The reception dance is the place for everyone -- the newlyweds and the guests -- to celebrate the new couple's life as husband and wife. There is no better way to celebrate than dancing. Whether you float like Fred and Ginger or you have two left feet, dance instruction might come in handy for the big day.
The couple's first dance: If you have planned everything about your wedding day around a Victorian theme, think about your first dance in that same light. Take some time out of all the hectic planning for waltz lessons. Picture the two of you floating across the floor, feet in perfect time, your dress flowing behind you. If your new family takes pride in its Latin heritage, surprise everyone with your new salsa skills. A few lessons will help even the most movement challenged couple enjoy being in the spot light for the special first dance.
During the formal wedding pictures: If you have a western barn dance planned for your reception, think about offering free line dancing and two step lessons for your guests while they await your grand entrance. Have the band come an hour early or get a trusted guest to bring a boom box and some CDs. You might be a world champion two stepper, but some of your guests may never have had the chance to give it a try. Hire a professional or get your favorite dancing couple to teach these greenhorns some steps so they can meet you on the dance floor. Be sure to clear the details with your reception location.
Special dances: There are a few traditional dances, such as the bride and her father or the groom and his mother, which might cause some anxiety. Ask your parents if they are uncomfortable about this aspect of your wedding. Your father may be terrified by his lack of rhythm. Find a way to practice your special dance so you two can concentrate on the specialness of the moment, not whether he is tripping over your train. What mother wouldn't appreciate a bride offering ways to make the dance with her son a special part of the wedding?
If you aren't the traditional waltz type, consider how your first dance will express who you are as a couple. I recently attended a country wedding where the bride, groom and all the attendants started off as quiet couples waltzing and then broke into the most amazing square-dancing demonstration I have ever seen. By the time the song was done, the entire hall was on its feet, clapping and laughing. Don't let tradition get in the way of your own happiness. Let the dancing be an expression of the love you feel on this day.
Whether shuffling across the pine floor to bluegrass in Moses Lake or waltzing to big band music in Mt. Vernon, dancing should be the ultimate tribute to the bride and groom. Let the guests revel in the joy of a new marriage and their happy wishes for your future. If dancing lessons will let you focus on the party instead of your feet, take them. You might find a new passion the two of you can share for a lifetime.
