If Your Venue Has One Type of Continuous Flooring, Should You Also Rent a Dance Floor for the Reception?

wedding couple laughing together on dance floor
wedding couple laughing together on dance floor

Kristen Marie Parker

Many venues will come with flooring already provided, especially sites that are frequently used for wedding receptions, so is there ever a reason to rent a dedicated dance floor? According to Heather Rouffe, of Atlas Event Rental, the answer depends on what you're looking for when it comes to the feel of your event.

Related: Unique Ideas for Your Wedding Dance Floor

What Material Is the Existing Floor?

Rouffe says that if the existing flooring at your venue is made out of a hard substance, like marble or hardwood, you don't need to rent a dance floor. However, if the venue's flooring is made up primarily of carpeted surfaces or something uneven, like stone, then it's probably a good idea to invest in a dance floor. Not only does it help designate the space, but it can provide a better surface for, well, cutting a rug.

Splurging on a Rental

There are still reasons why you may want to rent a dance floor, even if your space already has flooring that serves this purpose. Rouffe says a rental can be customized in ways that allow you to make a statement, like by changing colors or adding a logo. "You can make the dance floor part of your décor and design," she adds. That doesn't mean there aren't potential downsides for renting a dance floor when there is already one provided. "If covering an existing dance floor, you need to use adhesive," she explains. "If a company is not trained in laying the dance floor with adhesive, it can leave a residue and can cause extra labor and cleaning time on the rental company side in terms of when they come to pick up their rented dance floor."

What to Look for in a Dance Floor

It may seem like dance floors are one-size-fits-all, but Rouffe explains that there are things you need to keep an eye out for. "You want to make sure you are using the right dance floor for the environment." That means being aware of whether the flooring is appropriate for an indoor or an outdoor space, and making sure it will fit into your venue space (a floor that is too big or too small can cause major issues). Additionally, you'll need to make sure the floor can lay flat so that the perimeter is flush, and doesn't present a falling or tripping hazard.

Whatever you decide to do, as long as you make sure you're renting from a reputable company who is familiar with instillation in venues like the one you're using for your reception, you should be okay no matter what choice you make. If you are looking to cut costs though, you can probably skip the rental if your venue already has an adequate hard, flat, surface for your guests to celebrate your big day.