Your wedding disco is the grand finale of your big day! It is the moment when the formalities are over, the nerves have settled, and everyone is ready to let their hair down. A packed dance floor does not happen by accident, however. It takes a blend of the right music, great timing, and a welcoming atmosphere... 1. Reading The Room I will ALWAYS ask about songs you DO and DON'T WANT! And I welcome a list of songs in advance which you or your guests want to hear. But it's always a good idea to let the DJ read the room, monitor the energy of the crowd, and seamlessly shift genres if needed, to keep everyone on the dancefloor! Request cards on tables are fine, if they bring them up during the disco. The problem with getting them in advance is I won't know if that person is on the dancefloor or even in the room when I play the song. Do share a "must-play" list: Maybe 15 to 20 songs you absolutely love. Perhaps create a Spotify playlist and email it to me. Do share a "do-not-play" list: There may be personal reasons why you don't want a specific song or artist. Let me know! 2. Cater To All Generations Early On A wedding brings together guests of all ages, from grandparents to young children. The best way to build momentum is to play universally loved classics early in the evening. I usually start with classic floorfillers from the 80's, 90's and 00's, like Man! I Feel Like A Woman, 9 To 5, I Wanna Dance With Somebody etc. It helps gauge the crowd and where I'll go next. That said, if you've asked me to stick to older or newer stuff only, then of course I will. If you want a specialist section, save it for later in the night. For example, a 'Clubland' set might fit best around 11pm. 3. The Layout Of A Venue Can Have An Impact If the bar is in a separate room from the dance floor, your crowd will divide. People naturally congregate around the bar, so bear that in mind. But it doesn't need to be a problem. I work at many venues where this is the case, and often a quieter area is good for socialising, but you might see peaks and troughs on the floor. And if an evening buffet is 'next door' just bear in mind that it might have an impact on who's on the dancefloor at certain times! 4. Staging The Big Moments The transition from daytime formalities to evening partying needs to feel seamless. Working with your venue co-ordinator and me as your DJ will ensure the perfect flow. Trust the suggestion of the venue regarding timings. They've hosted many weddings and know what generally works best. And very often, things will over run a little on the day. This is perfectly normal! The Cake Cutting: Usually this works best just before the first dance as it gathers everyone together. The First Dance: Transition straight from the cake cutting into your special dance while you already have the full attention of your guests. The Invite: Not everyone enjoys doing their first dance (thinking Grooms)! It's common practise for me to invite the bridal party and guests onto the floor part-way through the first dance. It could be immediate family first, followed by everyone else. It's up to you. You may also want to do a Father-Daughter dance. Just let me know in advance. 5. Foam Sticks & Slippers! A brilliant way to encourage people onto the dancefloor is to provide a box of foam glow sticks. People who might not normally like to dance will feel much more comfortable if they have something to wave around! And, if the dancefloor is hard, which they often are, then providing slippers in a box is always a winner too! When the above are provided, there are usually very few left at the end of the night! 6. Lead by Example The biggest secret to a packed wedding disco is simple: try and be there! Guests want to spend time with the newlyweds. Wherever you go, the crowd will follow. If you are standing at the bar or chatting outside, the dance floor might be a little quieter. If you are front and centre singing your heart out, your guests will be right there with you. That said, sometimes the evening is the only time some of your guests will get to spend some proper time talking to you, so of course you will find yourself all over the venue! 7. The Right Lighting, The Right Atmosphere Most venues will automatically dim the main lights, allowing my lights to create the mood for the evening. I will work with the venue to make sure the mood is just right. My usual setup includes a starcloth DJ booth with lights on an overhead rig illuminating the dancefloor. I usually illuminate the area around the dancefloor with uplighters, adding to the mood. I can also add extra uplighters in adjacent rooms to create a truly magical atmosphere, in your theme colours. These are usually static, so it's only the dancefloor where the flashing lights are. But, if you prefer a 'different vibe' then I can remove all flashing lights, and instead use mirror balls. It's all in the pre-event discussions! 8. The Time Of Year & Weather Can Impact Peak Times On The Dancefloor On a hot day in mid June, it might not be getting dark until 10:30pm and people LOVE being outside on warm, light evenings. It's worth bearing in mind that this will probably mean people are more likely to come in and want to dance later on in the night. Some venues with big windows might mean the disco lights don't kick in until much later on too. None of this needs to be a problem, but it's worth being aware how weather and daylight can naturally change a disco flow. 9. Booking Other Performers I work very well with bands and solo artists like singers and sax players. Ideally, the transition from a band's 1st set to the DJ and then back to the band for their 2nd set is seamless. However, some venues might have very limited space. One of the challenges I have as a DJ working with a band is space. A band will obviously need a lot of space and a central location. But once they finish, I might still have 2 hours to DJ and the area I would normally be might now be an empty void after the band has packed away! This is why it's always good to be aware of who else is booked for entertainment and what space they're likely to need, so I can work around them. It's also good to communicate beforehand so I'm not playing the songs in their set! If you are wanting a big band at your wedding, as well as a DJ, it's worth making sure you have the right venue for it! It's also worth letting your DJ know if there's other things happening like sparklers outside, a photo booth etc that may need mentioning. 10. End on a High Note The final song of the night is what your guests will still be singing as they head to their taxis. I often play New York, New York with guests forming a circle, maybe around the couple. I rarely have to encourage people to do it. Other end-of-night songs to play around this time include Journey's Don't Stop Believing, The Time Of My Life, Don't Stop Me Now etc. I will read the room, but of course if there's a specific song you want to end with, let me know in advance, or certainly within the last half an hour!