The Wedding Dance Songs

Your chosen wedding dance songs are played. You and your bride take the center stage, ready to dance the night away. Suddenly, you miss a step and trip over your bride. Can this happen? It’ll probably happen if you are not well prepared. Is there anything you can do to prepare for the moment? Miss Sharon Ashe, who has been dancing and teaching dancing for years, offers her following advice.

Your First Dance

By Sharon Ashe of nowyouredancing.com

Should you take dance lessons to prepare for your first dance together? Don’t take lessons because you feel that some sort of performance is expected out of you. Remember that this is your day and should reflect something about you. However, if dancing together is something that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time or the nerve, now is a great opportunity. Remember that this will be something that the two of you can share forever. There will always be plenty of opportunities to enjoy your dancing skills- at a friend’s wedding, a fancy function, even a nightclub.

Where should you take lessons? You should be able to find teachers who have experience with wedding couples at your local ballroom dance studio. When you call, ask if that studio has any special wedding packages available. You will probably need to decide if you want to participate in a group class or take private lessons.

Group classes are certainly more affordable, but a private lesson will focus only on what you want to learn and go at whatever pace is best for you. There are many types of partner dancing, so make sure that your instructor specializes in working with wedding couples or the dance style that you have chosen.

Depending on your location, it is often better to go to the clubs if you are interested in a nightclub dance such as swing, salsa, or Argentine Tango. Many clubs offer lessons before the band plays or the dancing begins. Once you have found a teacher that you feel comfortable working with, be sure to bring him/her a recording of your song if you have already chosen it, so that you will be sure to learn a dance style which is compatible with the music.

If you have trouble finding a teacher that you like, or if time and money are considerations, you may want to try learning to dance from a video. The advantage is that you can learn at any time, and in the privacy of your home for less than the price of one private lesson. If either of you feel nervous about dancing, this may be the way to go.

There are several videos that cater specifically to wedding couples and their special needs. No matter how you decide to tackle the learning process, remember to be supportive and have patience with each other’s difficulties. The reward will be well worth the effort.

Fast forward to your wedding day. How will your first dance begin and end? Your bandleader or DJ can call you out to the dance floor and announce your first dance. Traditionally the father of the bride will eventually cut in and dance with his daughter (this may be done to a new song or during the original song), at which point the groom may ask the bride’s mother to dance. Then the groom’s father may dance with the bride, at which time the bride’s father may cut in on his wife and the groom.

The groom may then ask his mother to dance. Additionally the groom may dance with the maid of honor and the bride with the best man, while the in laws dance with each other. Finally the entire wedding party, and then the guests may join in the dancing. As the wedding couple you must decide before the ceremony which traditional order you would like to follow, if any. It is important to notify the individuals that you want to participate, and instruct them as to when you would like them to come in and who you would like them to dance with. Depending on how many people will eventually be dancing, you may have to select a separate song from your special first dance song.

Your First Dance should be one of the many beautiful memories of your wedding day. By preparing in advance you will be able to relax and have fun with each other, enjoying the moment. Don’t think of this as a performance but as a ritual, part of the vows and promises that you will exchange on this special day.

Wedding dance songs and music are a big and important part of your wedding reception. Believe me, there’s a lot of anxiety the minutes before you’re about to take the dance floor. Hopefully, the article helps to make light of the situation so you and your love are well prepared to enjoy your special day.