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Shall We Dance?

Category: Wedding Vines  |  Permalink

Published: Wednesday, July 01, 2009

The first dance, you're either really looking forward to it, or you're truly terrified. You might even be considering rocking back and forth in a circle to avoid attention. Don't do it! Either way, even if you're an amazing dancer and you can't wait to take center stage, you're still going to get a little nervous as you and your hubby take to the dance floor, it's only natural.

If you are well prepared for your first dance, you and your fiancé will have nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain!

So how do you prepare? Well, I love to refer my couples to a company that specializes in "First Dance Lessons." That's right, this company places special emphasis on working with you to choreograph your first wedding dance. That means you don't have to burn up a few paychecks by signing up for a ton of dance lessons with complete strangers. After all, who wants to dance with complete strangers? Your end goal should be to look good and feel comfortable as you and your husband take your first dance. Makes sense, right? That's why I trust Orange County Wedding Dance to get the job done.

I first came across Orange County Wedding Dance while planning my own wedding. My husband and I had so much fun with our lessons that I knew it would be a sure hit with my clients. This dynamic duo consists of Sara and Joseph Swallow, a husband and wife team that have competed around the world for over 20 years and have placed in the finals on both the national and world level. I like to think of them as the OC's version of Dancing With the Stars. Watch out Cheryl Burke!

So, how exactly does this work? Well, the most important thing is to be well prepared for your first appointment. You should bring in a CD containing the song you have selected for your first dance. Since every move will be choreographed, it's best to bring the exact version that your DJ will be playing at your reception. Your instructor will begin by listening to your music, learning about the style of your dress and will even gain a better understanding of your venue's floor plan in relation to the dance floor. This is great because it allows them to make suggestions on how to make your grand entrance, seamlessly hand off your bridal bouquet and go straight into your first dance, all while looking like you are a pro yet still very carefree in the execution.

I have no idea how they are able to do it but they manage to choreograph your entire dance, teach you the steps and guide you with constructive criticism so you learn how to get better as you go along; they do all of this in just two dance lessons. Now, not everyone is able to pick it up that fast and that's okay; you can always add on an additional lesson if you need a little extra help. However, most people are able to do it in two lessons if they spend the time to practice in between their first and second lesson. Yes, I guess you could call it homework but it's definitely fun homework! Your hard work will also pay off in producing some lovely photos so you can always remember your first dance as husband and wife. Check out the photos taken from my own wedding. In the first photo, we had just made our grand entrance into the Vineyard Pavilion and turned ever so gracefully to face our guests before starting our dance. Instead of feeling terrified, we felt pretty comfortable and had a good time. A special thank you to Holly and Donny of Heavenly Portraits for my photos...you two are amazing!

While working at Ponte Winery, I had the pleasure of working with Jessica and Robert Tran; two incredible people who were married on November 21, 2008. During one of their visits at the winery, I was excited to learn they had also taken first dance lessons through Orange County Wedding Dance and had the same great experience. Now, Jessica and Robert were a lot more courageous! Upon conclusion of their gorgeous vineyard ceremony, their guests mingled outside on the patio of the Reserve Room and enjoyed glasses of their favorite wines (Juliet and Isabel) while looking out to the vineyard. Approximately 40 minutes into the cocktail hour, an announcement was made by the DJ for their guest to gather in a large circle around the terrace. Jessica and Robert emerged for their grand entrance and went straight into their first dance...Swing Dance that is!! Now that is courageous! Check out these stunning photos taken by the extremely talented, Darin Fong. Jessica and Robert were indeed tearing it up on the patio as their guests looked on in amazement at their first dance. A special thank you to photographer Darin Fong for providing these awesome photos! Please make sure you check back in on a future blog to learn more about Darin Fong Photography.

So, I'm sure you have more questions. To help you out, I've provided a quick Q&A, along with some great advice, courtesy of myself and Jessica. Thanks Jessica! We hope you enjoy!

• What if we are interested in dance lessons but we still can't decide what song to use for our first dance?
  No worries. Just visit Orange County Wedding Dance, as they have a complete listing of songs for you to browse. They have such a wide selection that you are sure to find something you both like.

• I have a busy schedule. Do they have flexible hours?
  Yes. They are open 7 days a week. They even have late lessons, with the last session starting at 9pm.

• Where are they located?
  In the heart of OC, conveniently located off the 405 freeway and 73 toll road near John Wayne Airport.

• How much does it cost?
  They are currently running a special promotion of $150 for first dance lessons...and that includes the two lessons. What a steal!

• How many lessons do I need to take?
  Surprisingly enough, most couples are able to learn everything within the two lessons. However, additional lessons can be purchased if you would like a little extra help.

• I'm not sure I'm ever going to be able to remember all those steps. What can I do?
  Not a problem! Sara and Joseph will never leave you hanging. If you are having trouble remembering what step goes where, they are kind enough to jot down a few notes to help jog the memory as you practice at home.

• Do they offer Father/Daughter Dance lessons?
  Absolutely, and it's pretty popular too. Who knows, if your fiancé is not keen on the idea of dance lessons but he knows your dad is going to take them with you, it might serve as inspiration. Please inquire at (949) 306-8138 for pricing.

• So what else will I gain?
  Not to sound too sappy here, but it truly is a bonding experience. It's also a great release from the stress of wedding planning. You end up having a lot of fun laughing, not at each other but with each other. Many couples have so much fun they end up coming back after the wedding to learn different styles of dance.

• What other advice can you provide?
  Jessica and I have compared notes on our first dance experience and have come up with the following tips to help you as you prepare for your first dance.

Your First Dance

1. Start early - don't wait until the last month or even the last week to start your lessons. The earlier you start, the better!

2. After your first dance, go home and practice. Then practice every night until your next lesson so you are ready to take on more moves and put it all together.

3. Make sure your dress is bustled high enough so you will not trip on your dress as you move backwards. Yes, it happened to both of us.

4. We highly recommend a trial-run (indoors, of course) while wearing your stunning dress. You may find that your dress is just too heavy for tricky lifts. It's better to find this out in the trial-run so you can select alternate moves.

5. If it's not already booked, ask the Special Events Department at Ponte if you can practice the day/night before. It never hurts to ask.

6. Practice your dance with the shoes you will be wearing on your wedding day. Those strappy shoes may look beautiful but in the middle of your dance, they may fly off your feet. Yikes!

7. If your fiancé is not keen on the idea of dance lessons, select a song that he really likes and go with it...it does not have to be your traditional first dance song...be original and try something different.

8. Practice, practice, practice!!!

So what about you? Are you a former Ponte bride that has taken dance lessons through Orange County Wedding Dance? Maybe you have some helpful tips of your own that you would like to share with Ponte brides. Or, perhaps you are still in the midst of planning your wedding and will be taking dance lessons. Either way, I would love to hear from you! If you would like to be considered for an upcoming blog post in Wedding Vines, please feel free to drop me an email at kerry@de-luxe-events.com

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