Planning Your Event
If your wedding plans include a reception, don't forget to think about the wedding dance. Your first dance together as husband and wife should be truly magical. If you plan and practice early, you will both be confident and will greatly impress your friends and family.
You don't need to be an expert. Our wedding programs would provide you with enough insight into the dance and how to pull it off to make you look smooth without years of instruction. It's understood that you are event-driven, but don't overlook some basic factors that can help make your dance a success. Whether you'll like a very spontaneous lead-and-follow dance or a choreographed routine, there are certain elements that you should consider.
When to start your dance lessons
You should at least start thinking about the dancing at your wedding in the earliest stages of your wedding plans. Whether you want to have just a "First Dance" or be able to dance all night will play an important role when choosing when to get started with your dance lessons.
Some of the wedding couples come to our studio as soon as they start planning their wedding for a consultation lesson to find out what ballroom dancing is about, to get a feel for our studio and our instructors and to know what to expect from our wedding programs.
That being said, you do not need to start taking lessons the instant you set a date. Yes, you definitely want to allow yourself enough time, and most instructors recommend at least three months.
However, we have taught several couples to dance the week before their wedding. There's nothing like a deadline to make people move! Yes, those last-minute learners were happy with their results at their receptions, but we don't recommend the extreme last minute to anyone. Because you don't really have much time to develop good muscle memory, it can be a bit stressful and not as much fun.
The following is a listing of some of the things that your instructor may discuss with you during your consultation lesson to help you to make the most out of your special day:
Finding a perfect Song
Many couples have a special song before they even begin with their dance lessons. The chosen song will determine the choreography of your dance. We also recommend picking one or two extra songs for your First Dance, if possible, and bringing them to your consultation lesson in a form of a cd, flash drive or simply a list with the full title and artist name. Your instructor may find that one song is much better to dance than another based on the speed of the song. He or she can determine if the music is too slow, too fast, or just right. A lot of times we can adjust the timing of the song to suit you better. However, depending on how much time you have before your wedding, a particular dance (such as Viennese Waltz, for example) may be virtually impossible to learn in just a few lessons.
What If we don't have a Special Song, yet?
If you don't have one in mind, check our suggestions for Wedding songs
Another great alternative to find a perfect song is to ask your instructor to introduce you to a few different popular social dances and then, choose the style that suits you better. Once you know what dance you prefer, your dance instructor can provide you with a list of songs that matches the style of dance chosen.
The Speed of the song (the beat)
The beat of a song determines how fast or how slow you should move your body while dancing. If your selected song has a fast beat, be prepared to move quickly
Dancing with your partner to the beat of the song is important. So, you'll want to go with a speed you're comfortable with.
Tips to find the beat of a song:
Your instructor may recommend a practice cd to help you find the beat of a song. Then,
- Listen closely to the strong, heavy beats.
- Clap your hands along with the beats to get a feel for the music.
- Try tapping your right foot to the strong beats and your left foot to the weaker beats.
The length of the song.
Shorter is better! Try to keep the song less than three minutes. Two minutes is perfect!
If it's a band playing this might be difficult, but if it's a deejay, it's possible to have him fade it. The old saying about there being "too much of a good thing" is true when it comes to the first dance. A long song makes everyone uncomfortable, not just the bride and groom. Always leave your audience wanting more!
Do you have a DJ or a Band?
If you'll be dancing to live music, make sure to get a copy of the exact version of the song that they'd play at your wedding to know what beat to expect. Discuss with the DJ or band leader any special requirements such as when the song should start, fading the song at a particular time, or the exact volume you'd prefer they play, etc.
The entrance
How will you walk onto the dance floor, and will it be before the song or after the song starts? For many songs, it might be best to walk out arm in arm after your music starts and do a walking underarm turn and come back to a quick, romantic kiss. Your entrance will appear impeccable and will capture your audience's attention while filling up some very valuable seconds.
The size of the dance floor.
How much space do you have to dance and where will your audience be? This is critical in choosing your dance and picking your moves. You don't want to do a very small dance (not much moving) on a very large floor. By the same token, when you are dancing your first dance please be aware of where your guests are. If they are on three sides or completely surround the dance floor, please dance accordingly. Your family and friends would like to see your glowing faces for at least part of the dance.
What to wear to your dance lessons
You should always practice in something similar to what you'll be wearing at your reception. If the bride is wearing a strapless dress, she should practice in one so you'll both know the limitations. Ladies, it's imperative that you practice in the shoes you'll be wearing or ones that are strikingly similar in height, feel, and heel size. Guys, if you'll be wearing a coat the night of your dance, you should practice in one.
Dancing to a choreograph routine
After your consultation lesson, your instructor will prepare an amalgamation of figures suitable for you, the time frame and your song or dance chosen. Whether you want a basic wedding dance or an elaborate one, your instructor will customize this routine just for you. By always practicing your steps in the same order, you are able to developed faster muscle memory in the least amount of time.
Practicing your choreography to the point where you are not thinking about it, is the first step not only to looking better, but also to feeling confident and enjoying your wedding dance to the fullest!
Your instructor may video tape this choreography. So, ask your instructor for a copy to watch at home.
Final thoughts on how we prepare you for your first Dance:
Once you are fairly comfortable with your steps, your instructor will recommend to practice in front of friends during your lesson or during one of our Friday night practice parties to prepare you for dancing in front of an audience. Also, your instructor may videotape every stage of your dance lessons to get you comfortable dancing in front of a camera and/or video camera, especially if you're going to have a photographer or videographer at your wedding. You can ask your instructor for a copy of that footage to make it part of your final video compilation of your entire journey!
