How to get the party started (and keep it going)

IVE TOP tips for putting the party in your wedding party, from Sensation Band.

1. TIME PLAN

Ensure a high-energy party from start to finish. Consider starting later, say at 5pm. A shorter day for guests means more energy for dancing. Keep things flowing with a shorter reception and short speeches, so guests stay engaged and lively.

2. DANCE ALL NIGHT

Get guests dancing as soon as they enter the room and even in between dinner courses to keep the party going.

3. ROOM LAYOUT

Arrange the dance floor and band in the middle of the room. Make sure the bar is as near to the dance floor as it possibly can be.

Consider ditching that idea for a chill-out area — or any other idea that draws people away from the dance floor.

4. LIGHTING

Moving lights really create a party vibe. Make sure the room is quite dark when it’s time to dance. Avoid the popular light-coloured dance floors with LED stars — darker, unlit dance floors are far more enticing, especially for lessoutgoing guests.

5. AWESOME MUSIC

Getting the band right is essential. Here are Sensation Band’s favourite five “first dance” songs: 1. Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran) 2. I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton, Edward Craig Hinton, Jimmie D Harris) 3. I’ll Be There (Hal Davis, Berry Gordy Jr, Willie Hutch, Bob West) 4. Let’s Stay Together (Stewart Riley, Willie Mitchell, Oran Jones, Robert Hamrick, Al Jackson Jr, Al Green) 5. Fever (Otis Blackwell, Eddie J Cooley, John Davenport) Sensation Band is run by Richard Robins and Jason Silver.

The band mainly uses singers and musicians from leading groups or those who tour with leading artists, including Basement Jaxx, Sigma, Incognito Jess Glyne, Rita Ora, Rizzle Kicks, Blur, Mark Ronson and Robbie Williams