the bride and groom were outside hanging out the entire time and even though they had a great playlist, no one was up dancing so it was very awkward.

View Quoted Comment Yep! Works every time!

This is important to me as well but honestly I can dance with or without people on the dance floor. So my plan is to just dance all night and hope people join me lol