Can a Rock Song Be Our First Dance Tune? Our song is more of a rocker than a ballad. Should we dance our first dance to it or choose something slower? We’ve got two words for you: Rock on! If this song is the one that puts stars in your eyes, then let the DJ spin it. Traditionally first dances are slower songs, but as long as the two of you are comfortable groovin’ to an audience, that’s all that counts. However, if you are a little self-conscious about hip-hopping on center stage, then have the DJ or band leader introduce the song, state its special meaning and ask the crowd to join the two of you on the dance floor. Either way you swing it, dancing to this tune should rank pretty high on your wedding-day to-do list. How Can I Get Guests to Boogie? What's the best way for us to get all of our guests on their feet? Carrie Babcock, an instructor at The Fred Astaire Dance Studio, in Montclair, NJ, suggests that if you’re looking for something that everyone from your grandma to the wedding party will love, then you can’t go wrong with that big-band sound. Anything by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin is a classic and works for people from ages 20 to 60. Babcock also recommends anything that involves a group, which always gets people up and moving. Line dances are still popular for just that reason. Everyone hits the dance floor and leaves their inhibitions behind. How Can I Encourage Daytime Dancing? My wedding reception will be in the afternoon. From weddings I’ve attended, guests seem less interested in dancing in broad daylight. What can I do to motivate them to fill the dance floor? One sure-fire way to rock the house is for you and your groom to get on the dance floor first. This is your day and guests will want to spend time with you, whether it’s on the dance floor or elsewhere. If your guests are still glued to their seats, enlist the help of your DJ or band leader. Get creative and call all couples to the floor who’ve been married for five years, ten years, etc. People are proud of this and will want to get up and take advantage of their bragging rights. One final note—play a variety of music. Your aunt might still be clinging to her chair because she doesn’t like ”Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It. Must the Father/Daughter Dance Be With Dad? I was raised by my stepfather and feel much closer to him than my biological father. They’re both going to be at my wedding. When it’s time for the father/daughter dance, whom should I dance with? Since your stepfather has been a huge part of your life, it’s perfectly fine for you to share the traditional father/daughter dance with him. Just make sure to be considerate of your biological father’s feelings. Find a song that captures how you feel about your step dad without snubbing your birth dad. Skip tunes like ”My Girl” and ”My Father’s Eyes” and go for generically happy songs like Louis Armstrong’s ”What a Wonderful World” or Nat King Cole’s ”Unforgettable.” You may want to have the DJ or band leader announce the father/daughter dance with something like, ”And now the bride will dance with her stepfather.” You should definitely ask your birth dad to dance, but you don’t have to make a big production out of it. Do what makes you comfortable: Follow the stepdad dance with another generically sweet song, but invite your guests to join you on the floor; have your new husband dance with his mom while you dance with your birth dad; or spontaneously grab your birth dad for a dance as the night progresses, the party’s roaring, and you’re more relaxed. Should I Plan Out My First Dance? Would a choreographed first dance look forced? Actually, a choreographed dance can look much more relaxed and graceful than you might think, because you’ll be more confident. According to Carrie Babcock, an instructor at The Fred Astaire Dance Studio, in Montclair, NJ, it’s all about muscle memory; just like learning to handle a manual versus an automatic transmission, once you practice a repetitive motion you don’t even have to think about it anymore. You shouldn’t have to memorize
a whole routine in a formula—six counts of this step, eight counts of that
one, etc. You just need a loose structure. For example, during the verses
you do one move; during the chorus you do another; the grand finale is the
dip. That way you get the framework and still have the freedom to relax
and interpret. It takes just a few hours a week for about a month to learn
a dance, Babcock says, but the more time you give yourselves to become
familiar and comfortable with the moves, the better you’ll look. (My
favorite tip: Practice your steps while standing in line at the bank or
grocery store.) |
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