Our Top 11 Tips To Have A really fun
Wedding Reception

HINT #1 - SET YOUR FUN EXPECTATIONS EARLY
Let your guests know from the very start that you expecting them to celebrate at your reception.  Tell them to ‘bring their dancing shoes’ with them to the reception on the invitation.  At your sign-in table put a sign that says “we expect to see you on the dance floor”.

HINT #2 - ROOM LIGHTING
This is an important one that is often overlooked! Your guests will dance earlier and more often if the dance floor area is dimly lit (compared to brightly lit). Your guests are unlikely to dance in a brighly lit room. So make sure by the time the dance portion of your night begins, that someone (your venue staff usually) is designated to turning off the venue lights or at least dimming them over your dance floor area. You can also use lighting as a transition to sub-consciously invite everyone to the dance floor.

HINT #3 - ASSIGNED SEATING
Seat the older guests away from the DJ /dance floor and the younger guests closer to the speakers. Older guests are much more sensitive to music than your friends. Your older guests will stay longer if you do this. Not having assigned seating? No problem. Just let your friends know that they should sit closer to the dance floor.

HINT #4 - COCKTAIL HOUR ENTERTAINMENT
This can be so important.  Guests can grow bored quickly with basic hors d’oeuvres while listening to the usual soft background music.  Try a photobooth or a green screen – or even our new selfie booth. Consider a live piano player. We recent saw a piano player who had the entire crowd singing along like you would see in a piano bar.

HINT #5 - FUN ENTRANCES
When you enter your reception for the first time as husband and wife, don't just take a conventional arm-in-arm stroll. "Run. Skip. Dance. Swoop in on a rope swing!". Brainstorm with your groom about the most creative, appropriate way to make a big impression. This is a great way to break the ice and set up for a fun vibe for the rest of the event.

HINT #6 - LOCATION OF THE DJ / BAND
Your DJ setup should be as close the dance floor as possible (inches is preferable to feet) This will enable the speakers and dance lighting to be properly positioned. Also make sure there are no tables between the DJs set up and the dance floor. This actually creates an enormous disconnect and your audience will feel it.

HINT #7 - SUNSET PHOTOS
So we LOVE sunset pictures! There are few things more awesome than a great sunset picture with the married couple. We are NOT suggesting that you skip these picture. BUT the energy level in the room lowers when the bride and groom leave.  We have seen sunset pictures take over an hour - which is way too long. Its important that you stress to your photographer that you don’t want these pictures to take too long for you get.

HINT #8 - FAMILY PHOTOS / GROUP PHOTOS
As a general rule of thumb, you never want stop the dancing once its started. So your goal is to get these pictures BEFORE the dancing occurs. One of the best time for these pictures is right after dinner. Also you should try and do this on the dance floor instead of taking guests out of the room.

HINT #9 - JUST DANCE
This one may seem obvious, but it gets neglected a lot. The bride and groom will be the focal point for guests all night. If guests are constantly looking around to see where you are and aren’t finding you in the room, they’ll more likely hang out at their tables or decide to go home after cake. If they look up and see you guys shaking it on the dance floor, they’ll be inclined to come join you. Sometime this is easier said than done, because you’re thanking guests and talking to relatives, but no one will judge you if you’re dancing the night away and having a great time at your wedding.

HINT #10 - LATE NIGHT SNACKS
A late night snack as simple as hot dogs, pizza or donuts will be greatly appreciated by the guests who have been dancing (and maybe drinking) up a storm.  Many times this will allow your guests to ‘get their second wind’ and continue to dance longer. So yes, this is a suggestion that we generally like.

HINT #11 - DONT DO A FAKE SPARKLER EXIT!
We have seen this happen many times. Your photographer is scheduled to leave before your reception ends and you want to get this great “end of your reception” picture! So you have all your guests move from the dance floor to go outside. Your plan is to have people come back into the room and resume celebrating. Here’s the truth - most of them won’t and the majority of your reception’s energy will not return either. Its even worse when people have to get their coats and go outside. Its just a very big signal to most people that its time to go home! Trust us on this one, you might as well end your reception.