Weddings Made my day...

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Sounds To Go

Sounds To Go

DJ
Dec 22, 2008
2,473
12
52
Roseville, CA
www.sounds2go.com
I was browsing the newly posted wedding pics of one of my recent clients on Facebook, and one of her friends/guests commented on the pic of the first slow-dance we did:

"That couples dance was such a good idea! You got so many people on the dance floor right away! That never happens! Also, SUPER SWEET"

followed by the bride's response:

"It was the DJ's idea to do that first dance. I had never really heard of it. Good idea Justin!!"

We often get feedback from our clients during, before, or after the wedding, but it is rare (for me at least) to get any direct feedback from guests after the fact - even if indirectly. Most of the time it's just the "everyone was saying how great...."

"The Couples Dance"

I've long had in my toolbox of ideas to do a couples dance immediately following the First Dance as a way to get all the older couples on the floor that may or may not come out later, and to fill up the dance floor with bodies to lead into upbeat open-dancing.

It was nice to see that it was a touch appreciated by the guests present as well!

Photo of dance:
 

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I have been doing this for yrs and labeled it the Anniversary dance. Not saying I invented it but had never heard of it only to find out that others were doing something similiar. I have posted details on how I pull mine off and how It has evolved from the first time I thought of it. I use it at probably 90% of my gigs. It fills the dancefloor creates additional celebration and allows a way to recognize significant guests such as parents and grnadparents etc and how many yrs they have been together as well as focusing on the longest married couple and the newly married couple. I give it an A+ as one of my greatest tools outside of my music box.
 
Anniversary dance is something different, not what I did here, but I did do it last Friday:) This was just a strait couples dance where I invite all the couple present to join the B&G on the floor and share a dance with them. Just a dance, no gimmick of other tricks.

A lot of times I tell the B&G that if they're stuck on a slow song they can use a runner-up to their First Dance if they have one... That way they'll still get to share a dance to that other special song.

You know, touchy feely stuff. Bride's dig it.:tricool:
 
okay I also do this on occasion without all the fanfare and simply say that the bride and groom would like all couples to join them for one dance even if they werent planning to dance at all. Lets honor them just once and please join them on the floor at this time. It works well also.
 
Jon Tuck said:
I have been doing this for yrs and labeled it the Anniversary dance. Not saying I invented it but had never heard of it only to find out that others were doing something similiar. I have posted details on how I pull mine off and how It has evolved from the first time I thought of it. I use it at probably 90% of my gigs. It fills the dancefloor creates additional celebration and allows a way to recognize significant guests such as parents and grnadparents etc and how many yrs they have been together as well as focusing on the longest married couple and the newly married couple. I give it an A+ as one of my greatest tools outside of my music box.
Click to expand...

Same here and same percentages. I almost always do an Anniversary Dance after the first and parent dances. When we get to the longest-married couple, I stop the music and "interview" them on the dance floor. I then ask for them if they have advice for the couple and hand them the wireless. As soon as they're done giving advice, I ask for applause, then kick into dance material.

After reading a few of the replies here, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to skip the part of clearing the dance floor (paring it down to 1 couple). I wonder if it'd be better to just roll into a dance tune with everyone still there, on the floor.

Good thread.
 
Actually I dont clear it only have the couples move to the edge of the floor and continue dancing leaving the remaining core in the middle. Stopping to interview though a nice touch stops the momentum.
 
Start with couples married less than a day, then call on those married less 5 years or less and keep going by 5's until the floor is packed. After that, work with your packed floor. I don't like doing it the traditional way of clearing the floor and then just having the B&G and longest married couple share the next dance. I want to draw more people onto the dance floor and NOT push them away!
 
rickryan.com said:
Same here and same percentages. I almost always do an Anniversary Dance after the first and parent dances. When we get to the longest-married couple, I stop the music and "interview" them on the dance floor. I then ask for them if they have advice for the couple and hand them the wireless. As soon as they're done giving advice, I ask for applause, then kick into dance material.

After reading a few of the replies here, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to skip the part of clearing the dance floor (paring it down to 1 couple). I wonder if it'd be better to just roll into a dance tune with everyone still there, on the floor.

Good thread.
Click to expand...

I would be careful clearing the floor too. That's why I usually recommend doing it it at the end of the first dance set when we're going to be stopping for cake or some other event anyway.... Then clearing the floor is just part of the natural flow leading into the next event.
 
maestro said:
Start with couples married less than a day, then call on those married less 5 years or less and keep going by 5's until the floor is packed. After that, work with your packed floor. I don't like doing it the traditional way of clearing the floor and then just having the B&G and longest married couple share the next dance. I want to draw more people onto the dance floor and NOT push them away!
Click to expand...

The reverse approach... me like!
 
Thats how I do it these days. Keep the core on the floor but move them to the edge and around 20 I have a good core circling the dancefloor. I make a huge comment about folks the couples in the middle have been together 20 yrs or more. Give them a big round of applause for their longevity. I also then recognize the fact folks if you notice we have now formed a circle around the remaining folks in the center. You see its like a RIng and the symbol of marriage. They love this. I then work my way up to the final couple. However I have implemented spotlighting the Bride and Grooms parents by announcing at the appropriate yr of how many yrs the Brides or the Grooms parents have been together. Its pretty cool and we want to recognize them as well as the oldest couple. I will share more if this goes further.
 
for the anniversary dance, we don't have people leave the dance floor, we just move then to one side, so the couple married the longest ends up on one side by themselves.
 
Scott Hanna said:
for the anniversary dance, we don't have people leave the dance floor, we just move then to one side, so the couple married the longest ends up on one side by themselves.
Click to expand...

Also......Keep 'em coming closer to you and have the B&G join them near the end of the song or I've even had a few of the B&G cut in and dance with the oldest married couple. It's really neat when that happens and when it does it's usually one of the couple's grandparents.
 
I've had mixed reaction to the Anniversary Dance...
partly because you do have to clear the floor to start it...
and because some guys don't like being "forced" to dance...
and because the couples that have been only married a short time
end up leaving the floor 15 seconds after they get there.

Although I usually don't have ANY problem filling the floor with a regular slow set.
(less pressure, I guess...)
 
no, technically you do not....
but there will be a HUGE turnover
 
Well I dont have that issue as they attempt to duck out I ask them to remain and continue dancing never have lost more than one or two couples. Perhaps When asking them to remain on the floor to help celebrate our longest wedding couple assists in this. Oh and I use the bride as my pawn saying we dont want to disappoint our shortest married couple especially the bride.
 
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