The 411 of Proper Wedding Dance Etiquette
Although the ‘old’ days had a very basic structure to the wedding schedule of events, times have changed … and those rules don’t always apply anymore.
So, when it comes to who dances with whom at the reception, these days you can pick and choose.
It goes without saying that the bride and the groom dance first. This creates a beautiful photo opp for everyone who brought a camera. The next dance can include the wedding party and their respective partners, along with the new couple.
The parent dances come next. The bride dances with her father, and the groom dances with his mother. Then the bride dances with her new father-in-law, and the groom dances with his new mother-in-law. In the case of extended families, it’s thoughtful to switch it up so that each half of the couple dances with all the stepparents, too.
If the bride or groom has a deceased parent, another relative can step in. Someone should announce to everyone why this is happening. This is a great way to honor those who’ve passed while still celebrating the moment.
After these traditional dances, you’ll find more opportunities to plan dances with other special people in everyone’s life. But keep in mind: it can be boring for guests to sit at the tables and watch dance after dance. It’s sometimes more fun if you invite everyone on the dance floor after the crucial dances finish up.
A lot of deejays enjoy drumming up interest in participatory dances. These often start by inviting on each married couple, then slowly working backwards until only the longest-married couple is left on the dance floor.
Also popular are dollar dances, where the bride and groom dance with others “in exchange for” gifts of money.
Although the slow and sentimental dances are wonderful, the younger set (usually the wedding party) usually groove to more upbeat tunes. It’s increasingly popular for the bride and the groom to honor each member of the wedding party by playing a special song just for them — something nostalgic, a “theme song,” or just something fun for everyone to dance to.
Dancing at a wedding is a time that you shouldn’t be worrying about what you look like; it’s just the time to let loose after all the formality and have a lot of fun.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Do I have to wear my wedding veil during the waltz?
I won’t feel comfortable with it but my in-laws are being a bit pushy with it.
October 20th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
When the brides parents dont approve of the marriage, who should walk the bride down the aisle?
July 14th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
does the grandmother of the groom stand in the recieving line and if so where
June 26th, 2007 at 3:47 am
do the grandmother of the groom standintherecieving line and if so where?
May 22nd, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I am the bride and my parents come from a religion that does not allow dancing. For the wedding I will not be able to dance with my father but the groom insists on dancing with his mother..will this not cause attention to me on that day?
November 1st, 2006 at 2:13 pm
You left out the fact that the bride NEVER dances in her veil (nor does she eat, drink or smoke while wearing a veil) After the ceremony and pictures, the veil is removed for the reception, which is the main reason for avoiding this tacky new practice of intermingling the veil with the coiffure. The veil is a ceremonial symbol, not part of the hair-do.