Last updated: 4 July 2026
Thinking about a dry ice machine for your first dance? A dry ice machine creates a thick, low-lying cloud that hugs the floor so you appear to be dancing on a cloud, without setting off venue alarms. This guide covers the benefits, how it compares to a smoke machine, our setup tips, and the questions couples ask us most.
There’s no doubt that your wedding day will be one of most special and memorable events in your lifetime. We’re all looking for ways to enhance the experience for our guests and ourselves. We hire amazing cars to escort us to and from. We deck out the venue with beautiful flowers. The cake is created to perfection and with a tonne of TLC! And then there’s the first dance.
How do you bring this up a notch? Taking dance classes with your two-left-feet partners or hiring a live band to play your favourite love song are good ideas, but to really stand-out, and more importantly, enjoy an unforgettable first dance, you’ll need the dry ice machine. Here are 4 benefits to having this secret weapon at your wedding reception.
1. The Fog Hugs the Floor From A Dry Ice Machine
Think of the dry ice machine as a huge kettle of boiling water. When the freezing dry ice meets the boiling water, a carbon dioxide of cool, thick smoke is created. As this smoke fills the machine, it rushes out of the machine to create the magical effect now renowned for first dances.
This low-lying fog hugs the floor, remaining low at all times and creating something that the typical smoke and haze machine can’t compete with. For more on this, see our dry ice vs smoke machine comparison below.
2. Dancing on a Cloud
Because this machine creates a fog that remains so low, the gas groups together to create a thicker smoke. This makes the dry ice machine unique to other effects machines, as the thickness makes it look like something from Hollywood, like you’re actually on a cloud, physically and metaphorically.
3. It Lasts the Mile
Just like the Energizer bunny that keeps running, so too can a dry ice machine. It can run continuously throughout the first dance, ensuring the consistency and thickness of the smoke and effect. When compared to its cousins, it’s no competition. The fog machine will release smoke for 15-20 seconds before it requires a ‘time-out’, and the haze machine will keep running, but at a level that will barely make any smoke noticeable to your guests.
4. It’s Safe with Alarms
The fog released from a dry ice machine is a gas which doesn’t contain particles in the air, unlike its smoke or haze machine counterparts. This is important to prevent it rising and hovering around alarms. The last thing you want is your guests running for their life because you’ve set off an alarm, while you’re intimately gazing into the eyes of your new soulmate.
Dry Ice Machine vs Smoke Machine
One question we always hear when planning the first dance is: dry ice or smoke machine? Here’s how they compare.
The smoke machine is generally the cheaper option, but that’s about its only advantage. The smoke it emits is warmer, so it rises quickly. That tends to set off venue fire alarms (meaning the venue often charges a fee to isolate the alarm during your first dance) and can make guests cough. The smoke also isn’t as thick, so it won’t fill the space the way a cloud effect should.
The dry ice machine adds dry ice to hot water to create a thick, cloud-like fog. Because it’s much colder, the cloud stays at floor level for the entire first dance and then evaporates down low, so it won’t set off alarms, and you avoid the alarm-isolation cost. The effect is far more extravagant, which is why it’s the choice for the majority of weddings.
Our recommendation: if you’re weighing up cost, factor in the extras a smoke machine can add (isolating alarms, coughing guests, a less impressive effect). For a genuinely spectacular first dance, the dry ice machine wins every time.
Tips for a Flawless Dry Ice First Dance
- Turn the aircon off five minutes before the first dance. Moving air pushes the smoke around and breaks up the thickness, the cloud needs still air to form properly. Give your venue manager a heads up beforehand.
- Clear the dance floor. Have your MC announce the first dance and ask the venue staff to move the cake table and usher guests off the floor. This also gives your photographer and videographer room to work.
- Get an aerial shot. Some of the best dry ice photos are taken from above. It isn’t always possible, but raise it with your photographer early, there are usually ways around it, like shooting from a chair at a distance.
Dry Ice Machine Hire FAQs
Where do you get your dry ice from? Depending where we are around town we use BOC and Mr Iceman, we prefer Mr Iceman, who delivers early in the day directly to the venue, packaged in a sealed styrofoam box.
How much dry ice do you use? It depends on the size of the first-dance area, but we generally use around 8kg, perfect for a 3–4 minute bridal waltz.
How long does the water take to heat up? The machine holds a lot of water. Cold water takes around an hour and a half; warm to hot water around 45 minutes.
Do I need permission from my venue? It’s best practice to let your venue manager know you’re having dry ice so they can help clear the area. Because the fog is low-lying (below knee height) it stays away from alarms and is venue-friendly.
Does an operator come with the machine? Yes. A professional operator means smooth sailing on the day, so you can focus on getting lost in the moment.
When does the operator arrive and how long to set up? Your operator arrives around an hour and a half before your first dance, enough time to fill the machine, heat the water and position it for the big moment.
How We Can Help
Star DJ Hire is an industry leader in wedding entertainment, not just DJs, but complete entertainment solutions for weddings and all functions. Ask us about our all-in-one package: we can combine a dry ice machine with a DJ and a photo booth at a discounted price, with our whole team working together for a stress-free reception. Get a fast quote or explore our Sydney wedding DJ hire service.