Urban Portland Fiesta - Carmen & Spenser's Enchanting Salsa First Dance

January 17, 2025

Urban Portland Fiesta - Carmen & Spenser's Enchanting Salsa First Dance

bride smiles at groom on the dance floor in portland oregon

2024 was the biggest year yet for PNW Wedding Dance, yet out of allll the couples I worked with I only had one who chose to dance salsa! Spenser and Carmen. (Well technically I guess I usually choose the dance style to go with the song but I guess I only had one couple - this couple - who had a song that I felt would be a great fit with this dance step). And maybe it was fitting it was so. Because Spenser and Carmen absolutely perfected their routine and had jaws on the floor by the time they hit their last dip.

Bride smiles at groom while executing a side dip during first dance

Before I tell you more about their dance and day however I want to make a case for salsa and why I love this step so much! And why I hope more couples choose music that would fit well with this style:

-Salsa is upbeat, fun and sassy...so it livens up the mood at the reception

-Being a quicker step, it's actually easier to learn than a waltz step IMO. Don't get me wrong - it's harder at first cause it's faster! But it's easier to make it look good in a shorter amount of time.

-Salsa is something that you can dance for years to come with your partner. Like traveling to Mexico? You can go out dancing there. Or hit the dance floor somewhere locally in Portland like at Aztec Willies

It made sense that Carmen and Spenser danced salsa because their entire wedding day was an ode to Carmen's family, background and culture. Bright reds and oranges popped everywhere in the decor and flowers. There was a shrine for lost family members. A live mariachi band. And Mexican papel picados (paper banners) wafting overhead.

Mariachi players play music during wedding reception at The Evergreen

Carmen & Spenser danced to "Estoy Perdido" by Los Tres Ases. We started lessons only a few weeks before their wedding so we edited their song down to just under two minutes so they wouldn't feel overwhelmed. Per the couple's request we started the song out with them slow dancing middle school style to make it look like they would only be doing the "stand and sway". A lot of couples ask for this to surprise their guests and I love it. No one had the slightest suspicion that Spenser could dance salsa so the minute they stepped into choreography their guests ate it up. I even heard someone yell "atta boy" from the audience on their video.

Please enjoy a few snaps from their festive day and dance below.