What Does the First Dance Symbolize?

Whether you are a spiritual, religious and conservative or a secular hippy bride and groom or somewhere in between – you all share one thing in common – your joy for dance. The only difference is when and how you do it. You’ve made a big investment in many aspects of the wedding day that will only last one day but will live on in your memories and album– with one exception – your dance lessons. The cake will be eaten, the flowers will die, the gown will be preserved or sold but learning to dance is a small investment in your actual relationship which lives on and evolves. “Partner” dancing is a life skill useful for future special occasions or even just tender moments in your living room on a rainy night! Our students say their dancing date nights are the most fun and romantic time they have during the wedding planning process and our couples tell us that the First Dance is the most sentimental moment of the reception too!

Dance is incorporated into many cultures at weddings and is expressed in various ways depending on the level of religious observance. Many modern and westernized couples want rituals that express their unity and are seeking ways to grow closer through this unique, private and romantic learning experience. On the big day, they are seizing the opportunity to confidently sparkle in the spotlight while personalizing their celebration through their own creative expression. For these insightful couples, the First Dance is often the highlight of the reception, and the most vivid wedding memory guests recall since actions speak louder than words.

There are lots of aspects of the wedding that can be outsourced – – the bakery, the caterer, the florist, the event planner. In more modest conservative traditions dancing may be segregated by gender and the couple spends quiet time alone to physically represent their unity but in both cases “partner” dancing is still applicable and beneficial to learn for the couple’s private use and public interaction with guests of the same gender because it is compatible with a wide variety of cultural music styles. Wedding preparation should also include any applicable  folk dances to bond the guests. In Western weddings, the most noteworthy and vital components that validate and authenticate a wedding are the vows and First Dance. The public and legally binding vows verbally profess the couple’s intentions to be supportive and loyal to each other. The First Dance is the first marital act that physically proves a couple’s ability to be supportive of one another. After all, you are not going to recite your vows to each other every day of your marriage but instead you will prove your sincerity through your actions both big and small. Just as couples attend a rehearsal to prepare for their ceremony, it is vital to dedicate some time in advance before making their public debut in the spotlight as a married couple. By exercising teamwork and patience during private rehearsals and ultimately for public display, the couple “moves as one” on the dance floor and a promise is sealed and delivered. For this reason, the First Dance is the most sacred ritual of the wedding reception.

For less than the price of Cinderella’s glass slipper, couples can sparkle in the spotlight instead of being all dressed up with no place to go once they reach the ballroom floor. With a little preparation, you can turn the most sentimental moment into the most memorable moment for you and your guests! Whether Cinderella’s fairytale is being swept off her feet in the spotlight and paparazzi or in the privacy of the bridal chamber – we can help transform your groom into Prince Charming!

Would you like to learn some new dance steps for your wedding?  The Wedding Dance Specialists can help you learn the most popular ballroom dance styles. We offer wedding dance lessons that are fast-paced and a lot of fun.

Recent Wedding Dance Posts

How Many Dance Lessons Do You Need?

Determine what your dancing goals are first. This will affect when you start and how many lessons you choose. Don't worry too much about time constraints when considering quantity because we can offer double sessions. Once you have determined your goals, we can better...

read more

Why is Learning to Dance Beneficial?

Let us help you polish your dance skills for social dancing or energize your special event with our diverse and talented staff of professional dance instructors and performers. Dancing creates sparkling memories and adds delicious excitement to any celebration....

read more

Help! My Partner Dreads Dancing! [Part 2]

Ten Tips to Overcome Dance Floor Dread In part one of this article, I discussed the common problem I encounter with my students (mainly grooms) but sometimes brides expressing serious reservations about dancing, learning to dance and dancing in the spotlight. I...

read more

Help! My Partner Dreads Dancing! [Part 1]

A sad thing happened. It has only happened once before in my 23 year career as a wedding dance instructor. I had a groom slip through the cracks. He came in for one visit and then his fiance contacted me to say he was too nervous about the idea of dancing to go...

read more

Deborah Joy Talks With Relentless Bride Blog

I really enjoyed working with Deborah from The Wedding Dance Specialists ... and I thought it would be fun to do an interview with her to show you why I think she's just so talented and so much fun to hang out with... It's such a blessing when you find a vendor during...

read more

Wedding Dance Timeline

WEDDING DAY / DANCE TIMELINE This is just one suggested version of many possible outlines. You might compare a few versions to come up with your preferred timeline. This version has new and modern twists and intentionally strays from the very traditional type of...

read more

Event Planners Recommend our Wedding Dance Workshops!

Wedding Dance Classes for Splash Couples! If the thought of dancing with your new wife or husband in front of all your family and friends for your first dance as a couple at your wedding reception terrifies you (like it does me!), we wanted to make sure you knew about...

read more