A bridal party dance is a fun way to bring the people closest to you back onto the dance floor for one more moment together. Unlike the formal dances earlier in the reception, this one is all about having fun. Pick a great song, bring out the members of your wedding party who want to join in, and let everyone loosen up a little.
There’s another reason we like this idea: the photos. Your photographer has probably already captured the perfectly posed wedding party pictures earlier in the day. This gives them a completely different opportunity to photograph everyone laughing, singing, dancing, and celebrating together.
And when the song is over, your wedding party doesn’t necessarily have to leave the dance floor. We can invite the rest of your guests to join them and officially kick off open dancing. Instead of asking your guests to be the first ones onto an empty dance floor, they’re joining a party that’s already getting started.
Not sure a bridal party dance fits your crowd? No problem.
There’s more than one good way to open a dance floor, and we’ve included a few of our favorite approaches and tips below. Whether your guests are ready to jump right in, need a little encouragement, or would rather enjoy the party without spending much time on the dance floor at all, the goal is the same: find what works for your crowd and let the reception take on a life of its own.
Listen to the Bridal Party Playlist
Prefer to listen while you browse? Start the Spotify playlist for our take on each song and why we included them as bridal party dance favorites.
24 Dance Songs to Get the Party Started
These are the kinds of songs we like for this particular moment of the reception: fun, familiar, and energetic enough to get your wedding party moving without going too hard too early. Remember, open dancing usually begins while most of your guests are still there, so we looked for songs that can work across generations and help bring everyone onto the dance floor.
That doesn’t mean you have to play it safe. If your wedding party would have more fun with something a little spicier, like Hot in Herre, or you have a completely different vibe in mind, let us know. We can help choose a song that fits your wedding party and the direction you want to take the dance floor.
1. Cupid Shuffle by Cupid
Few songs make it easier for guests to join in. The familiar steps give your wedding party something to do immediately, while everyone else can jump onto the dance floor without having to think twice.
2. Cha Cha Slide by DJ Casper
A longtime wedding favorite that practically comes with its own instructions. It works especially well when you want the wedding party to lead the way and make it easy for guests of all ages to follow.
3. Wobble by V.I.C.
The Wobble brings plenty of energy without needing a complicated setup. Once a few people know the dance and get it going, the rest of the room usually has no trouble joining the fun.
4. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by Backstreet Boys
That opening is instantly recognizable, and the chorus gives just about everyone something to sing along with. It’s a fun throwback that can get the wedding party animated without starting the night too aggressively.
5. Danza Kuduro by Don Omar & Lucenzo
Fast, celebratory, and impossible to sit completely still through, Danza Kuduro can bring a burst of Latin energy to the beginning of open dancing while still feeling like a party the whole room can enjoy.
6. Suavemente by Elvis Crespo
A great choice when you want to open the floor with Latin flavor. Its familiar opening and infectious rhythm can get couples and groups moving quickly, especially with a crowd that already knows and loves the song.
7. September by Earth, Wind & Fire
September is one of those rare songs that can connect several generations at once. It’s upbeat, familiar, and easy to dance to without asking the crowd to go from zero to one hundred right away.
8. Celebration by Kool & The Gang
The title pretty much says it all. Celebration has been filling wedding dance floors for decades because the message fits the occasion and the groove works for guests young and old.
9. I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
Few songs announce that the party is about to begin as clearly as this one. The slow build gives the wedding party time to gather before the chorus kicks the energy up another level.
10. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
Funky, familiar, and packed with personality, Uptown Funk gives a wedding party plenty to dance and sing along to while still being comfortable for a mixed-age reception crowd.
11. CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! by Justin Timberlake
Bright, upbeat, and easygoing, this is a strong choice when you want everyone smiling and moving without pushing the dance floor into full late-night mode just yet.
12. Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
When your wedding party is ready to bring a little more energy, Party Rock Anthem wastes no time getting there. It’s playful, recognizable, and gives a lively group plenty of room to have fun with it.
13. Let’s Get It Started by The Black Eyed Peas
It’s hard to find a song title more appropriate for opening the dance floor. The beat arrives immediately, the hook is familiar, and it gives the wedding party a natural way to signal that the formal part of the night is over.
14. This Is How We Do It by Montell Jordan
This one brings a smooth ’90s party groove instead of coming out of the gate at full speed. It’s a great option for a crowd that responds well to throwbacks and wants to ease into open dancing with some swagger.
15. We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Weddings already bring families and friends together, which makes this disco favorite an easy thematic fit. The familiar chorus also gives guests a natural reason to sing along and join the wedding party.
16. Yeah! by Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris
For couples who want a little more edge without jumping straight into the late-night playlist, Yeah! brings a recognizable beat and plenty of early-2000s nostalgia while still working with a broad wedding crowd.
17. Let’s Groove by Earth, Wind & Fire
Smooth enough to ease guests onto the floor but funky enough to keep them there, Let’s Groove is a great alternative when you want classic dance energy without reaching for the most obvious wedding standards.
18. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) by Michael Jackson
P.Y.T. brings an upbeat groove almost immediately and works especially well for a wedding party that would rather dance naturally than follow choreography or a line dance.
19. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) by Stevie Wonder
Soulful, upbeat, and instantly familiar, this is a great way to start with something that grandparents, parents, and younger guests can all recognize while still giving the wedding party plenty to move to.
20. Low by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Low turns the energy up another notch while still being familiar enough for a wide range of guests. For a wedding party that likes hip-hop and wants a livelier start, this can quickly get the room reacting.
21. Now That We Found Love by Heavy D & The Boyz
A feel-good blend of dance music and old-school hip-hop, this one brings plenty of movement without feeling too heavy for the beginning of the night. It’s also a fun choice that doesn’t show up on every wedding playlist.
22. 24K Magic by Bruno Mars
The opening alone knows how to make an entrance. 24K Magic has attitude, funk, and enough familiarity to get the wedding party showing off a little while setting up the rest of the dance floor.
23. Raise Your Glass by P!nk
Celebratory and a little rebellious without going overboard, Raise Your Glass works especially well with an outgoing wedding party that wants to sing along, dance, and make some noise together.
24. Dynamite by Taio Cruz
Dynamite is pure feel-good party music. The big chorus is easy to sing along with, the energy is immediate, and it gives the wedding party a strong way to help turn the reception from formalities into a celebration.
Not Into a Bridal Party Dance?
A bridal party dance can be a great way to get things started, but it’s definitely not something you have to add to your reception. If you’d rather skip it, there are other easy ways to help get the dance floor moving.
When we open dancing, grab a few of your more outgoing wedding party members and get out there with them. It doesn’t need its own song, announcement, or place on the timeline. Guests naturally pay attention to the newlyweds, and seeing you and your friends already having fun gives everyone else a much easier reason to come join you.
The important thing is that there’s no one right way to do it. You know your family and friends better than anyone, and we can help choose an approach that makes sense for your crowd.
Have a More Reserved Crowd?
Not every crowd is ready to jump onto the dance floor the second the first upbeat song comes on. If your family and friends tend to be a little more reserved, sometimes the easiest way to get everyone started is with something familiar and slow.
A slow dance gives couples a comfortable reason to get up together without anyone feeling like they have to be the first person dancing in the middle of an empty floor. Once a few couples join in, others usually feel much more comfortable following.
From there, we can gradually bring the energy up and transition into open dancing. It’s a simple approach, but for the right crowd, easing into the party can work a whole lot better than trying to force it.
Tips for Getting Your Dance Floor Started
1.Remember, your guests tend to follow you.
One thing we regularly tell our couples is that wherever the newlyweds go, some of their guests are probably going to follow. If you head out to the courtyard, spend some time at the bar, or move into another area of the venue, don’t be surprised when friends and family start gathering there too.
At larger venues with several places for guests to hang out, this can become especially noticeable. Your guests may be spread between the dance floor, bar, patio, photo booth, and conversations throughout the venue. Suddenly the main reception area can look a lot quieter, even though everyone is still having a great time.
If having an active dance floor is important to you, spending some time out there yourselves is one of the easiest ways to encourage your guests to join in. You certainly don’t have to stay on the dance floor all night, but when the newlyweds are out there having fun, it gives everyone else a pretty good reason to stick around too.
2.And sometimes, your guests just aren’t a dancing crowd.
Some crowds love to dance. Some need a little encouragement. Some warm up slowly. And some would genuinely rather grab a drink, catch up with family and friends, sing along from their table, and enjoy the reception without ever spending much time on the dance floor.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t having a great time. We’ve worked weddings where guests spent more of the night laughing, talking, singing along, taking pictures, visiting the photo booth, and enjoying each other’s company than they did dancing.
A packed dance floor can be a lot of fun, but it isn’t the only way to measure a successful reception. Sometimes the best thing we can do is read the room, keep the music familiar and feel-good, and let your guests enjoy the celebration in the way that comes naturally to them.
Already an Art Of Sound couple?
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Wedding DJ Services in Stockton, Modesto & Sacramento
Art Of Sound is a wedding DJ and photo booth company serving Stockton, Modesto, Sacramento, and surrounding Northern California communities. We help couples plan celebrations that reflect their personalities, from meaningful ceremony music to the moments that bring everyone together on the dance floor.
Our experience with weddings goes beyond selecting songs. We help couples plan how the different moments of their reception flow together, including the transition from formalities into open dancing. Whether you already know exactly how you want to kick off the party or need help choosing an approach that fits your guests, we can help read the room, choose the right music, and get the celebration moving in the right direction.
If you’re still looking for a DJ for your celebration, explore our wedding DJ services or get in touch. We’d love to hear about what you have planned.