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#Post#: 32804--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: Gellchom Date: June 13, 2019, 12:35 pm
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[quote author=jpcher link=topic=1183.msg32742#msg32742
date=1560374073]
But it is long and I agree with other posters that you should
keep your first dance on the short side unless you bring in
other people to join you on the dance floor.
I think 2-3 minutes is perfectly fine for a first dance. 30
seconds? In my opinion, is way too short.
[/quote]
I didn't mean that the dance should be no longer than 30
seconds, just that the time the couple is dancing alone
shouldn't be too long. The thirty second test is just to help
us realize how long 30 seconds, a minute, two minutes, whatever,
really feels like.
As others have said, it's often awkward when the first dance is
just the HC the whole time, even if they are really good dancers
who have practiced. Same for father-daughter. In my experience
of a zillion weddings, it works way better when, after a short
time, others join. For example, if the HC starts, then perhaps
the parents and siblings join, or the bridal party. If it's a
father-bride dance, then pretty soon let mother-groom join, then
perhaps groom's father with bride's mother and/or siblings
and/or grandparents. Like that. The particular combinations
don't matter so much, just whatever works for your group.
And then invite everyone else to join, because that makes it
feel less like a performance everyone is expected to sit and
watch and more like leading off the dancing.
The timing of when to invite the next group is best left to the
band leader/DJ, who can read the room. Fabulous, confident
dancing, and the crowd is enjoying watching? Let it go on
awhile. Awkward and shy dancers? Rescue them sooner.
At my son's wedding, his college a capella group surprised the
bride by singing the first dance for them rather than having the
band play it. But it was still the song the couple had chosen.
(And it still felt too long, and this was my own kid's wedding!
:)) )
This is getting way off topic, but another special dance I've
seen at a few weddings, sometimes starting with the First Dance,
is to invite all the other married couples to the floor, start
the dance, and then at intervals tell those who have been
married less than five years (which of course includes the HC)
to sit, then 10 years, and so forth. The last couple left on
the floor gets flowers (often the wedding bouquet, which fewer
and fewer brides want to toss these days). I have wondered if
single/widowed/divorced people feel left out, but it seems like
at a wedding, it is okay to recognize and celebrate marriage,
especially now that same sex couples can marry, too.
Back to the original question: I repeat my original advice,
which is that sentiment is great, but much more important is
what will work best in terms of danceability. Make sure it is
one the band can do well, if you have live music.
#Post#: 32806--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: Hanna Date: June 13, 2019, 12:44 pm
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So we are going with John Legend: All of Me. We love it and the
band plays it so YaY!
Im definitely going to ask them to have others join us pretty
quickly!
#Post#: 32810--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: Gellchom Date: June 13, 2019, 1:02 pm
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Sounds perfect! I can't wait to hear all about your wedding.
Tell us wedding fans more of your plans!
[quote author=Hmmm link=topic=1183.msg32796#msg32796
date=1560434539]
But it seems like a decade or two ago bridal parties didn't want
to dance with each other. It was 'ooh, it's awkward to slow
dance with someone I barely know" which I always thought of as a
precious attitude. It is possible to do a foxtrot, two step, or
just shuffling your feet to the music without being overly
intimate. (off my soap box now)
[/quote]
I know it's common elsewhere, but in our community, in hundreds
of weddings, I have never seen the bridal party paired off to
dance with each other. Usually they aren't even called out for
a special dance at all. But when the bridal party is called to
the floor, they just bring whomever they want. Some choose
their own spouse or dates, but some especially smart ones go get
a grandparent or little sibling or niebling of the bride or
groom, which is really charming and much more fun to watch, too.
#Post#: 32836--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: jpcher Date: June 13, 2019, 4:16 pm
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[quote author=Hanna link=topic=1183.msg32806#msg32806
date=1560447852]
So we are going with John Legend: All of Me. We love it and the
band plays it so YaY!
Im definitely going to ask them to have others join us pretty
quickly!
[/quote]
Once again, a perfect choice. Love it.
#Post#: 32923--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: Contrarian Date: June 15, 2019, 2:25 am
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I’m sure this song would annoy a lot of people but I love Al
Bowlly. If I had to pick a song it would be
Love is The Sweetness Thing.
Recorded in 1932. My sister hates my choice in music.
#Post#: 38545--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: nuku Date: September 11, 2019, 6:24 pm
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Two pieces of advice for anyone choosing first dance music:
[list type=decimal]
[li]Listen to the words. A lot of music doesn't mean what you
think it means.[/li]
[li]Make sure it's danceable.[/li]
[/list]
I know a couple that chose Journey's "Faithfully" about 20 years
ago. Unless you're marrying someone who will be on the road a
lot, it's not really the right song. Also, it's a slow song, but
really, really hard to dance to. The couple just kind of swayed
awkwardly.
I know someone who chose the Beatles' "When I'm 64," and I know
of another couple who chose "Here, There and Everywhere."
#Post#: 38547--------------------------------------------------
Re: First Dance song suggestions?
By: Hanna Date: September 11, 2019, 6:45 pm
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Great advice Nuku!
We did dance to John Legend “All of me”. The band did a
wonderful job and it was my favorite moment from my wedding
reception because it was the only time that my husband and I got
to just focus on one another. I was worried would feel on
display but while we were dancing we didn’t even notice anyone
else there.
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