How to Dance in a Wedding with a Small Guest List

While large weddings with a bustling guest list have their charm, intimate gatherings with a small guest list can create an atmosphere of warmth and closeness. Dancing at a wedding, regardless of the number of guests, is an essential part of the celebration. In this article, we will explore how to make the most of dancing at a wedding with a small guest list, ensuring a fun and unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

1. Embrace the Intimacy

Small weddings offer a unique opportunity to connect with the couple and other guests on a more personal level. Embrace the intimacy of the event by introducing yourself to fellow attendees and engaging in friendly conversations. As the dance floor opens, you'll find it easier to let loose and dance with newfound friends. The smaller setting encourages a sense of camaraderie and can make dancing more enjoyable.

 

2. Request and Dedicate Songs

With a limited number of guests, the couple may have more time to accommodate song requests. Take advantage of this by suggesting your favorite dance tunes to the DJ or band. Additionally, consider dedicating a song to the happy couple to show your love and appreciation. This personalized touch can make the dancing experience more memorable and meaningful for everyone present.

 

3. Create a Dance Circle

One of the joys of a small wedding is that everyone can be involved in the dancing. To make the dance floor even more engaging, create a dance circle. Invite the couple to stand in the center and encourage guests to take turns showing off their dance moves. This simple yet entertaining activity brings the guests together and adds a fun element to the celebration.

 

4. Include Dance Games

Dance games can inject an extra dose of excitement into the wedding celebration. Organize dance-offs or dance-themed quizzes that involve everyone, regardless of their dance skills. For example, a "musical chairs" type of game where guests dance around chairs can bring laughter and cheer. These games are not only entertaining but also help to break the ice and get everyone involved in the dancing.

 

5. Learn Some Basic Dance Moves

Even if you are not a natural dancer, learning a few basic dance moves can boost your confidence on the dance floor. There are plenty of online tutorials and dance classes available that cater to beginners. By acquiring some basic steps, you'll be more comfortable dancing and be able to join in when the music starts.

 

6. Dance with the Couple

Take the opportunity to dance with the newlyweds. In a small wedding, the couple can often find time to dance with each guest. When invited, join the dance floor and share a special moment with them. This gesture not only expresses your happiness for the couple but also creates lasting memories for both you and the newlyweds.


7. Capture the Moments

With a small guest list, the chances are higher that the photographer or videographer can capture more individual moments on the dance floor. Dance with your friends, family, and the couple, and ensure these precious moments are captured for posterity. Having these memories to look back on will evoke the joy and love shared during the celebration.

 

Conclusion

Dancing at a wedding with a small guest list can be a heartwarming experience filled with love, laughter, and lasting memories. Embrace the intimacy, request your favorite songs, and take part in dance games to make the most of the celebration. Learning some basic dance moves and dancing with the couple can boost your confidence and create a meaningful connection with them. Lastly, capture the moments to preserve the joy and happiness of the day. By following these tips, you'll have an unforgettable time dancing at a wedding with a small guest list.

The best Canberra locations for your Reception

There are many beautiful locations in Canberra for a wedding reception, depending on your preferences and budget. Here are some popular options.

1. National Arboretum Canberra - This venue offers stunning views of the city and surrounding countryside, and is a popular choice for outdoor weddings.

2. Old Parliament House - This historic building has a variety of function spaces, from elegant ballrooms to intimate dining rooms, and offers a range of catering options.

3. National Gallery of Australia - With its modern architecture and beautiful gardens, this venue is perfect for art-loving couples who want a sophisticated and contemporary reception.

4. Pialligo Estate - This sprawling property on the outskirts of Canberra offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, from rustic barns to elegant function rooms, and is known for its delicious food and wine.

5. Hyatt Hotel Canberra - This iconic hotel in the heart of the city offers elegant function rooms, gourmet catering, and luxury accommodation for you and your guests.

6. The Boat House - Located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, this restaurant offers breathtaking waterfront views, a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, and delicious contemporary cuisine.

7. Australian National Botanic Gardens - This venue offers a range of picturesque locations for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, from manicured lawns to native bushland.

These are just a few of the many beautiful locations in Canberra for a wedding reception. It's a good idea to visit a few different venues and talk to the event coordinators to find the one that's perfect for your special day.

Why Hire a DJ for your Wedding?

Hiring a DJ for your wedding can bring many benefits and can help ensure that your special day is a memorable and enjoyable event for both you and your guests. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider hiring a DJ for your wedding:

  1. Music expertise: A professional wedding DJ will have extensive knowledge of music and will know how to create the perfect playlist that fits the mood and atmosphere of your wedding. They can also take requests from your guests and ensure that everyone has a great time on the dance floor.

  2. Equipment and sound quality: A professional DJ will come with high-quality equipment and sound systems that will ensure that the music sounds great and is at the perfect volume for the venue. They will also have backup equipment in case of any technical issues.

  3. MC services: A wedding DJ can also act as an MC, making announcements, introductions, and keeping the event flowing smoothly. They can also work with your wedding planner or coordinator to make sure that everything runs on schedule.

  4. Lighting and ambiance: Many professional DJs also offer lighting and special effects that can enhance the ambiance and create a fun and festive atmosphere. They can create customized lighting designs that match your wedding theme and style.

  5. Stress-free experience: By hiring a professional DJ, you can relax and enjoy your wedding day without having to worry about managing the music or equipment. They will take care of everything, allowing you to focus on enjoying your special day with your loved ones.

Overall, hiring a DJ for your wedding can help create a fun and memorable experience for you and your guests, and make your wedding day a day to remember for years to come.

The 3 Best Wedding Venues in Canberra’s Surrounds

When deciding the venue of your wedding in Canberra it can be easy to overlook its surrounding regions. These venues are particularly appealing as they function as an escape from everyday life to celebrate your special day while only being a 30minute drive within the Australian Capital Territory. Over the past 10 years as a wedding DJ I have regularly attended these venues, with the following being what I believe are the top 3 in the region:

Redbrow Garden

Redbrow Garden is nestled between the northern outskirts of Australia’s National Capital, Canberra and the Murumbateman cool climate wine region, all surrounded by an inspiring lakeside garden and wildlife refuge.

The lakeside garden has been the venue for an increased number of functions and wedding ceremonies and has provided a spectacular display for each of those special occasions. Summer heralds a leafy green oasis, the lake offering a cooling effect, Autumn arrives with meant stunning colours from the Manchurian Pears, Liquid Ambers, Canadian Maples etc Spring rewards with a profusion of daffodils, a magnificent Banksia rose and irises.

Other details include:

  • En suite accommodation before, during and after the wedding.

  • Spectacular opportunities for photos in the garden, by the lake or anywhere on the property.

  • Ample Parking, Seating and Tables for up to 120 guests.

  • Two public restrooms including one with disabled access.

  • Access to a dedicated wedding vehicle HSV Grange #208

  • Large list of inclusions.

Ginninderry Homestead

Off an ordinary country road on the outskirts of Canberra lies an extraordinary private estate ready for you to enjoy the experience of a life time. Ginninderry Park offers luxury, privacy and seclusion. Ginninderry Park boasts a range of breathtaking locations for your wedding ceremony; choose from the charming sunken garden, wisteria walk or luscious formal lawn area with central fountain surrounded with beautiful white roses.​

With the simplicity of Ginninderry's Georgian style architecture, acres of park-like gardens and magical views, an atmosphere of romance and sophistication will be created for you and your guests.

Other details include:

  • Four queen ensuite rooms, formal lounge, breakfast room, and upstairs sitting area

  • With acres of park-like gardens, Ginninderry offers secluded courtyards, trickling fountains and gracious statues

  • A team of expert chefs create a range of delicious menus using only the finest ingredients

  • A dedicated event coordinator to help you with your event


Brindabella Hills Winery

Nestled on a ridge in the Brindabella Mountain ranges overlooking the Murrumbidgee river our vineyard is the perfect rural venue for you special day whilst still being 15 minutes from Canberra. Situated 25km north of Canberra, Brindabella Hills Winery has picturesque views everywhere you look. On one side you are overlooking the Murrumbidgee river and Brindabella mountain ranges, the other our gorgeous vineyard with a backdrop of seemingly never ending mountains.

Sweet Pea Catering and the team at Brindabella Hills Winery work in unison to deliver exceptional food, wine, service and memorable events. With experienced hospitality super stars we have your back throughout the entire planning process.

Juke to DJ at Kingpin Canberra Friday nights!

We are excited to announce that we have made an agreement with Kingpin Canberra to provide our DJ service every Friday night from 5:00pm to 11:30pm.

Come say hello, make a song request or have a quick dance - we hope to see you soon!

For those who are unfamiliar, Kingpin Canberra is a multi-attraction experience, located on Level 1 near Rebel, with fully licensed bars, the latest music, escape rooms, karaoke, Kingpong, state of the art bowling lanes, huge projection screens, and pool tables. Kingpin will also provide over 100 arcade games, with options covering everything from classic games through to the latest high-tech experiences.

For more information about Kingpin Canberra please visit the following: https://www.kingpinplay.com/en-au/venues/act/canberra

Juke Entertainment named amongst best Canberra DJs

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Today we were pleased to discover that we were featured in an article in local news website, The RiotACT. The article named ‘The best DJs in Canberra’ mentions the research it has undertaken:

RiotACT’s editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.

To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on RiotACT and Facebook as well as maintaining a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.

The article then went on to mention the following about Juke Entertainment:

No matter what type of function, Juke Entertainment creates great atmosphere and unforgettable dance floor experiences. Formally trained and experienced DJs have broad musical knowledge and tailor tunes to the personality of each event.

To view the article: https://the-riotact.com/best-djs-canberra-2/49383

4 Tips To Get Your Dance-Floor Going!

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If you are planning your big event and you want your dance-floor to be talk of the town, there are several considerations you should be made aware of to ensure your night is all it can be. The following 4 tips will ensure your dance-floor is a blast and talked about for sometime afterward:

The Size of your Dance-floor

Perhaps the most overlooked dancefloor consideration, the size your dancefloor, should be determined by the number and of those attending your event and their personalities. Ideally, your dancefloor is large enough to accommodate 60% of your event attendees as there are some people who will not dance no matter how great your event and others who will come and go from the dancefloor throughout the night.

What determines the appearance of a successful dancefloor is that it is close to full for most of your event. If the size of your dancefloor is too large, it will look bare even with most of your attendees dancing and often will cause them to dance less confidently or not at all. Whereas, if your dancefloor is too small it may not accommodate all your guests and if quite small some guests may wonder if dancing is expected at your event.

If, however you have already chosen your event location and your dancefloor is not the correct size for your event, you can often move tables and chairs to make a dancefloor of your desired size.

Lighting

Most people would rightly assume that disco lighting is needed to set a party mood but sometimes forget they should be almost the only source of light on your dancefloor. Your guests often feel self-conscious dancing when the dancefloor is well lit as they feel exposed whereas dimmer lighting allows them to feel more at ease on your dancefloor.  

When considering the lighting of your dancefloor try to avoid having lights on or near your dancefloor if possible and avoid holding your dancefloor during day-time hours if possible.

Scheduling

If possible, there should be a set time when the dancefloor begins so guests are not confused and more importantly, to start your dancefloor off with a bang. During a wedding reception this time is ideally after the first dance as it can easily transition into inviting close friends and family onto the dancefloor, followed by the remaining event attendees.

However, other events can be more complicated but should follow a similar structure to a wedding reception; with the event’s formalities happening first allowing for the remaining 1-2 hours of the night dedicated to only dancing. This is for 2 reasons:

  1. If the dancefloor is interrupted with formalities, it is often harder to get people back on then dance-floor than keeping them there.

  2. Generally, your guest attendees will be more willing to dance towards the end of the night as they have been mingling for hours and will feel naturally more sociable and less self-conscious and of course, they may have been drinking.

Song Choices

While seemingly obvious, your song choices you for the night truly matter. The songs you choose should of course be good in terms of quality, but most importantly should consider who is attending your event, particularly in relation to their age and cultural background. Typically, the songs people like are reflective of the music they listened to during their youth or for a culture that they identified with during this time.

Given this, if you have a diverse crowd, for example at a wedding reception, a mix of genres and songs from multiple decades is perfect. Whereas if you have a crowd is less diverse, for example an 18th Birthday party, then just songs that the group will typically respond to is best.

It is important to not choose songs that only appeal to you. While it is your night, if your goal is to have a successful dancefloor then your guests need to be your main consideration. The only exception to this rule should be if you have a song of certain significance that should be played during the night, in which case, play it at the start of the night as it will likely go over better as a formality and not discourage those on the dancefloor later in the night.

Choosing the Perfect Songs for your Wedding Reception

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Being a DJ almost exclusively hired for wedding receptions for the past decade I have witnessed various song trends; seeing what is commonly requested and which song choices make a night memorable for each stage of the night. The list has been compiled to serve as a guide or give a general idea of the songs you want at each special moment to provide the sound and more importantly, the feel you want.

Entry of the Groomsmen and the Bridal Party

The songs chosen for the introduction and entry of both parties signify the real start to your night and set the tone for what is to come. Commonly songs chosen for the entry of each party are big, fun, upbeat and serve as your grand entrance - think the spectacle of a WWE wrestlers entrance without the testosterone. Great examples include:

  • Beyoncé - Crazy In Love

  • Black Eyed Peas - Lets Get it Started

  • Bruno Mars - Marry You

  • Chris Brown - Forever

  • Florence and the Machine - Dog Days are Over

  • Kool & The Gang - Celebration

  • Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel

  • U2 - Beautiful Day

If you wish to have your own song as a Bride and Groom, try to find a song that represents you and your partner best. If for example you two are heavily into 80’s rock, ACDC - Thunderstruck could be a perfect fit. Additionally, your song should be a higher tempo than that of the Groomsmen and Bridal party as you two are the big event.

The Cutting of the Cake

The cutting of the cake is often the first formality of the night as husband and wife in front of friends and family. The following is a list of light touching music to display the significance of the bond you two have with each other for all attending;

  • Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You

  • Billie Joel - Just The Way You Are

  • Jason Maraz - I'm Yours

  • Jack Johnson - Better Together

  • Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is

  • Queen - Best Friend

Your First Dance

Your first dance as husband and wife is a moment in time to remember forever. It is a chance to show your partner how deeply you feel for them while your friends and family watch on emotionally in awe. Songs chosen for the first dance are heavy, loving and emotional; the significance of the event takes away any sappiness that could potentially be associated with these songs;

  • Coldplay - Magic

  • Lifehouse - You and Me

  • Lonestar - Amazed

  • Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

  • K-Ci & Jojo - All My Life

  • Faith Hill - Breathe

  • Shania Train - You're Still The One

  • Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

Bride & Father and Groom & Mother dance songs that often follow a first dance should also be touching but not more so than your first dance.

The Dance Floor

It's party time! Your guests have been sitting waiting very patiently until now, itching to get on the dance-floor. The dance-floor needs to be fun, high energy and more silly as the night goes. This is the moment of the night you want everyone to enjoy themselves and truly loosen up after all of the formalities of the night. Usually dance-floors have a mix of the latest top 40 hits and classic party songs such as:

  • Abba - Dancing Queen

  • ACDC - You Shook Me All Night Long

  • B52s - Love Shack

  • Backstreet Boys - Backstreet's Back

  • Beyoncé - Crazy In Love

  • Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer

  • Cyndi Lauper - Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun

  • Jackson 5 - Blame It On The Boogie

  • Kenny Loggins - Footloose

  • Los Del Rio - Macarena

  • Madonna - Like A Prayer

  • Michael Jackson - Just About Any Song

  • Mc Hammer - Can't Touch This

  • Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk

  • Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

  • Sir Mix Alot - Baby Got Back

  • The Knack - My Sharona

  • Tina Turner - Nutbush

  • Toni Basil - Hey Mickey

  • John Travolta & Newton John - Grease Megamix

  • Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody

  • Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

  • Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

  • Village People - YMCA

Garter/Bouquet Toss

The fun continues with the Garter/Bouquet toss. In this case the more silly the song the better;

  • Beyoncé - Single Ladies

  • Cyndi Lauper - Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun

  • Dixie Cups - Chapel of Love

  • Def Leopard - Pour Some Sugar On Me

  • Kelis - Milkshake

  • LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It

  • Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

  • Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

  • Weather Girls - Its Raining Men

Last Song of The Night

The last song of the night marks the close to your special day. Couples often have a farewell circle or arch where they can see their guests for the last time before going off into the night. These closing songs are either sentimental or finish the night in an upbeat manner;

  • Billy Joel - Piano Man

  • Don McLean - American Pie

  • Kenny Logins - The Gambler

Hopefully this guide can help you choose the perfect songs for the closing chapter of your big day. Remember which moods are important for your formalities and the type of songs that will provide the emotional impact to make your reception unforgettable.