Dfloor 101

We often get asked “what is the secret to having an amazing dance floor at our wedding?”. After more than 11 years of helping to create epic dance floors at over 1000 weddings, we believe we have some great insight into what it takes. So, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 tips you may not have thought of…

 

1. You ARE the dance floor!

• Something that is often overlooked, but which is crucial for keeping the dance floor pumping, is you,...that’s right, YOU - the newlyweds!, it is, after all, your special day. Your family and loved ones will want to spend as much quality time with you as possible. So, try to get your thank-you’s, table visits and formalities out of the way earlier in the night. This way, you can be front and centre of the D-floor and you’ll find that everyone gravitates to join you there - right where they should be!

 

     2. Set the mood - dimmable lights

• Another easy-to-miss nuance amidst all the other important pieces of creating a fantastic wedding, is the dance floor lighting. Earlier in the night, it can look great to have things well lit and nicely decorated. But, once it’s full-blown dancing time, bright lights can really diminish the mood. Make sure you have spoken to your venue and/or dance floor crew to make sure the lighting can be dimmed or turned off to encourage your guests’ best and worst dance moves to flow freely 🕺.

 

   3. Break it up

• This one may not seem directly related to a thumpin’ dance floor, but let us explain…once your speeches and other formalities have wrapped up, it SHOULD be time for everyone to hit the D floor! However, if the formalities go for too long in one block, your guests will be itching to grab a drink, head to the bathroom and/or have a chat with one another (fair enough, right?!). By breaking up the formalities into chunks, you can ensure that your guests are fresh and rearing to go once the dance floor opens up. Boom.

 

    4. Bigger isn’t always better…

• This one may seem counterintuitive, but is a very important consideration for creating a vibrant dance floor. In a nutshell, you want the space to be cosy and bustling, yet without being overly squishy. We recommend allowing approximately 1m2 per 4 guests at your wedding. For example, for a wedding with 120 guests, allow about 30m2 of dance floor (e.g. dimensions of 5m x 6m). You’ll find this provides a good balance of space to bust-a-move while still being a cohesive and interactive dance floor space.

 

    5. Love a good espresso martini? 

• Who doesn’t, right?! However, we have consistently found that having strong cocktails such as Espresso Marti’s too early in the night, can mean your guests won’t have the stamina to keep up the dancing and energy during the biggest dance sets towards the end. The trick is to serve these delightful cocktails when there is only a couple of hours left in the night, so that they help (rather than hinder!) you and your friends to go the distance on the dance floor.

 

    6. Tailor your seating plan

• We’re sure you’ve put plenty of time into where your guests are sitting: Beverley opposite Steve, Sam and Katrina side-by-side….BUT have you considered who wants to be closest to the music? This is a vital point that is often overlooked, and is particularly important in small and/or reverberant spaces. The general aim is to have the “party crew” (you know who they are) nearest the stage/dance floor, while some of your older or less outgoing guests might appreciate a quieter spot, further away. You’ll find this helps set a great atmosphere for kicking off the dance floor when the time comes.

 

    7. The bar to dance floor highway

• It will come as no surprise that the bar is a popular destination at almost every wedding. Later on, the dance floor will be too! By keeping the bar and dance floor spaces close together (if you have this option), you’ll ensure that it’s not too laborious for your guests to keep sufficiently….hydrated….whilst also hardly leaving the dance floor.

 

    8. Kick your shoes off, time to boogie

• Once the dancing portion of the night is properly underway, there’s really no need for those stunning high heels and cumbersome dress shoes anymore. So, why not offer some dance-floor-friendly footwear (such as flip-flops or slippers) for those who may benefit from a shoe change at this point in the wedding? If this isn’t your jam, perhaps suggest your guests consider having their own comfortable footwear for later in the night, so they can focus on full time boot-scootin’ rather than sore feet.

 

    9. Placement is everything

• This point is related to others listed above, but we feel deserves a separate mention. Dance floor placement at your specific venue is crucial to ensuring a successful dance floor. If it is too hidden away, too obstructed by decor or at a strange angle relative to the room, this can detract from you and your guests getting your best boogie on. We’ve found the best positioning to be symmetrical in your reception space (if possible) and on one edge or corner facing back into the main area where your guests will sit/stand. This way everyone feels invited to come up and show their moves on the dance floor at any point. Mission accomplished.

 

    10. Glam it up!

• Finally, have fun with it! Having some suitable props such as shakers, tambourines or dress-up items available near the dance floor is a great way to get your guests involved in the party side of things. You’ll find that once they loosen up a bit using these props, dancing will flow very naturally from this point onwards. Even if you’re a total party crowd who were going to dance the night away regardless, these extra bits of fun can help create great moments and memories that you’ll have with you forever.