How to Pack Your Vermont Wedding’s Dance Floor

 

When a dance floor is packed and full of energy, your Vermont wedding feels ALIVE. I hear a lot of my couples anxiously saying, “What if no one dances?” They fear that their dance floor will be empty, and there will be a sense of boredom. They worry their wedding party will be a total flop.

I first met my fav DJ, Vince Oliver from Experience Events, at a wedding we worked in 2018. In addition to his charismatic personality in front of a crowd, his particular way of mixing caught my eye. Vince mixes current, fun music with the classics, and he tailors it to suit what the audience is responding to. With years of experience DJing famous clubs in Miami, Vince has a particular knack for weaving songs together seamlessly. This is HUGE, because there are no awkward lulls– and no awkward lulls means no one leaves the dance floor.

I asked him for some advice for my anxious couples. Specifically, what can they do –no matter who their DJ is–to pack their dance floor?

One important strategy according to Vince is to “communicate the importance of dance time to your guests! This actually goes a long way.”

It seems simple, but I see it work all the time. If guests know that dancing is a priority to you, they will dance because it’s a way to show that they love you.

Vince added, “If you make it clear this matters to you, they’re much more likely to prioritize it themselves.”

Letting guests know via a quick welcome speech at the reception, on your wedding website, or even on your invitation are great ways to communicate that your dance floor is important, Vince explained.

I have seen invitations mention the dress code and then, “wear your dancing shoes!” A lot of invitations speciifically mention, “dinner and dancing to follow.” That centers the dancing as a main event of your wedding.

Other tips to pack your Vermont wedding dance floor: 

1. Basket full o’ flip flops (I actually do see guests using these when they’re sick of their heels. I would have a donation plan for afterward, so that they don’t go to waste!)
2. Ask a designated charismatic guest to start a limbo line with their tie (I don’t know why this works, but it always does)
3. Have a few Designated Crowd Wranglers. Picture this: all of your college friends are outside smoking cigs, but you want them inside because a song from 2014 that reminds you of college is starting to play (probably MGMT for my fellow millennials). One of your DCWs will go get them for you and corral them back inside!
4. Keep the dance floor cool (No A/C? Rent a few large fans!)
5. Make your coffee station inviting. Am I telling you to over-caffeinate your guests? Maybe! (You could also serve espresso martinis.) Having marshmallows, fun local syrups, or an iced coffee option is key (ESPECIALLY for my 30+ friends who go to bed at 10pm).
6. Plan an Anniversary Dance, which is always incredibly sweet and meaningful (or another type of dance that has some crowd involvement!)
7. Ask me for help. In a pinch, if my couple communicates to me that they are disappointed that people aren’t dancing, I will go up to groups of people and say that I need more dance floor photos for the couple. Is it a white lie? Yes! But it works!

But Vince’s #1 most important way to get your dance floor packed? 

“Communicate that dancing is important by DANCING.”

I’ll add that dancing together, as a couple, is even better!

“Guests naturally congregate toward the wedding couple, so if you’re on the dance floor, it naturally encourages guests to join in. The best dance floors I’ve seen almost always have couples who are very active on the dance floor themselves, and a guest list that knows it’s important to them!”

I could not agree with this advice more.

 

Some bonus advice: Vince also suggested handling song requests strategically. Guests may request a song that is not dance-y, that may interrupt the flow of the floor. It also distracts the DJ, which takes them out of the moment. Limiting guests to one choice– or asking them ahead of time on their RSVPs if they have a favorite song choice– is a smart idea.

Together, we WILL ensure your dance floor is a success! I can’t wait to see all of my remaining 2026 and 2027 couples out on their dance floors.

Special thanks to Vince for his expertise!