How To Plan Your Wedding Dance
Interrupting laughter and chatter, the Master of Ceremonies introduces the newlyweds for the first time. Glasses clink as the guests begin to roar. Hand in hand, the loved up couple glide onto the dance floor under a blanket of applause and camera flashes. The spot light is on you. The room goes silent. Your song begins.
How do you get to this symbolic moment when you and your partner will open up the dance floor? The wedding dance is a tradition that dates back centuries before. But consider a few points when planning that milestone wedding moment.
The Feel
This is something no one else can explain for you. As a couple, what do you envision your dance to look like? What emotion do you wish to spark? Do you want your guests cheering and clapping to beat of your song? Or do you want granny to be in tears from the first sashay onto the floor? What is the feeling behind your dance?
The Theme
Can you have a country-style wedding and perform a classical waltz? Or a Gatsby themed wedding with a cha-cha? In a word, yes. But will it make sense? Try to stay cohesive and focus your entire wedding into one theme, including your first dance.
The Dress
There’s not a dog’s chance you’ll be able to do the iconic Dirty Dancing lift over your husband’s head in a ball gown with a train that challenges Princess Diana’s cathedral length gown. Unless you want him to suffocate on taffeta. Nor will a skin-tight mermaid dress work for an upbeat rock ‘n’ roll boogie. Sorry babe. It’s not happening.
Save your instructor and yourself the headache and plan your dance around the dress. Choose a dance style and song that highlights it, not mocks it.
The Song
Please, please, once again please, listen to the lyrics of your song choice. It may be your favourite tune or have special meaning to you and your partner. It may be the song that was playing when you first caught each other’s eyes across a crowded room. Nevertheless, consider the lyrics.
I’m not saying you can’t be yourselves. One of my favourite wedding dances I’ve ever choreographed dropped a few f-bombs. But if “your song” mentions death, angels from above, tapping dat ass or… you get the drift. Save it for your honeymoon playlist.
The Style
What came first, the song or the dance? You choose! Either way, they should complement each other. You may have seen a few dance moves on YouTube that you’ve fallen in love with. Or you’ve landed on a song but are unclear which dance style goes with it. Talk to your instructor.
In most cases, my couples choose a song and leave the dance steps up to me. From our first phone call to the last lesson, I listen to the couple and choreograph based on their personality. But the music is the basis of the movement. A Latin song may lend itself to salsa, whereas a waltz would most suit a classic piece. Perhaps you don’t want a traditional dance, but you just want to have fun. Choose a modern song.
When planning your first dance, the song and style should connect. Think of the feeling you want to capture, making sure it suits your overall wedding theme and attire. If you’re unsure, get advice from the professionals. Click the ‘connect’ tab in the menu above to chat about your first dance.
