Wedding Dance Floor-Filling Tips!

Your wedding is about the biggest you’ll ever throw as parties go. The event is the day that you’ll tell your grandkids about and is sure to go down in history as one of the most meaningful celebrations of your life. That’s why you’ll want to go all out with wedding entertainment that will, most likely, include a dance floor for at least your evening set-up.

Is a party truly a party if everyone doesn’t embarrass themselves on the dance floor? Or, more importantly, is a wedding even a wedding if the bride doesn’t end up quite literally on the bottom of the dancefloor at the end of the night?

The answer to both questions is a definite no. As well as playing host to the all-important first dance, your wedding dance floor is where the true memories of this once-in-a-lifetime party take place. 

That’s why it can be disappointing if your guests just don’t play ball where your dance floor is concerned. After all, if your guests only engage in your awkward first dance, the rest of your wedding atmosphere will quickly collapse.  Luckily, there are some foolproof ways to draw even reluctant guests into dancing, and we’ve listed them here!

Think about your dance floor itself

You have so much to think about in terms of wedding decor for the big day that you may be totally out of inspiration when it comes to making the most of your dance floor.

A dance floor that doesn’t stand out will undoubtedly fail to draw attention. To overcome this, consider everything from the material your dance floor is made of to its positioning and overall setup. 

For one thing, hiring clearly defined wood dance floors like those supplied by Yes Hire can ensure that this is the first thing people see when they walk into your reception room.

Equally, a centralised dance floor keeps dancing in everyone’s minds all night. You might also consider incorporating additional elements such as balloons, bunting, and other entertaining dance floor decorations to accentuate the central dance floor and attract your guests’ attention. 

Choose the right tunes

Few things make more of a difference in getting guests on the dancefloor than the songs you choose. Odd, beatless hits that no one knows aren’t excellent for getting people going, no matter how much they might mean to you as a couple. Rather, you should curate a playlist that ensures a lively atmosphere. Consider these top crowd-pleasers: 

• Mr Brightside by The Killers
• Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
• Jump Around by House of Pain
• We will Rock you by Queen
• Dancing Queen by Abba

In addition to pulling out all the best hits, wedding trends like taking a request from each guest in advance can get everyone moving at least once.

Don’t underestimate the power of a choreographed group dance to songs like Macarena or Cotton Eye Joe. While you might want to save these until a little later in the evening, you can bet everyone will enjoy them.

Lead by example

Often, filling the dancefloor is just about breaking the ice. After all, no one wants to be the first up there, swaying along alone.

No one, that is, apart from the bride who’s trying to get things moving! Of course, your first dance gives the ideal opportunity to break that ice in a major way, but you’ll want to go even further than that one solitary event.

By participating in the dance floor yourself and encouraging your groom, bridesmaids, and family members to do the same, you can establish a lively and lively dance floor from the outset. And you’d be surprised how much this encourages other guests to join you on the dancefloor. It might seem daunting, but remember that you’re doing this for the sake of a good time. And, if in doubt, you could always sway along with your partner. 

Lower the lights

It’s unlikely that you’ll have full lights blaring for your evening event, but if you’re considering that option, we recommend against it. Even the most confident dancers are unlikely to lose all of their inhibitions under the gaze of stark bright lights. There’s a reason we wait until after dark to start moving, after all!

Keep lighting low to keep everyone feeling as comfortable and free on the dancefloor as possible. In addition to adding a fun party atmosphere, such as strobing dance floor lighting, it can also help keep everyone disguised, confident, and dancing with reckless abandon. 

Turn it into a photo op

If there’s one thing that gives you leverage on your wedding day, it’s the need for great photos. You can get your guests into all kinds of wacky poses and setups with the power of a picture behind you. And you can certainly get everyone on the dancefloor, albeit temporarily, for a thrilling action shot.

A little precision planning and making sure that one of those smash dance floor hits is playing should be all it takes to ensure that, after hitting the dance floor for the sake of a picture, most of your guests stay there all night long.

Don’t leave your dance floor empty

An empty dance floor is a negative sign, but it doesn’t need to be an issue at your wedding. Simply buckle up, get your playlist right, and implement the rest of these pointers to ensure your wedding party moves and shakes from dawn until dusk.

Alternatively, the celebration should continue until everyone exhausts their energy. The best memories are made on the dance floor, and the more guests you have, the more likely they are to remember the fun.