Your First Wedding Dance

The ‘first dance’ of the bride and groom is a tradition that almost every couple incorporates into their wedding celebration and one that should be remembered as a symbol of your love and a reflection of your personal style.

Whether you decide on a traditional Waltz, a romantic Rumba or an energetic Salsa, there is nothing that says ‘romance’ quite like your first dance together as husband and wife.

You have spent many months planning every intricate detail to make it the perfect day… beautiful wedding decorations, a stunning wedding cake, immaculate hair and makeup, and a wedding dress that you have dreamt of since you were a little girl.  You have spent so much time, energy and money planning your ultimate wedding - don’t gloss over what will be remembered by your guests as either a wonderful expression of your love, or as a very long three and a half minutes.

Here are some tips to create a breathtaking and memorable first dance:

Consider Professional Dance Instruction

Unless you and your partner already dance together and are proficient in the style of dance that you would like for your first dance, consider getting professional instruction at a dance studio or private lessons with an independent instructor.  Private instruction is better suited to first dances as you will receive one-on-one tuition specific to your style of dance.  Your dancing skills will also progress much quicker.

When selecting an instructor, ask about their experience with wedding dances.  An instructor experienced in wedding dance is worth their weight in gold and will make valuable suggestions about things that you may not have considered, such as bustling your gown and practicing in your wedding shoes.  Remember that sometimes guys are a little reluctant in taking dance lessons, so be sure you find an instructor who makes learning for your man fun and easy.

When to Start

Allow yourselves plenty of time - don’t leave calling a dance professional until a week before your wedding.  Dance skills are acquired through repetition and for your dance to look natural, it will take time.  Generally speaking, 3 – 6 months prior to your wedding day will be sufficient; depending on how elaborate you want your dance to be and how much time you have to practice.  

How soon you should start depends on how quickly you and your partner learn, whether you have had previous dance experience in the style of dance you have chosen and how good you would like to be.  A Samba that will blow your guest’s minds will take longer to learn than a traditional Waltz, but what an impact you will make!… you will have your guest’s feet tapping and their eyes captivated by your energy.

Dance Style

The style of dance you learn will depend on the song you choose to dance to. Select a special song that is meaningful to you and your partner (such as the first song you ever danced to or the song that was playing during your first kiss), or a song that compliments your wedding style.  Your dance instructor will work with you to make sure that the dance style will work well with the song you have chosen.

If you do not have a song picked out, your instructor can help you choose one that will suit your dance style.  

Don't be afraid to break from tradition and do something different.  Kick off your reception with a fast first dance and set the festive mood right from the start.  Swing, Fox Trot, Rumba and even Tango are just some of the dances many of today’s couples are choosing as their first dance...so have some fun with it!