First Dance Attire: What to Wear
So you've decided to learn a special dance to show off for your wedding day. You've chosen a song and now you need to start practicing some moves. But have you decided what you'll wear during your dance/reception? Some couples I work with know right off the bat what they want to wear during their dance and for others it is more of an after thought. Your song choice and dance style can dictate what you wear, or vice versa. Here are a few important tips when picking out your ensemble for your spotlight moment:
-SHOES:
-Choose something you'll be comfortable in. Your first dance typically happens hours after your ceremony, so keep that in mind if four inch heels are your style.
-As many brides and grooms choose, you can CHANGE! Wear those high heels or dress shoes for your ceremony and photos and then get comfy for the rest of the night in sneaks so you can really let loose on the dance floor.
-Think about the style of dance you're doing. Are you doing a hip hop number or a salsa number? Or BOTH?! Your shoes can add to your dance style or detract from it.
-Think about your dance floor. Dancing on concrete? Wood? Linoleum? Grass? All these surfaces have different grips, and the one thing you want to make sure of is that you're not slipping and falling during your dance (or, if you have grippy shoes and rough surface make sure you can actually turn and slide).
Photographer: Ben Pigao
Venue: Chehalem Cultural Center
-THE DRESS:
-How can your dress ADD to your performance? A big puffy ballgown is great for a waltz that moves around the room in a big way and has lots of turns. A shorter number with fringe is fun for salsa. You want to make sure that your dress fits the style of dance you want to perform and that it won't inhibit you from performing tricks or certain dips if you have something specific in mind.
-Is there a bustle? If so, I'm begging you...PLEASE have someone go with you to the dress shop to learn how to bustle it properly before your big day. I've seen bustles break mid routine and it's a bummer. And bustles can be surprisingly tricky to figure out. Don't leave it up to someone random to help you with it on the day of - plan ahead and make sure that whoever is in charge of this task has it down without a doubt.
-How tight your dress is, how heavy it is, and what material it is made out of can all affect different aspects of your dance. It's important to share a picture of your dress with your choreographer so you can talk through any concerns they might have.
-Just like your shoes, you can change! A lot of brides opt for a second (or third) outfit these days for their reception. Sometimes they choose something to compliment their dance but more often they choose something that they'll be more comfortable in (or another dress they're obsessed with because why choose just one?). However, some brides are oh so very much so in love with their wedding gown that they want to wear it for as long as possible and show it off during their dance too. And that's great! Your day, your way. No choice is wrong.
-HAIR:
-Are you planning on wearing your hair down or up? Sometimes having your hair down can add some more flare to your dance with hair flips and such. Sometimes having your hair up is the best way to keep cool and keep it out of the way.
-As you're considering how your hairstyle might affect your dancing, also consider how it may impact your partner. Will it be in their face during a particular lift? Get caught on something if you're both wearing different attire than what you wore for your ceremony?
-Just like your dress and your shoes, you can also change your hairstyle for your reception. Heck - the newest trend is brides getting their hair cut off right after their ceremony! That feels a little too brave for my taste, but the reason I mention it is that once again, it's your wedding! So you do you and what feels best to you.
No matter what you choose to wear for your first dance, make sure you practice your dance in either your real deal attire or something similar. I always encourage my brides and grooms to wear their reception dance shoes to our lessons. And because most brides like to keep their dress a surprise til the day of, I instead encourage them to wear a skirt or dress that is similar in length, material and flow to their lessons. You can find a lot of options available for purchase on Amazon (such as these) or snag something from Goodwill or even use from your closet (old prom dresses that only half fit are my favorite!) No matter what, know that dance lessons and choreography are a process. Thinking a bit about what you want to wear for your dance before you start lessons helps guide your instructor to make your lessons more efficient and successful.
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