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Picture this, you open your mailbox and you see something inside that you’re actually excited to open. No, it's not a bill, it's a wedding invitation! You open the envelope excited to see the beautiful invitation. A dear friend or family member wants you to be a part of their most special day.

You are immediately excited and think to yourself, “I know exactly what I will wear” and start imagining yourself in that beautiful new dress or suit. In a moment, however, that excitement turns into complete anxiety. Your mind begins to race: I can't dance! I will make a fool of myself! I can't follow or lead a dance partner on the dance floor! What music will they play? Will they laugh at me?  I know, I'll just stay at my table or hang out at the bar all night.

The first wedding dance is a beautiful statement that has roots going as far back as the institution of marriage itself. If nothing else, the sheer longevity of the wedding dance tradition speaks to its credit. In short: wedding dances are fun, powerful expositions of a couple’s dedication, partnership and teamwork! One of the questions I’ve heard students ask during our first wedding dance lessons is “Is there any history behind the first dance?”

I love the people want to know what sort of tradition they’re a part of, so I figured I’d answer that question today! 

You’re engaged and planning a wedding! One of the most special moments you will have on your wedding day is the first dance as husband and wife. On a day when everyone will be wanting to hug, kiss, talk to, and photograph you, these three minutes are one of the only times you and your new spouse will be alone in each other’s arms. It should be enjoyable, perfect, and a lifelong memory. So how do you guarantee it will be?

Here are three easy steps for creating the perfect first dance for your wedding:

The wedding dance is an essential part of the ceremony of a wedding. A wedding with gorgeous decor, location, food, and entertainment may fall flat without a powerful wedding dance. As the hosts of your wedding, it’s your responsibility to not only be social and gracious, but also to be entertaining and engaging, especially on the dance floor. Nothing looks sadder than an empty dance floor at the wedding.

Your wedding dance can be one of three things: a lull in the wedding where everyone checks their cell phones, a complete disaster when you realize those moves you learned on YouTube were a lot harder than you thought, or a success.

It’s time to start thinking about your wedding dance right now. I know, I know, your wedding isn’t for half a year and there’s so much to do! That’s exactly why you need to start tackling this serious part of the your wedding right now. If you ask any wedding couple who is one month away from their big day what their biggest concern is, I can bet it’ll be “the dance”. If you can get ahead of the curve on this, you’ll not only have a reception to remember, you’ll be able to go to it with peace of mind.

Because, really, do you need another thing to worry about on the day of?

There are a lot of misconceptions about wedding dances we hear at Arthur Murray. People come in with all sorts of expectations and requests. We love to deliver, but it’s also important to consider some of the following 7 quick tips about your wedding dance while you’re planning for that big day!

Ah, the wedding dance! The symbol of love, companionship and trust. Along with the first kiss and exchanging of rings, it is an immortalized part of the beauty and ritual surrounding the union between two lovers. In a world where DIY fashion and eclectic design are remaking what it means to marry, the wedding dance is one staple of the ceremony you can count on to endure through time.

But why?

Do remember those instant butterflies that came from looking into one another’s eyes for the first time? Or how about the first time he brushed your arm and it sent chills all over your body? For many couples this is a distant memory but it doesn't have to be. Just dancing with one another forces you to use multiple senses that will reignite the romance in your relationship.