Extending your wedding celebration.

Dancing at a wedding is one of the most memorable experiences for couples and guests alike. So the question is, how long will you have to dance at your reception?

Wedding timelines often vary from venue to venue and from DJ to DJ depending on what their ‘norm’ is. Many venues make the dining experience the star of the reception. But really, it’s all about you.

If you are having a day wedding, chances are, the venue and/or entertainment will have a second event to do after yours and will be forced to be on time with no extension. Night time weddings have a little bit more leeway when it comes to overtime. Be sure to ask your venue and entertainment for pricing and terms for overtime.

Even with a wedding timeline, nothing is set in stone, things happen. Pictures may take longer than expected, the executive chef may drop an entire prime rib and have to re-group. You never know. But if the party is hopping and you want to keep it going, typically an hour overtime will do the trick. If you have a great DJ, they will always leave your guests wanting more.
Some things you can do to speed the timeline up are:
BE ON TIME.
Have your wedding photographer Take your pictures BEFORE your ceremony
Have a cocktail HALF-hour.
Do your introductions and right into first dance with toasts to follow.
Buffet Dinner for 150 people shouldn’t take more than an hour to get through. Sit down, plan on 2 hours.
Do your parents dances in between courses. Then cake RIGHT after dinner into dancing.

 

Typically my guests enjoy 2.5 hours of dance time. For a wedding that is the norm. Depending on the wedding and the venue, I may open the dance floor in between courses to get people moving. It’s up to you. Talk to your DJ about the timeline. If they are an experienced Master of Ceremonies, they will be able to help you reach your goal of maximum dancing.