20+ Tips for A Great Wedding Reception

After hundreds of weddings, these are the details that keep guests on the dance floor and the night running smoothly.

1. Introduce your planner to your DJ early. When your planner or coordinator and DJ connect early, they work as one team on the day. No planner? Introduce your DJ to the venue manager or caterer.
2. Send your DJ the floor plan and timeline. Where the dance floor, bar and speakers go shapes the whole night.
3. Seat older guests and young kids away from the speakers. Put your party crowd closer to the DJ instead.
4. Keep the bar and photo booth in the dance floor room. When they’re outside or in another room, the party spreads thin.
5. Allow about 3 hours for setup. That gives your DJ time to set up and sound check before guests arrive, venue permitting.
6. Let your MC warm up the room. A minute of energy before the grand entrance makes a big difference.
7. Choose high-energy grand entrance songs. A different song for each pair in your wedding party previews the music to come and keeps guests watching.
8. Gather guests around the dance floor for your entrance. They’ll greet you as you walk in, and they’re already on the floor.
9. Do your first dance right after the grand entrance. The room’s energy is already high, and everyone is watching.
10. Keep first and family dances to about 1.5 minutes. Fading after the first chorus works well, unless you have a routine or love the song.
11. Keep speeches to 3–5 minutes. No more than four is ideal, with your strongest speaker last. Tell speakers they have 2–3 minutes so there’s room if they run long.
12. Give each speaker a walk-up song. It’s a small touch guests remember.
13. Keep slideshows to 7–8 minutes. Long enough to tell your story without losing the room.
14. Build in time for everyone to eat. That includes you and your vendors.
15. Finish formalities before open dancing. Get the bouquet, garter and money dance done first so nothing interrupts the dance floor.
16. Have your wedding party start the money dance lines. It gets everyone else moving.
17. Take a group photo on the dance floor right before it opens. The floor is full the moment the music starts.
18. Pick your first open-dancing song. Choose one you and your partner can’t wait to dance to, and your DJ builds from there.
19. Stay on the dance floor for the first 15 minutes. Guests follow your lead, and your photographer and videographer get great footage.
20. Ask guests what gets them dancing. Add “What song gets you on the dance floor?” to your RSVP cards.
21. Wear comfortable shoes and drink water. Then enjoy every minute.

Want help planning your reception music? Check your date with DJ Wrex.

Wedding reception moments

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