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| If you know how to do this, please teach me. |
As
a fan of “The Office”, I’m very familiar with the unique processional the
co-workers made down the aisle at Jim and Pam’s wedding. Therefore, although I
didn’t consider a creative processional when it was my turn to walk down the
aisle (such a thing was specifically forbidden by our church), I did consider a
made-to-order first dance. After all, for a girl who bursts into spontaneous
dances at random times, what better way was there to express my joy than
through a fun first dance?
Note:
my made-to-order dance never happened, but a spontaneous burst of small jumps
at the end of the aisle expressed my joy just perfectly.
Many
of HJ’s couples design a creative first dance as a way to express themselves,
start their reception off in a purely fun mood, or to just show their stuff.
However, we offer a few pieces of advice when planning such a surprise:
Make
sure your wardrobe permits your wild moves.
We’re
not just talking about shoes here, but also your neckline! Make sure that the
things you want covered remain covered when you’re bustin’ a move. Also
consider the size and weight of your bustle, the shape and length of your veil,
and whether the shape of your dress allows you to move freely without risking
any torn sleeves. For guys, don’t try the splits if you might actually split
your pants.
Make
sure your songs aren’t too over the top.
Although
you love the most recent popular song, its lyrics might offend some of your
older guests or be inappropriate for young children. Neutral fun songs (think “oldies
but goodies”) are usually a safe bet.
Make
sure your DJ or band knows what you’re doing.
The
only ones who absolutely need to be in on any dancing surprise you might plan
are those in charge of your music. Most likely, you’ll need to provide an
already completed compilation (mix-tape!) of your songs; at the very least, you’ll
need to tell your musicians what to play and when.
Make
sure the dance floor is empty.
We
love the tradition of having a bridal party surround the couple as they engage
in their first dance, but a couple planning on breaking into wild moves risks running
into and possibly knocking those attendants over. Make sure your dance floor is
empty so that your running man doesn’t actually send anyone running to the hospital.
Make
sure your photographer or videographer knows what’s going on.
If
you’ve taken the time to plan your special dance, it’s a no brainer to make
sure that it’s caught on video or in a photo. After all, you’ll want to see if
you hit all your marks, won’t you? If you’ve hired a videographer and a photographer,
consider having one focus on you and the other on your guests to get a full
view of not only your performance but also its reception.
Make
sure your dance is YOU.
Are
you comfortable dancing in public with all eyes on you? Are crazy and fun dance
moves your thing? If so, go ahead and bust your move. If not, seriously
consider whether you’ll have the guts to do what you planned. A good rule of
advice: if either of you isn’t too thrilled with the idea, nix it.
Happy
dancing!
