Your wedding is special occasion like no other. It is a time to fortify your love and celebrate your relationship. There’s no better way to express the love you feel for you spouse than by dancing together. The wedding dance is a time honored tradition that brings a sense of closeness and elegance to this joyous occasion. Your wedding dance, as your official first dance as a married couple, is an incredibly special event, which marks your newly christened bond.
According to tradition, the bride and groom are the first to dance. As a couple, you should decide on your special song beforehand. The song you choose will usually help you pick the style of dance you will perform. You should probably pick out a few songs for your first dance, if possible. Also, determine what version of the song you will dance to—will it be a recording, or played live, for instance. This way, you can bring your picks to your wedding dance lessons. You should also plan on taking at least a few wedding dance lessons, as you want to look your best on your toes during the reception and nerves can take their toll. Practicing beforehand will dramatically improve your performance. When it comes to choosing a teacher or school for your wedding dance lessons, ask friends and family members for recommendations. Private lessons are a good idea for the first dance as you will be learning to dance to a specific song.
When planning your perfect dance there are some things you should take into consideration. Consider, for example the type of wedding dress the bride will be wearing. A mermaid gown will make it harder for her to move, so a salsa or cha cha may be out of the question. An off-the-shoulder neckline dress will limit the bride’s ability to move her arms—she won’t be able to lift them for spinning. Also take into consideration the actual size of your dance floor. A smaller venue means you’ll be limited to more stationary dances, while larger dance floors give you more room to move around.
Keep it short and sweet. The longer the song, especially with a more difficult dance style may be harder to pull off. Remember that you will be in full wedding gear, the groom in a tux and the bride in a gown, so your movement may be somewhat restricted.
When it comes time to the actual dance, you’ll realize that your wedding dance lessons have paid off. You both will shine. After the bride and groom dances their first dance, etiquette dictates that he father of the bride will cut in and dance with his daughter while the groom will dance with the bride’s mother. Afterwards, the father of the groom will dance with the bride, and the bride’s father will dance with his own wife. The groom is to then ask his mother to dance.
Of course, following this other members of the wedding party will join the dance. As you see, there is quite a fair bit of dancing going on, so dance wedding lessons are your best preparation. Remember though, that is a special time for you and your new spouse to celebrate the occasion.