Your First Dance as Husband and Wife

If the idea of your first dance as husband and wife makes you nervous you may be considering signing up for ballroom dance classes. Is it worth it? Can it really help with your first dance as a couple?

If your idea of couple dancing is holding hands and swaying, or even worse tripping over each others feet while trying to move around the floor, dance classes can help tremendously. You will learn some basics such as how to hold each other, how to keep time with the music and how to lead and follow. Any style of dance that is done as a couple can benefit you when you are preparing for your wedding. But you may also want to take classes as a fun, bonding activity to do before the big day. A weekly time set aside to be together may be a wonderful retreat from all the planning and wedding related activities. A dance instructor may also be able to provide you with constructive criticism and feedback that you would not otherwise get. Think of them as the trial audience, helping you get better so when you get out on the floor, with all your friends and family watching, you'll look good.

You may find that many of the couples in your dance class are also engaged to be married. If you live in a larger area you may even be able to find classes geared specifically for wedding dances. But any ballroom couples class will help you. And you'll meet many other couples of different ages and backgrounds that will dance alongside you.

Usually classes are offered in six to eight week sessions and contain basic ballroom styles such as Waltz, FoxTrot and Swing. You can expect to learn new steps each week and spend plenty of class time practicing and improving. Classes can be found in the phonebook under dance studios, are sometimes advertised in the newspaper, and can be found online. Your wedding consultant or other wedding related business provider may also know the names of instructors that could help you.

Once you've learned some basic steps and how to dance as a couple it's time to prepare for that first dance. Take some time to play your song at home and try dancing to it. Once you get a feel for the rhythm, timing and flow of the song try to add some of the moves you've learned. Specifically, think about how you will begin the dance. Will you both walk onto the floor as the music starts, will the husband walk out and hold out his hand for his new bride to join him, will you begin at the corner of the dance floor, etc. If your dancing is not strong a good idea is to make an elaborate beginning that takes up some time and adds a little drama. Once the dance begins, you'll want to use some of those basic steps you learned. Keep time with the music and make sure to look at each other and smile a lot. Find a point in the song where the music swells or a special verse is sung and add a little flourish. This can be as simple as an underarm twirl or as fancy as a small lift. Then go back to the basic steps until the end of the song. At the end of the dance finish off with a special move. This could be a dip, a twirl or a slow draw in and a kiss.

With a little advance planning and some basic dance instruction your first dance as a couple can be a beautiful experience that you will enjoy and that everyone will remember for a long time.