Monday Tips for Brides: Part 2

Brides, we’ve all been there– the first dance!!! The first dance is a special moment at your reception that you will likely remember forever, but hopefully you’ll remember it for good reasons and not bad! If you’re shy, uncoordinated, or any combination of the two, the thought of your first dance might make your heart beat a little faster and your palms begin to sweat. It can be intimidating to dance in front of a few hundred of your closest friends! As someone who photographs a lot of first dances, plus I’ve been a bride myself, I have one piece of advice for you:

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Practice your first dance!

Unless you and your hubby-to-be are seasoned dancers, your default without practicing will probably be to snuggle up in slow-dance position and slowly turn in place. Don’t get me wrong– there’s nothing wrong with that (a lot of my first dance was like that!), but incorporating a few turns and twirls will help keep your guest’s attention for the full four-and-a-half-minutes, and also give you more variety in the images your photographer can capture! Talk to your fiancé about the moves you’re comfortable with– maybe he will dip you at the end, or spin you around a few times. It’s not hard, but if you haven’t thought about it ahead of time, it’s easy to freeze in the moment and end up just rotating in place.

The bottom line is this: the more fun you’re having, the more enjoyable it will be for your guests to watch, and of course YOU will be having fun too! Move around the floor, twirl, and if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could even schedule a few ballroom dance classes before your big day. This is by no means necessary, but if you’re feeling nervous, this is a great way to turn those anxious sweats into excited butterflies!

Brides, I hope these tips are helpful for you! Check out part one of the Monday Tips for Brides series here, and head back here next Monday for part three!