The 6 Keys To Keep Guests From Leaving Your Reception

Who wants their guests to stay longer at their reception? We all picture a wedding reception that goes late into the evening with a dance floor full of people at the end of the night. Here are a few things that help make that happen.

1. Don't leave the ballroom after the formalities are finished

When you leave the room, it tells your guests it's okay to leave too. If some of them were already thinking about heading out after dinner, you just gave them the perfect excuse. Your guests came to enjoy the day and celebrate with you — if you stay, most of them will stay too.

2. Be on the dance floor

We've seen it time and again: when the couple doesn't dance, some of the guests who "don't dance" won't either. But when you get out there, you project energy and fun, and people naturally want to be part of it. Nine times out of ten, the couple is what actually gets the party going — so be out there, having a great time, and others will follow.

3. Don't place tables between the DJ and the dance floor

This can kill a dance floor for a few reasons. First, the music is almost guaranteed to be too loud for whoever's seated there, which makes them more likely to leave early. Second, it puts a barrier between your DJ and your dance floor — a DJ needs to be able to read and connect with the crowd. And you don't want to be throwing sound and lighting over tables to reach the floor. Ideally, the DJ setup sits right up against the dance floor.

4. Don't disappear for too long

If you spend a lot of time away from the room — pampering, photos, or otherwise — that's less time at the party with your guests. Same reasoning as #1: the less time you're visibly present, the more it signals it's okay to head out.

5. Cut the cake early

The fewer interruptions during open dancing, the better. Every time you clear the dance floor for a formality, it's another natural opportunity for guests to call it a night. The earlier you handle your formalities, the easier it is to keep the floor full for the rest of the evening.

6. Don't let your photographer pull you away for too long

You finish the meal, do your formalities, open dancing is just getting going — and then you're pulled away for more pictures for 20-30 minutes. You come back and half your guests have left. If possible, take care of as many photos as you can before the reception starts. Any time you leave your own party, you open the door for others to leave too.

Make sure your DJ is the right fit

This is the one that matters most. Your DJ can make or break the night — they need to read the crowd, keep good flow, and emcee in a way that keeps the energy up for everyone in the room. Do your research and pick someone who fits your style and can build the night around your vision.