Tips, Do’s & Don’ts

Here are things that make for better parties. It is important to first point out that it is rare that all these items are/or can be followed in any given event but the more you can adhere to them, the more likely your wedding will be at full steam come closing time.

1. Don’t put seating very close next to the audio speakers. Have a heart for your guests especially, the senior citizens.

2. If your wedding is at an indoor venue, a smaller dance floor is better than one that is too big. The answer is simple as it creates the illusion that the floor is full. People are more likely to dance when the crowd on the floor is jammed than when they feel like the only ones out there. Take it from the trade that knows about dancing and crowd psychology, not from the banquet manager selling you on why a huge floor is so important. If people end up dancing on the carpet then great, the story of your floor being so packed people couldn’t even fit on the floor, only further reinforces my point.

3. Unique lighting is elegant and fun. Darker is better than brighter for dancing. People feel less of a spectacle, less “on stage” when they think they’re harder to see. That is why crime increases at night as well — and yes, when some people dance it is a crime.

4. At indoor venues, bars should always be in the main room. Preferably closer to the dance floor. If a bar is put out of the main room then a huge percentage of potential dancers are unavailable.

5. Respect the professional opinions of your musicians/deejays. They do this for a living. Be careful not to cut out all the “cliche” wedding music as you’ll find this will negatively impact the dance floor potential. People dance to what they know. A wedding reception is not the time and place to prove to your friends and family that you are into obscure music. You’ve got a lot of people from all over that want to have a good time so let your band/deejay exercise all their tools and really work their craft.

6. Treat your wedding vendors with respect. From years of experience, the more brides and grooms treat their vendors as guests, the more likely their unpaid guests will respect us too. If you treat your vendors like second class citizens how do you think that affects their attitudes? Your pros will bend over backwards for you if you just treat them with the same respect you’d treat your guests with. They will go the extra mile for you when you treat them right.

7. It is best for any traditional events or speeches to be done and out of the way before dancing begins. Also, it is important for photo shoots to be done, when at all possible, before the dancing begins. “As an MC, I have seen more parties lose steam because the bridal party is having pictures taken during dance sessions.” Do all the pictures before. It may cost you an extra hour earlier in the day but it will save you from losing a good handful of guests early on.

8. If you have to cut corners don’t compromise on the entertainment. “My clients never complain that they paid too much as my fees. Also, know that experience is king.”

There is still a lot more important advice in the ‘do’s & don’ts’ bag that Frazier wants to give you, once you sit with him to debrief your wedding.