THAT PESKY FIRST DANCE
ARGHHHHH the first dance! How much to prepare, should you take it seriously or should you treat it as a joke? Above is a great example of a brilliant first dance with minimal preparation (no offence guys!). But it does go to show that you can put on a great show without too much stress - the crowd at this one were absolutely loving it and Charlotte’s cheekiness and enjoyment really added a certain je ne sais quoi!
For my wedding, my partner and I decided to go the dance class route. Even though we like to show off, this was a pretty bold decision and one that we weren’t sure we were going to enjoy or want to stick to. We went to Start the Dance, and did six lessons with them. Our song was ‘I’ve got my mind set on you’ by James Ray, so we wanted a fast tempo swing dance… brave, as apparently most couples do a slow dance which is much easier. Jess Brichto our dance teacher was amazing, and guided us through our steps very patiently and enthusiastically, giving us loads of compliments (and glasses of wine!) along the way. She broke the song down into about four parts, which we went away and practised next to the lifts in our block of flats, much to the bemusement of people coming and going from the 9th floor. The final couple of lessons were all about practising it, trouble shooting, and adding those little flourishes that make you look a lot more confident than you actually are.
It was hard! As two people who have never really danced together before, it wasn’t a simple task. But we absolutely loved the process of preparing for our wedding in this way, and had such a laugh trying to get the moves right, listening to a song we love over and over again, and trying to imagine what it would be like on the night.
In the event.. it was even harder than I’d imagined to remember all the steps after a day of drinking! And we had a terrible moment when I smacked my head against the ceiling during the lift, and we had to start again. But people didn’t stop talking about it after.. they laughed, they cried, they couldn’t believe we’d gone to so much trouble and created something so hilarious/cheesy/beautiful (depending on the person speaking).
Don’t underestimate the quirky edge this will give your festivities. It’s so much fun to watch people you love doing something fun, performative, and crazy… And even more so when it’s out of their comfort zone! It encapsulates the madness, romantic-ness and energy of the event, and I guarantee it will bring you and your partner closer together in the process!
Contact Start the dance at https://www.startthedance.co.uk/
Here is a little clip! And let this be a warning to you - GET YOUR WEDDING FILMED PROFESSIONALLY! (though I am so grateful to my friend Juliette for capturing this spontaneously)
