Tips on your wedding first dance

If you're like me, the song that comes on during the wedding's first dance is one of those rare moments in life when you feel completely and totally at peace with yourself and everything around you. It's a moment where all your worries melt away, and you just get lost in the moment—that's why it's so important to nail yours. The good news? You've got plenty of time to practice before your big day! Here are some tips for how to put together an unforgettable first dance:

Start early and work at it.

You know that feeling when you're about to give a speech, and the words just aren't coming? You start thinking about all the things you should have said or could have said instead of focusing on what's happening at the moment.

The same thing can happen during your first dance if you don't practice beforehand. You'll get so caught up in all your other wedding details that by the time it comes around to this part, there will be little time or energy left for working on it. Instead of dwelling on something that has yet to happen, why not focus on practicing now?

If you need more time to practice with your partner, consider hiring a choreographer who can help ensure everything goes smoothly on the big day!

Figure out the vibe.

• Figure out the vibe. If you want to dance in front of your friends and family, you'll need to choose a song that reflects your style and personality, but also isn't too over-the-top for everyone else at the reception. Think about the music usually played at weddings and events like this—it's probably not crazy or weird. Still, it's not something everyone there would have picked themselves, either. You may want to check out some sample first dances on YouTube to get an idea of what other people are doing before deciding one for yourself!

• Choose something meaningful (or cheesy). We've learned from watching other couples' first dances that it's crucial for them both as individuals AND as a couple: They often have different meanings behind their choice together than they do individually! For example, one person might love salsa dancing while another is more into EDM; can these two styles complement each other when put together properly in order? Or maybe somebody really wants an underground techno track while another prefers Beyoncé...this way, neither feels left out because their favorite artist wasn't chosen!

• Make sure everyone will enjoy listening/dancing along.

You don't have to stick to formal styles of dance.

You don't have to stick to formal styles of dance. If you want, you can do a dance that is not formal. You can do a dance that is not traditional. You can even do a dance that isn't really real—maybe it's just an imaginary thing, and there's no way your feet will ever touch the ground while you're doing it!

Maybe your partner doesn't want to dance with anyone else but their dog? That's okay! They'll ask someone else to teach them how to waltz before their wedding day so they can surprise everyone with how good they are at dancing. That's also fine! No matter what kind of dancer you are or aren't (or if you don't like dancing), being comfortable enough in your own skin and trusting yourself is the most essential part of creating an experience worth remembering.

Know your wedding venue's time constraints for the dance.

You should know your wedding venue's time constraints for the dance. The maximum time limit for the dance is usually determined by the venue, and many venues also have a minimum time limit. Some will even set other restrictions on how long you can dance and what you can do during your first dance.

If you want to make sure that you're following all of their rules, it's best to read over any contracts or agreements before signing them—or better yet, ask if they'll let you sit down with someone at their company who can go through all of this information with you in person!

Be creative

You've likely seen a wedding's first dance that started with the bride and groom facing each other, arms outstretched. That's the most common way to start your first dance, but it can be done in various ways. For example, you could have each other face away from each other and slowly turn around until you're facing one another again. Or you could even do what one bride did: have your father hold on to your hand as he escorts you down the aisle so that when he releases it at the end of the walk together with his daughter on his arm, he releases her into her new husband's arms for their first dance as husband and wife.

Another creative idea is to use props! One couple used pictures from their relationship throughout their lives as props during their first dance; another used posters saying "Will You Marry Me?" or "I Do" as signs held up during theirs; still others took turns carrying an umbrella while they danced (this works exceptionally well if one person has longer legs than the other). The possibilities are endless!

Rehearse

It's time to practice. You've been waiting for this moment, so you know that the first time you dance together will be something special. But not all rehearsals go smoothly—and if they don't, you can do a few things to ensure your first wedding dance goes off without a hitch and makes an unforgettable impression on your guests.

First things first: make sure that everyone in attendance knows when and where the rehearsal will take place. You want everyone to attend (your parents, bridesmaids/groomsmen, etc.), so mention this in your invitations and include some kind of reminder about it at the reception itself (like an announcement from the DJ or bandleader). Once everyone has arrived at the venue of their choice (home or somewhere else), use some music from a playlist as background noise while rehearsing. This will help create an environment similar to what guests will experience on the wedding day when they enjoy themselves with friends and family!

Be comfortable and enjoy

First, let's set the record straight: your wedding first dance is not about impressing anyone. You are not dancing for other people; you're dancing for yourselves. So remember what everyone else thinks and have fun with it! As long as you feel comfortable and confident in your dance moves, that's all that matters.

There are no rules when it comes to having the perfect first dance at your wedding—just remember that you need to make it yours! So if you want to bust out some choreographed moves or enjoy a slow song together, go ahead (and don't worry about what people think). Just be sure to stay true to who you both are as individuals and as a couple.

Of course, there will always be those who will try their best to give advice on how they think things should go—but here's my advice: ignore them! Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the most memorable moments of your life; don't let anyone take away from that by giving unsolicited opinions on how things should be done.

With all the excitement surrounding your wedding and first dance, it's easy to forget some finer details. These tips may seem obvious or straightforward at first glance, but they'll help ensure everything goes smoothly on your big day.