16 Things
A Bride Needs To Know - Advice For A Great
Reception
Written
by Dan Nichols
Calling All Brides…
Are you or is someone
you know having a
wedding reception? Here
are 16 things you’ve
probably never even
thought of that, as a
professional mobile DJ,
I suggest make for
better parties. I first
want to point out that
it is rare that all
these items are followed
in any given event but
the more you can adhere
to them, the more likely
your party will be at
full steam come closing
time.
-
Don't put the older
guests next to the
dance floor/speakers.
If you have to ask
why, then you may want
to hire a harpist for
the night.
-
Don't cram your
entertainment out of
the way—your
entertainer should be
seen. Powerful
entertainers will work
to get people on the
dance floor but they
must be seen as part
of the action, not
just some side show.
-
A party should end
when it shouldn't end,
not when it should.
Ending a party before
it dies down leaves
everyone with the
impression the floor
was packed all night.
It just feels better
when people are left
wanting more versus
being completely
burned out.
-
A "too small" dance
floor is better than
one that is too big.
Why? The answer is
simple: It creates the
impression, whether
real or not, that the
floor is full. People
are more likely to
dance when the crowd
on the floor is dense
than when they feel
like the only ones out
there. Take it from
the pro who knows
about dancing and
crowd psychology, not
from the banquet
manager selling you on
why a huge floor is so
important. If people
end up dancing on the
carpet then great they
end up dancing on the
carpet and the story
of your floor being so
packed people couldn't
even fit on the floor
only further
reinforces my point.
-
Darker is better than
lighter for dancing.
People feel like less
of a spectacle, less
"on-stage" when they
think they're harder
to see. That's why
crime increases at
night as well—and yes,
when some people dance
it is a crime. This
one works along the
same lines of
psychology as tip 4.
-
Keep exit doors
closed. Doors are
inviting and you don't
want to invite people
outside of the main
room. Having them open
allows more light into
the room which again
works against the
psychodynamics of the
dance floor. Open
doors invite people to
their cars in the
parking lot. You want
to keep their focus in
the reception room for
as long as possible.
-
This is a very general
but valid statement:
Nicer places, (country
clubs, etc.) actually
make it harder,
especially in the
summer and fall months,
to get people up and
moving because they
are so pre-occupied
enjoying the scenery.
Think about it...would you rather enjoy
a cold beverage on a
breezy deck outdoors
amidst the trees or a
sweaty dance floor indoors?
It isn't that the
night can't be great,
but all things being
equal, nicer venues
pull from the floor
potential. As a DJ I
love playing nicer
events and usually do
so, as that's my
target market; but it
can't change simple
human nature. If
you're having your
party/reception at a
really nice venue, then
you'll just want to
pay closer attention
to some of the other
factors to tip the
scales in your favor.
-
Bars should always be
in the main room,
preferably closer to
the dance floor but
the floor shouldn’t be
in the way of any
lines to the bar. If a
bar and/or desserts
are put outside the
main room, then a huge
percentage of
potential dancers are
unavailable. Bars are
like kitchens—they
draw people to them.
If you can help it,
don't make your DJ
wrestle with the draw
of a bar.
-
If you're going to
shut the bar down for
30 minutes out of,
say, 6 hours, do it
during dinner. If you
do it at 11:30, then
the party will more
likely die out, as
people will feel that
it's time to go.
-
Happy music keeps
things going. Keep
away from any negative
vibes at all. Keep the
mood up-up-up.
-
Respect the musical
opinions of your local
professionals. They do
this for a living. Be
careful not to cut out
all the "cliché"
wedding music as
you'll find this will
negatively impact the
dance floor potential.
People dance to what
they know. A wedding
reception is not the
time and place to
prove to your friends
and family that you're
into obscure music.
You've got a lot of
people from all over
your family tree that
want to have a good
time, so let your DJ
exercise all his/her tools and really
work his/her craft.
-
The entertainment
should eat with the
guests and not be fed
a soggy club sandwich
in the janitor's
closet. From tons of
experience, the more
my brides and grooms
treat me as a guest,
the more likely their
unpaid guests will
respect me too. I find
it rather ironic that
the nicest venues
often have some sort
of crapitude (made up
word) towards DJs,
bands, photographers
and video crew and
will encourage the
bride and groom to
shovel them off away
from the action during
dinner with a plate of
moldy (I’m not
kidding) cold cuts.
Wouldn’t it make sense
that they be right
near the action? Not
to mention, if you
treat your vendors
like second class
citizens, how do you
think that affects
their attitudes? Your
pros will bend over
backwards for you if
you just treat them
with the same respect
you’d treat your
guests with. I can
tell you now that
professional wedding
vendors will even do
extra for you at no
charge when you treat
them right.
-
Don't do a dollar
dance. The reason is
that when the bride
and groom are doing
this, the guests
realize they won't be
seen slipping out the
door. If you must do
one, do it early on
after the main dances
and limit it to 3
songs max.
-
People tend to
remember the beginning
and the end of an
event. That's why your
DJ should do a strong,
grand introduction. It
helps build rapport
early on, and if done
right and with energy
and enthusiasm, it
puts him or her in a
more powerful position
to work your crowd all
night.
-
It is best for any
traditional events or
speeches to be done
and out of the way
before dancing begins.
In addition, it is
important for pictures
of the bridal party
and bride and groom to
be done, when at all
possible, before the
dancing begins. As a
DJ I have seen more
parties lose steam
because my bridal
party is having
pictures taken after
the bridal dance. Do
all the pictures
before. It may cost
you an extra hour
earlier in the day but
it will save you from
losing a good handful
of guests early on in
the evening.
-
If you have to cut
corners, don't
compromise on the
entertainment. My
clients never complain
that they paid too
much for my services.
Also, know that
experience is king. I
am a better DJ after
every event I do.
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