You help set the tone for the entire party!
Your guests will follow your lead. If you want them to dance, get out on the dance floor and shake it! 

Location, location, location!
Don’t hide your event host/DJ. We need to be close enough to the dance floor that we can see and be seen so we can stay in tune with the feel of the crowd. 

Arrange your main room so the bar and photo booth are close to the DJ.
This helps keep guests near the dance floor and prevents them from taking the party someplace else. If you have assigned seating, place your older guests away from the speakers. 

Don’t obsess over your timeline, before OR during the event.
Yes, we need an agenda and some target times, but if we run a few minutes one way or another, don’t sweat it. You have a good time; we’ve got this! 

Limit your toasts to a total of about 20 minutes, max, with each speaker at three to five minutes.
This makes the remarks more meaningful and keeps the guests engaged. And everyone uses the mic that we’ll provide. Your sister may be plenty loud, but without a mic, her words will be garbled by the time they get across the room. 

Schedule your first dance right after your introduction as a couple.
Dances with parents and siblings are welcome, too, but keep them shorter and include only those that are the most special to you. Go too long, and you risk diminishing your crowd’s enthusiasm. 

Your playlist is yours, but keep your guests’ tastes in mind, too.
This gives everyone the chance to sing at the top of their lungs in the middle of the dance floor. Not sure what to choose? Just let us know what your essential tracks are and what kind of crowd you’ve invited. We’ll take care of the rest.

If you’re using dance-floor lighting to add some fun and funk,
you’ll want to dim other light sources, especially overhead lighting near the main party area, to get the full effect.

Make sure your guests always have something to do.
At some point, they’ll take a break from dancing, but if they sit around too long, they’ll sap the energy of the party. A feature such as a photo booth will give guests a fun diversion.

Make a plan for kids.
Lots of little ones will join their parents on the dance floor, but as the party goes on, they’ll get bored and tired. Outfit a small table in an easily accessible corner with coloring and crafting supplies. Hire a sitter or ask a few of your guests who are bringing children to hang out there for a few minutes each. They’ll appreciate that you thought of their children (and of their own good time!). 

Tuck a phone-charging station near the bathroom or the entrance.
Your guests will be able to snap all those Instagram photos you want them to take, and they’ll leave saying that you thought of everything.

It’s OK to leave a little later than you’d planned
if you’re having an amazing time, but don’t feel like you have to stay until the last strains of the last song. Your exit will be more fun for you and your guests if you leave them wistful and wanting more.