weddings

Nobody likes to be at a wedding where the dance floor is dead, and having a less-than-stellar dance floor is a common concern among couples who are planning their wedding. And while you can’t physically make people get up and dance, there are some things you can do to make it easier for people to want to leave their chair and cut a rug. In today’s blog, we share some tips for packing the dance floor at your wedding.

How To Get People To Dance At Your Wedding

Here’s a look at some tips to ensure your dance floor is full of wedding guests all night long.

1. Let Them Help With The Playlist – If you’re not sure which songs people are excited to get up and dance to, ask for their input! It’s becoming more common for engaged couples to include a song request spot on their RSVPs so that their guests can write down a song that will get them out on the dance floor. Write down some more of the popular answers and give them to your DJ ahead of time.
2. Taking Requests At The Venue – Consider providing a place for guests to request songs at the DJ station at your wedding. You can also work with the DJ to fasttrack songs from bridesmaids or groomsmen if you choose, because these people tend to have a good feel for what will get the crowd dancing. Requests don’t have to be played immediately, but if the DJ is looking to change things up a bit, they can reference the request list.
3. Book A Professional DJ – Some people want to put together a playlist on Pandora or Spotify and just let the music shuffle all night, but oftentimes it’s helpful to have a professional handling the music who can read the crowd and keep injecting life into the dance floor. At Entourage Events Group, we can help with sound, AV production and connect you with a DJ who has been awesome at events we’ve worked on in the past. Having a professional on the mic and handling the music will go a long way in helping keep your dance floor packed all night.
4. Look Up Popular Wedding Dance Songs – If you’re wondering what songs will get people dancing all night, head to Google and search for popular wedding reception songs. For example, you can’t go wrong with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, “Marry You” by Bruno Mars or “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. If you’d prefer Oldies or Country songs, just add that to your Google search and you’ll have plenty of great songs to choose from.
5. Avoid Disrupting The Flow – Be careful about disrupting the flow of the dance scene with activities or events that will have people clearing the floor. During the middle of a fun reception isn’t the best time to stop the party to watch a slideshow or for the couple to be quizzed on the dance floor about how well they know each other. Try to avoid activities that get everyone off the dance floor, or plan them so as to avoid prime dance time.

5. Set An Example – Finally, we know that you have a lot of obligations on your wedding day, but set a good example and be out on the dance floor as much as possible. Tell your bridal party to do the same! If people want to talk to you or congratulate you on your big day, let them come find you on the dance floor. Guests are much more likely to get out on the dance floor if the happy couple and a bunch of their friends are having a great time dancing!

Let the team at Entourage Events Group help get your dance floor rocking! For more information, or to set up a walkthrough at one of our venues, give our team a call today at (612) 564-3777.

You just got engaged, you’ve told your family and friends and you’re overjoyed about spending the rest of your life with your now-fiance, but now the reality is setting in that you have to start planning your wedding. Some people are excited about this prospect, while others may be a little anxious or overwhelmed, and all of those feelings are completely normal. But no matter what you’re feeling at this moment, many brides and grooms come to the same realization at some point, which is “where do we begin?”

Once you get the ball rolling it becomes easier to start getting everything in order for your wedding, but what should you do at the outset to set yourself up for success down the road? In today’s blog, we share some tips for starting the wedding planning process.

4 Tips For Starting Wedding Planning

Everybody will have their own individual preferences when it comes to planning their wedding, but we’ve found that starting off with these basics is a great way to start the process and help guide you on your wedding planning journey.

1. Develop A Budget – Before you start booking venues and caterers, it’s important to have a conversation with your fiance about a realistic budget for your wedding. You can also include your parents in this conversation if they are hoping to provide some financial support for your wedding. You may not know exactly what to expect when it comes to certain costs, but start talking about a budget so that you can make some informed financial decisions later in the process. Having a budget in mind is a great way to start planning your wedding.
2. Find A Venue/Date – A lot of people have a day or a month in mind for their wedding, but you need to find a venue capable of accommodating you on that day before you just elect to choose a specific day. So while you can have some dates in mind, you can’t pick a day until you choose a venue that can host on that day. Also, considering that Minnesota experiences all four seasons and the weather can change on a moment’s notice, it’s a good idea to consider choosing a venue that has both indoor and outdoor ceremony options so that you can have a beautiful ceremony regardless of the weather. Our beautiful venues like The Riverside and the Minneapolis Event Centers each offer indoor and outdoor ceremony options, so consider scheduling a tour and learning about our availability. High demand venues tend to book out well in advance, so finding a venue and a wedding date should be one of the first things you do when planning your wedding.
3. Reach Out To The VIPs – If there are things you just can’t live without on your wedding day, reach out to these parties and ensure they can fit you into their schedule. For example, if you want a certain band to play at your reception or your favorite bakery to handle the desserts, reach out to them as early as possible to get on their schedule. Don’t wait until later and then assume your wedding will take precedence over other obligations those businesses and individuals have made.
4. Let’s Talk Guests – Cultivating a guest list is another aspect you can work on early in the wedding planning process. You don’t need to have a perfect list right away, but again it’s helpful to have a conversation with your fiance about the size of your wedding to ensure you stay within budget. Also, your venue may have restrictions on how many people can attend, so you can start developing a guest list based on these restrictions and how many people you envision inviting to your wedding.

These are great stepping stones on your way to planning your wedding, and if you have any questions about the process or want to talk with a professional about touring any of our venues, reach out to the team at Entourage Events Group today at (612) 564-3777.

Everyone wants to make sure that their guests have a great time at their wedding, but sometimes we overvalue and undervalue what really does and doesn’t matter to our guests. And while it’s true that everyone has different opinions, we’ve helped throw countless weddings, so we think we have a pretty good handle on what guests really tend to appreciate and what gestures can sometimes miss the mark. In today’s blog, we share three things that will really resonate with your guests, and three things you shouldn’t lose sleep over.

3 Things Your Wedding Guests Really Care About

Here’s a look at some of the things that really help create an enjoyable and memorable experience for all the right reasons for your guests.

1. Great Food – The quality of the food you serve will oftentimes stick with your guests for a while. Impeccable food will have them raving about your menu, whereas food that falls short of expectations can really sour the night. At Entourage Events Group, our catering division holds itself to a very high standard and strives to surpass expectations with every dish we create. We’ve created unique menus for small luncheons or huge corporate fundraisers, so we know how to effectively and creatively feed any size group you bring with you. We also work directly with the bride and groom to develop a menu with their tastes, preferences and accommodations in mind so that everything comes together perfectly on your wedding day.
2. The Atmosphere – One interesting thing we’ve noted from guests is that a lot of wedding venues seem to blend together, so you really have an opportunity to make your venue stand out from the rest and make a lasting positive impression on your guests. It’s not easy to breathe life into a venue and create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, especially since you probably don’t have extensive experience planning a wedding, but we do. We can create a memorable atmosphere with creative lighting, unique furniture and table arrangements, eye-appealing decorations and the perfect stereo system to ensure speeches and music can be heard by all guests. Our event’s team can help create an atmosphere that most guests won’t realize they’ve been missing out on until they see it firsthand at your wedding.
3. A Lack Of Waiting – One final thing that guests seem to care about, or complain about when things aren’t going quickly, is the amount of waiting they do. Appetizers should be readily available, dinner should be served efficiently, guests shouldn’t be waiting 10 minutes for a drink at the bar, and there should never be a line for the bathroom. When choosing a venue and a staff to help take care of your reception, you need to know that they have the size and the facilities to efficiently handle the needs of your group. We have a wealth of experience ensuring food comes out right on schedule and staffing the bar throughout the night so that drinks are served quickly and guests can get back to the party. If you want your night to run smoothly behind the scenes, trust it to a full service events team like Entourage Events Group.

3 Things Your Guests Don’t Really Care About

Quickly, we’re also going to touch on three things that your guests typically don’t care about as much as most people think that they do. That’s not to say they aren’t important parts of your wedding day, but don’t overstress about certain aspects that aren’t all that important in the grand scheme of things. Here are three things that won’t make or break your guest’s experience:

1. The Wedding Favors – Wedding favors can be a cute way to celebrate a couple, but dozens of favors end up left on tables at the end of the night. Don’t worry too much about finding the perfect wedding favor.
2. The Seating Chart – Some people love organizing their seating chart, while others dread it. If you’re not exactly looking forward to it, just remember that it doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, it oftentimes doesn’t matter to guests. There’s plenty of time for people to socialize with certain friends or family members outside of dinner, and switching things up with the seating chart can help people get to know others who are important to you. Don’t overthink the seating chart, because it will work out however you arraign it.
3. The Cake – To most people, cake is cake. You don’t need to go crazy with an overpriced multi-tiered marbled wedding cake simply because you think that’s just what everyone does. You might want a small cake to cut with your new spouse, but don’t sweat a larger decorative cake for your guests if you don’t want to. People will care way more about taste than visual appeal!

For help pulling off a memorable wedding that will have your guests talking about your big day for years, trust the planning and execution to a full service event’s company like Entourage Events Group. Click here to read testimonials from satisfied customers, or head on over to our contact page to learn more about scheduling a tour and meeting our team!

For the majority of people, planning a wedding isn’t something they have a lot of experience with. Don’t get us wrong, planning a wedding with no experience can still be a very enjoyable experience, but oftentimes when all is said and done, people look back and either wish they would have done something slightly different or known something sooner in the process. There are a lot of things you simply don’t know about planning a wedding unless you’ve done it yourself.

We hope to change that sentiment, and we hope that by doing so, we’ll make your wedding planning experience easier and more enjoyable. With that said, here’s a look at five things they don’t tell you about planning a wedding.

1. A Venue Isn’t Just A Venue

When picking a venue, you don’t just want to find a place that is big enough and that has availability on your big day. A venue is more than just a place to gather, it should help to set the tone for a magical evening. For example, a venue like The Riverside can provide spectacular views and exquisite natural lighting, while The Grand 1858 can offer intimate and elegant indoor or outdoor ceremonies. Set your wedding apart by having the venue add to the festivities instead of just being a place that is big enough for your group.

2. You’ll Want To Decorate The Venue

Booking the venue is a good start, but you’ll also want to personalize it with your own decor and style. However, you probably won’t be able to decorate until the night before the wedding at earliest, and some venues may want you to wait until the day of your wedding. You’re not going to want to set up your reception hall on the day of your wedding, and while you may have friends or family willing to assist, sometimes it’s easier to know that it’s being handled by the professionals. Our styling and production team can decorate your venue based on your decor and lighting preferences and give you the peace of mind that it’s being taken care of while you focus on other things on your big day.

3. Consider Transportation

You may not personally need parking or transportation, but a number of your guests likely will. Parking and transportation options can be hard to find if you’re getting hitched in the Twin Cities, so you’ll want a venue that has on-site parking. Our venues have this perk, which makes life that much easier for your guests.

4. It’s Simpler To Keep Food Options In House

While this may sound obvious, feeding your guests can get difficult if you’re trying to arraign caterers for your venue. It’s much simpler to choose a venue that has top notch on-site dining accommodations. This also provides you with peace of mind knowing that a caterer won’t back out or run into transportation or staffing problems on the day of your wedding. If you keep things like decor, dining, lighting and music in-house and with one company, it’s so much easier to organize each aspect and to avoid problems because you’ll be working with one point of contact.

5. Where Will You Get Ready?

Some venues don’t lend themselves to wardrobe changes or make it easy for the wedding party to get ready ahead of the ceremony. You’ll want to be able to get ready at the venue, so make sure you consider where you’ll be able to get dressed and have hair and makeup done on the day of your wedding. Our venues offer Bride and Groom Suites so that everyone can get ready with ease on the big day.

If you want assistance with any of the above aspects for your wedding, please consider syncing up with the team at Entourage Events Group. We can streamline the planning and production of your wedding to ensure everything is as you dreamed it would be. For more information, or to request a tour or learn more about our pricing options, fill out this short form on our contact page. Let us help make your wedding an unforgettable experience.