5 Questions to Answer Before Choosing a Wedding Dance Floor

Your outdoor wedding likely needs some solid flooring underneath it. But most people have never ordered and installed temporary flooring, so they may not know where to begin. If you find yourself in the same boat, here are a few questions you need to answer before you head out to order your wedding floor.

To provide the right size dance floor, you will need some idea of the guest list and how many people will actually be attending. The estimated size necessary obviously varies, but it is generally a good rule of thumb to assume that about 40 to 50 percent of the guests will be on the floor at any given time. So, you'll need to know how many people are invited.

Use the guest list early on to do your preliminary floor shopping and planning, but wait until you have a more accurate count closer to the big day in order to finalize plans.

Different groups have different styles and needs when it comes to actual dancing. Most wedding floor experts account for about 9 square feet of space per couple (or 4.5 square feet per person) on the dance floor.

Of course, this is not a perfect science, and your knowledge of the guests' styles will help. If you will have a lot of slow, traditional dancing, you may find that 4.5 feet per person is ideal. If your guests aren't really into dancing much, you may need less. But if your relatives like to boogie wildly on their own or do complex line dances as a big group, you may need a larger space.

Temporary outdoor party flooring is generally referred to as the dance floor, but it can serve other purposes as well. Where could solid flooring benefit your setup?

The combinations are endless. If the tent will be set up on thick, wet grass, you may want to include a solid floor underneath the entire thing. Or, you might just want to splurge for some solid footing in wetter areas, to form walkways to or from the tent, or underneath certain areas (like the cake or head table) to keep things clean.

Modern dance floor options come in more varieties than you might realize. Many couples enjoy the traditional wedding flooring that looks like wood planking or bright white. But you can also get dance floors in many colors, including black or different wood grain shades. Want something luxurious? Consider faux marble. Want something wild? Project designs onto a solid white floor or opt for a colorful LED flooring material.

Since there is a lot to choose from, first determine what feeling you want the material to create - such as formal, casual, fun-loving, cozy, or rustic. Then, decide what type of backdrop the floor pieces need to be. Do you want to highlight the dancers with a neutral background? Or do you want people to be 'wowed' by the floor itself?

You will, of course, want to consult your budget before getting too attached to any particular floor. Couples on a tight budget may be able to scale back their flooring needs or find a material that will get the job done at a reasonable price. If you do want a style that's more expensive than expected, planning early will help you adjust other areas in your budget in order to get what will really make your reception pop.

Ready to start your dance floor shopping adventure? Begin by checking out the options at L&L Tent and Party Rentals today. Our extensive rental inventory is sure to have just what you want at a price you can afford. Call today to learn more.