The First Dance and How To Totally Rock It

What’s the one part of your big day that you’re most nervous about? For a lot of brides, it’s the first dance. The spotlight (and pressure) is all on you, so what do you do if you’re not a good dancer?! Instead of just hoping that your new hubby will lead the way, we’ve got some practical tips for rocking your first dance at your wedding- even if you dance like Tina Fey in “Baby Mama.” 

Song Choice 

First things first, be very selective when choosing your song! You and your fiancé may think you know exactly which song you want to dance to, but there are some things you should take into consideration before making your final selection. The most important being, how long is the song? You don’t want to be dancing for more than 2 minutes, 3 minutes at the very longest. Your guests like watching the two of you for a minute or two, but they are ready to get on the floor and celebrate with you! Also, if you’re nervous about the dance, shorter is definitely better. If you really want a song that’s long, have your DJ cut the song down to the desired amount of time. 

Dress

Pick a dress you can move in!! And one that bustles nicely. When you’re already anxious about dancing in front of hundreds of people, the last thing you want to do is fumble over your dress the whole time. Similarly, you may have your heart set on a form-fitting dress, but remember to dance in it during your try-on session to see if it’d be a good option for dancing. This is important not only for the first dance but for the rest of the night too! 

Shoes 

We doubt we have to explain this one too much, but just in case you need to hear it, wear comfortable shoes! At least for the first dance. If you want to wear your fabulous stilettos for pictures, we totally get it. But, make sure you get a second pair for the first dance. All eyes will be on you, so wear shoes you’re confident you won’t fall in! Even if you’re not nervous about the first dance, your ceremony and reception will likely span several hours, so comfortable shoes are a must. 

Lessons 

If you’re the bride that is FREAKING. OUT. about the first dance, why not take some dance lessons?! Not only will this boost your confidence for the big day, but it will also be a fun date night for you and your future hubs! Plus, he could probably use a few lessons himself! Leave it to a professional to show you exactly how to not embarrass yourself. 

Practice 

Practice makes perfect, right?! Don’t just “wing-it” on the first dance, even if the thought of it makes you nauseous. Move some furniture to make a homemade dance floor, and practice your first dance. Have a glass of wine to ease your nerves, put on the song you chose, and practice as many times as you need to. This way, on your big day, the dance is second nature to you. 

Switch it Up

If you’re too nervous to do a serious first dance in front of your guests, why not make them laugh instead?! Switch it up with a choreographed routine that you and your husband perform to an upbeat song. Practice, practice, practice and it will be a piece of [wedding] cake! This requires no natural dance ability since the point is not to be serious, but lighthearted and fun instead!

Bottom line – don’t be nervous! No matter your dancing ability, your guests still want to see the two of you dancing as newlyweds. Have fun with it and don’t take it too seriously! As long as your guests see you having fun, they’ll never know you were sweating it as you walked out on the floor!  

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