And there it is! The number one question I am asked as a wedding DJ. “How do you keep the dance floor packed?” After all, the main reason you hire a DJ is for them to entertain and get people dancing.  On that note, the DJ must take full responsibility for how the guests at a wedding respond to them by either dancing or not.

There are also a few things the newly married couple can do to support their DJ in packing the dance floor at their wedding reception.

With that said, I’ve put together a complete guide that includes tips for DJs and newlyweds on how to keep the dance floor PACKED all night long.

Tips For Engaged Couples And Newlyweds

Hire the Right DJ

There are so many experienced DJs with great reviews.

More importantly, you must hire a DJ with a proven track record that matches your personality and style.

A DJ must connect with their clients and “get in line” with the vibe and energy of the crowd.

They may have the DJ skills, but if they cannot connect with the guests they are serving, people won’t dance. It’s that simple.

Collaborate

Upon booking your wedding DJ, he or she should send you DJ planning forms to help guide you in selecting the music for your wedding.

Be sure to take the time to fill these forms out including your top song picks and special instructions.

This will help your DJ get a feel for the type of crowd they will be entertaining.

It will also help them prepare the most appropriate music in advance.

You DJ should always make themselves available to make music suggestions at any time.

They should also schedule at least one DJ consultation to review all of your selected music before your wedding day. 

Create An Environment That Encourages Dancing

There is a very popular sign that DJs love to see at a wedding.

It is often located in the bathroom hanging on the mirror. It reads: “You look perfect, now get back out there and dance.” 

Little gestures like this help set the tone for a fun night and help keep the dance floor packed!

Furthermore, it is so important to hire a DJ that understands that not only must they play great music, but create an environment of positive energy and fun for everyone to share.

Lighting

The proper lighting will help keep the dance floor packed at your wedding.

Furthermore, once the dancing segment of your reception begins, it is important that the reception area lights are dimmed.

There are a few reasons for this.

First, when the DJ fires up the dance music, if the venue’s lights also dim at this time, it sends a signal that it’s showtime and the dancing party has begun.

Second, people who may feel self-conscious are more likely to dance if they are not seen so clearly with bright lights.

Lastly, the dance floor lighting and uplighting can be seen more clearly which makes for a more dance club-like atmosphere.

How To Pack The Dance Floor

Tips For Wedding DJs

Personalize, Personalize, Personalize!

I still remember as a kid I hated going to weddings and I couldn’t stand wedding DJs. Why? First, I knew the opening song they would play would be “Celebration.” Then they would slow things down with “Lady in Red” and close with “Last Dance.”

I’m not saying these are bad songs, but it’s so important to remember all of your guests are attending your wedding to celebrate YOU and your husband or wife.

You want your music and dedications to reflect your specific tastes and personality.

It will be so refreshing to everyone attending your wedding and further remind everyone of what the day is really all about: The celebration of YOUR marriage.

Give Shout-Outs!

I love giving shout-outs to people during the night. It’s one of the best ways to fire up the crowd and personalize my DJ services.

Here is a really fun thing to do when planning your music.

As early as possible, ask several of your guests for a song they would like played at your wedding and never mention it again so they forget about it.

Next, submit their song requests to your DJ with their name attached.

On your wedding day, the DJ can give them a shout-out when playing their song and they go CRAZY when they hear it and so do all of their friends and family members!

Mix it up

One of the biggest mistakes a DJ makes is they don’t read the crowd.

They often think if people are not dancing they need to turn up the volume and intensity to motivate people to get off their seats. WRONG!

I always tell the DJs I train, “If people are not dancing, they are trying to tell you they don’t like what you are playing or how you’re performing.”

With that said, the DJ needs to try a different approach.

For example, maybe they can play a couple of slow songs, come out from behind the DJ booth, get some crowd participation and so on.

Always remember, you are paying your DJ to MC your wedding and keep the dance floor packed.

You have every right to ask them to mix things up when what they are doing isn’t working.

Take Song Requests On-The-Spot

What better way to know what type of music the people at the wedding want to hear than to take requests.

People in the crowd are walking directly to the DJ and they tell the EXACT song that will get them dancing. 

In addition, when one person dances, many of their friends will join in. 

If a DJ plays song requests consistently throughout the entire evening at a wedding, it will almost always guarantee that the dance full will remain full. 

There are actually some DJs out there that do not accept song requests and I think that’s a huge mistake.

Play The Right Song At The Right Time

It is one thing to have a playlist of great songs. It is another to play the right song at the right time. 

A DJ could play a particular song early in the evening and find that nobody is interested in dancing to it. 

Then later in the evening, the crowd is begging him or her to play the song again. 

What changed? The fun answer may be that the people at the wedding had a few more cocktails, but it’s more likely that the DJ played the wrong song at the wrong time initially. 

I actually have playlists of songs that go over very well at the beginning of the dancing segment of a wedding reception. 

I also have a playlist of songs that work great in the latter part of the evening. 

With that said, there are never any absolutes and the DJ should always use their best judgment to determine the best time to play a particular song.  

Build Momentum

This important factor to keep the dance floor packed should be addressed when interviewing your DJ.

I’ve seen it countless times, the dance floor is rocking, people have their hands in the air and are begging for more!!

What does the DJ do next? They do the unthinkable and play a slow song only to lose all momentum.

Don’t get me wrong. Slow songs should be played during wedding receptions. 

However, if something is working, the crowd is simply telling you to keep doing what you’re doing until the dance floor says otherwise.

People do start to get physically tired from dancing.

Your DJ must watch for these signs of fatigue and then it’s at this time, they should switch things up and “bring in the fresh feet” as we say.

Dance Floor Killers

Family Photos 

Visualize this for a moment. The dance floor is PACKED and suddenly the DJ announces “All of the bride’s family members please meet in the lobby for a family photo.”

Guess what happens next. Almost half of the people on the dance floor leave the floor. Shortly after, the DJ announces “All of the groom’s family members, please meet in the lobby for a family photo.”

At this point, the DJ has lost all momentum. Many of the guests will also leave the wedding after the photos are taken and the DJ will have an uphill climb for the rest of the night.

It’s always a good idea to ask your photographer if it’s possible to take these pictures during cocktail hour.

Family photos outside of the reception area during the dancing segment of the evening is a DJ’s worst nightmare and should be avoided at all cost.

Frequent Smoke Breaks By The Hosts With Guests

This is one of the most unique factors to be addressed to keep the dance floor packed at a wedding.

It is extremely important to understand that the newly married couple are like a magnet. Wherever they go, their guests will follow.

In other words, if a bride or groom are outside smoking for the majority of the night, two things will happen.

First, a very large group of people will follow them outside and many end up leaving the wedding.

Second, several guests inside will feel the couple is neglecting them and they will also leave early.

The Music Is Too Loud

Nothing will discourage guests at a wedding from dancing like music that is too loud. 

Not only does it make the music sound horrible, but music that is too loud literally causes physical pain. 

If a DJ’s goal is to have an empty dance floor, then blasting the music at extremely high levels is the way to have one. 

If they want to have a packed dance floor, then the DJ must keep that volume at a level that is fun and energizing while remaining comfortable to the ear.