FIRST DANCE

Unwilling

Hello

I'd like some assistance please with the arranging and timing of the first dance!
We are going with the tacky, been done to death, unoriginal, cringe worthy idea of a funky dance. So before this thread veers off down that tangent, let me just be clear on that.

So - for those with some constructive ideas, here is my dilema.

We are starting with a slow dance, then breakin out into something jivvy.
So do we ..........................
(A) continue on the vein and then get EVERYONE up to dance and keep it going at that pace
(B) slow dance, jive, and the slow dance again so that we can get Mom and Dad up for their slow dance???

* Worth noting perhaps that my Mom is deceased and both Dads are less mobile.

I did also read that it was traditional for the bride to dance with her father FIRST and then have the groom interrupt... could this be a workable option?

I would be very grateful for your ideas on how we can make this work.

Thank you

ThePiedPiper

Unwilling, I wouldn't try and script everything that's going to happen around the first dance, it'll never work out like that and you'll end up glaring at people trying to get them up to dance with you.

In my opinion, after the slow song is done and it goes into the jive, the band or DJ will likely call for people to come out onto the floor unless they do it automatically. I wouldn't try and put it back to a slow dance after that because it's the first time people are up on the floor and letting the hair down properly so you'd only kill that by going back to slow sets. Keep it lively.

Later in the evening, the band or DJ will probably do a few waltzes or slower pace stuff that'll get the older generation up and dancing. The bit about the groom interrupting the bride and father of bride sounds a little bit forced and tacky. There are no rules. Just enjoy yourself.

Unwilling

Thanks - I just want to be sure to get a dance in with my Pops you know.
With Mam gone I've been quite teary about the whole affair and forced to really and truly appreciate those I have left... my dad. Who is in ill health..........

ThePiedPiper

In that case Unwilling, you could ask the band/DJ to play another song with same sort of tempo and invite just all the bridal party and parents up. For this one, you could make sure you get dancing with your dad and I'm sure your husband will be only to happy to dance with his mam for this one. This wouldn't be unusual at all either. After this, the band could go into the jive part and your dad would probably shy away from it.

If the jive is really an extension of the first dance for yourself and your OH, then I'd wait until the waltzes or slower songs later in the set to dance with your dad. It will all happen quite naturally anyway. Let the band know what you want and they'll fit it in around your schedule.

As an aside, we lost a family member less than 2 months before a wedding and the happiness of the wedding really acted like a great medicine to the gloom that was hanging over us. I'm sure that this will be the case for you and that you'll have a great day. Your dad will enjoy getting to see everyone in happier circumstances than before. Best of luck.

clint_silver

Hi, I'd agree with above. I play in a wedding band and would advise slow song First with your partner, second song as a jive or more up tempo song to have everyone up and then arrange with band or Dj to play a song for you and your
father during the night where you can be called specifically for it.

If you go slow fast slow at the start it's interrupting the flow. You want them
up from the first song of the band/Dj.

Have you a specific song in mind?