Some people are born for the spotlight while others…well, they tend to wait until the dance floor is filled before they join the crowd. So what do you do when no one will get up to dance at your reception? We have seen lots of tricks at Lesner Inn to get those guests on their feet and thought we would share some of them with you!

Provide dancing shoes
Fancy occasions calls for fancy shoes and unless they dress up on a regular basis, most of your guests will have blisters by the end of the night. Don’t let that be their excuse! Bring a basket of flip flops in varying sizes and have them placed by the DJ once the dance floor opens. This gives your guests the option of kicking off their shoes without having to walk barefoot around the reception all night. Trust us, this is always a crowd pleaser!

The anniversary dance
This one is always a sweet tradition to watch. When the dance floor opens, start the night out with a slow love song and have your DJ ask all married couples to come join you. As the song progresses, have him dismiss couples to stand to the side who have been married for 1 year…5 years…10 years…12 years…15 years. You’ll be left with the couple who has been married the longest and this is a great moment to get advice for a long marriage from them. And now, that everyone is already standing on the dance floor, let the party begin!

Line dances
For those guests with two left feet, sometimes it is helpful when someone tells you what to do so that you are a little more comfortable on the dance floor. Plus it is always hilarious to watch your grandparents learn the Cha Cha Slide!

Glow and foam sticks
Who doesn’t love a prop?! Glow sticks are a fun way to bring the party and get people loosened up. Your youngest guests will obviously love a new toy but you’d be surprised just how many adults go crazy for them. If glow sticks seem too elementary for you, check out LED Foam Sticks. These light up in different colors and at different rates and can be found on Amazon for about $1 each. We won’t tell you how many grown men we’ve seen have light saber duels on the dance floor with these!

Song requests
This one requires a little forethought on your end. When you send out your invitations, include a line on the RSVP card for guests to request a song that will get them on the dance floor. Give this list to your DJ so if he needs a little extra help to get people out there, he knows exactly what they want to hear.

Of course, having an awesome band or DJ can get the party started but if your guests need a little nudge, we hope these tips will help them to break it down on the dance floor at Lesner Inn!

Photos by Mike Dragon Studios