6 Wedding Hacks from a DJ Who’s Played over 100 Weddings

After DJing over 100 weddings, I’ve learnt that a packed dance floor takes more than a killer playlist. The timing, lighting, and even where you put the dance floor can make a HUGE difference.

If you’re planning your wedding entertainment in Perth, these are my 6 wedding hacks I’ve picked up along the way to help you avoid common mistakes and give your guests more time to enjoy the dance floor.

Some are simple, some might surprise you, but all of them are worth chatting through with your DJ before the big day.

1. The First Dance Rules

 

This one is broken into 4 sub-rules because there’s more to it than picking a song and hoping for the best.

• Get everyone around you.
  Always, and I mean ALWAYS have your guests standing in a circle around you for your first dance. That way, when the DJ plays your first party song, everyone is already there, on the dance floor, ready to go.

• Don’t rush into the middle.
  Okay, so you’re the newly weds, and your MC has just invited everyone to form a circle on the dance floor. Your first instinct is probably to walk straight over and wait in the middle while everyone gathers around you. Don’t do this! It can take a while for everyone to get up there, and some couples feel super nervous during this moment. Instead, chill in your seats for 60 seconds or so, or walk over and stay at the edge of the circle until your DJ plays your first dance song. At your pre-wedding meeting, you can also give your DJ permission to start the song as soon as you’re in position. That way, you can get started while any slow-moving guests are still making their way over.

• Keep it short and sweet.
  If you haven’t planned any choreography and you’re just doing “side to sides” with your hubby or wife, my advice is to keep the song to 60-90 seconds MAX. Any longer, and plenty of couples start to feel uncomfortable. At Streamline Entertainment, we often make short edits of songs so they finish naturally after 60-90 seconds. This keeps the moment special and the ending clean. If you’re having fewer than 55 people at your wedding, I’m much more relaxed about this rule. Smaller weddings often feel more intimate, so if you’re comfortable and loving the moment, let the song play! Fewer people = less pressure = more comfortable.

• Pick your first party song.
  Agree on your favourite party song to kick off the dancing, and have your DJ play it right after the first dance finishes

 

2. The Bouquet Toss

 

Even if you aren’t fussed about doing a bouquet toss, consider one! This is one of my favourite hacks for getting people back on the dance floor after they’ve wandered off on a side quest to eat cake or vape outside with their high school buddies.

Don’t lock in an exact time. Instead, set a window, usually between 10pm and 11:30pm, depending on when your reception finishes, and let your DJ suggest when it would be most effective on the night.

Once they feel the dance floor needs another boost of energy, they can check in with the bride, who gets the ultimate deciding vote:”Let’s do it!” or “Laterrrr”

 

3. The Group Photo

 

If you aren’t doing a first dance, or you’re doing yours when you first enter the reception, this one is for you. After all the formalities have finished, get your MC  or photographer to invite everyone onto the dance floor for a big group photo. Having everyone there means your DJ can drop a huge party hit straight afterwards and BOOM, the dance floor is full. No awkward announcement asking people to come and dance.

 

4. The “One More Song!!” Rule

 

Get your DJ to announce the last song at 11:50 PM, or around 10 minutes before the music has to be off.

People will always want one more song. Giving it to them makes them feel like they’ve squeezed in a little extra fun without pissing off your venue by running past its music cut-off.

The trick is to plan the encore into those final minutes. Your DJ should leave enough time for both songs and, if you’re doing one, a guard of honour or tunnel.

The encore keeps the party crew happy, the venue happy, and gives you a proper finish to your special night. Everybody wins.

 

5. The Lighting Rule

 

This one is SUPER important, so I’ve broken it down into 2 sub-rules:

• Dim those festoon lights.
  Festoon lights? Magical at sunset and during dinner. But for dancing, they’re almost always too bright. Make sure they have a dimmer, and make sure your wedding planner or DJ knows where it is and who’s handling it when it’s time to party. Added rule: ALWAYS chat with your photographer before changing the lighting. Dimming the lights right before the first dance, when your photographer has just finished setting up their camera and equipment for that moment, is a big no-no. Ask whether they’d prefer the lights dimmed before or after the first dance. Once the first dance is over, those lights should be low or, where suitable, completely off.

• Save the party lighting for the party.
  If you’ve chosen a DJ package with party lighting, make sure it only comes on AFTER the first dance. You don’t want blotches of coloured light across your faces in your first dance photos. Lighting towers also aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing things in the room.
  Our Perth DJs at Streamline Entertainment usually put them up after the first dance, since they only take about 15 seconds to set up.

 

6. The Dance Floor Placement Rule

 

NO destination dance floors.

Your dance floor shouldn’t be tucked away somewhere people aren’t already naturally gathering. Don’t put it in a separate area where guests have to make a conscious decision to say, “Let’s go to the dance floor now.”

Instead, put it right next to the bar, where people are already hanging out.

As for your DJ, make sure they’re RIGHT UP on the edge of the dance floor.

For every metre between the DJ and the dance floor, you lose A LOT of vibe, especially at an outdoor wedding. Keeping your DJ close helps them connect with your guests, read the room and keep that energy going.

The layout matters more than you might think!

Let’s Get Your Wedding Dance Floor Going

After more than 100 weddings behind the decks, these are the things I keep coming back to. Get everyone in the right place, work with your DJ on the timing, and give the lighting some love.

Then, when your favourite song comes on, get out there! Your guests want to celebrate with YOU.

If you’re looking for wedding entertainment in Perth, have a read of the Streamline Entertainment reviews to hear from couples we’ve celebrated with, then get in touch and tell us what you’ve got planned.

Let’s make it a night with plenty of “ONE MORE SONG!!” energy.