the last dance
first dance song recommendations and other wedding dance advice
Some couples cringe at the thought of slow dancing to a sentimental love song for their first dance. If that’s you, take heart! I have worked with lots of couples who have chosen less traditional songs to dance to at their wedding. Whether it’s a song that you both love dancing and singing to in the car, or a song that gives off unmistakable party vibes, these non-traditional songs are fun and easy to dance to and a great way to kick off the reception.
When you hear the lyrics, “you’re just too good to be true...can’t take my eyes off of you...,” who else immediately thinks of the scene from “Ten Things I Hate About You” where Heath Ledger serenades Julia Stiles over the PA system during soccer practice? 🙋♀️
It would be impossible to come up with ten things to hate about this first dance song! Keep reading for my recommendation as well as photographic inspiration for those of you considering this song for your first dance.
Have you been dreaming of a first dance where you and your partner float gracefully around the dance floor Disney princess style? Or maybe you want to get the party started with an energetic and less traditional song choice (I’m looking at you, St. Paul and the Broken Bones!) Either way, a choreographed dance is a great way to kick off the reception and create memories to last a lifetime.
Choreography doesn’t have to be elaborate or scary, I promise! Follow the link to check out my top five reasons to learn a choreographed first dance.
Some wedding dance lifts are super simple to pull off and are a great way to end your first dance or highlight a particularly beautiful moment in your first dance song. They also look amazing in wedding photography! Keep reading to learn how to incorporate an easy, yet beautiful wedding lift into your first dance.
Take a listen to Mean to Me by Brett Eldredge and check out my pros, cons and recommendation after the jump. And if you are hoping to dance to this song for your wedding and don’t live nearby, check out my online course for beginners. The steps you learn through the course go perfectly with this song!
Whether you live in Charlotte, NC or on the other side of the world, First Dance Charlotte is launching its first online wedding dance course in the summer of 2019 designed specifically for couples who have very limited time and no experience dancing together. Learn how to create a simple, relaxed and romantic first dance even if you are an absolute beginner. This course uses the same methodology and clear instructions that Alex uses in her private, in-person lessons that have resulted in hundreds of satisfied students and five-star reviews.
Anyone who has taken lessons from me knows that I am always wearing sneakers when I teach. What has me excited today is my discovery of an adorable new Keds collaboration with design darlings, Rifle Paper Co. I have long been a fan of Rifle Paper Co. for their beautiful prints and Keds for their comfy, flexible and easy-to-dance-in sneaks.
Once we really got started with our first dance, I realized a lot of things about our relationship - what areas we need to work on, where we are completely in sync, when to let things go, and when to change course when things aren't working the way we wanted them to. Dancing together gives you insight into your relationship and can reveal a lot of things about you as a couple and as an individual. Here are three things, among many, that I learned while dancing with my husband.
My article, Mastering the first dance, on how to match your first dance to your wedding style, was recently published on Charlotte Wedding magazine's Bride+Groom blog! Check it out by following the link below.
Now that spring wedding season is gearing up, many new students will be visiting my home studio for their first wedding dance lesson. Many students ask what they should wear and if they need to bring anything specific to their wedding dance lessons. Besides payment (I accept payment on the day of the first lesson), there is little else you need to bring besides an open mind and a positive attitude.
Very excited to be featured in Emily and Michael's Classic + Elegant North Carolina Country Club Wedding on Style Me Pretty. Captured by the extremely talented Allison Kuhn, Emily and Michael looked breathtaking in their portraits and on the dance floor. Here are a few images of their first dance to Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman."
Remember the very first time you ever slow danced with someone you had a crush on? My first experience slow dancing was at a "Trophy Dance" - an end-of-the-summer celebration and award ceremony put on by the pool and tennis club my family went to while I was growing up. I remember running away and hiding in the girls' bathroom after I danced with the boy I liked to "I Swear" by All for One. Although we were both only seven years old, it still felt like a monumental moment in my life.
Does the giant 200+ "greatest first dance songs" playlist that you stumbled across on the internet leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused? While many first dance song lists mean well, they often forget to consider the most important aspect of the first dance song - whether or not you can actually dance to it!
The following list encompasses 29 songs that real 2015 couples and students of First Dance Charlotte danced to on their wedding day. The list runs the gamut from Motown to R&B, Top 40 Hits to Country, well-known to unknown, and everything in between.
My article, Wedding dance lessons: boom or bust?, on the top 10 reasons why Charlotte brides and grooms should take wedding first dance lessons, was recently published on Charlotte Wedding magazine's Bride+Groom blog! Obviously, I think they are a boom, but check it out for yourself by clicking on the link above or the image below. Cheers!
Preparing for your first dance can be one of the most fun parts of the wedding planning process. During lessons, you get to spend uninterrupted time focusing on your partner, and during practice, you get to work through the challenges of learning something new together. It's not always easy to fit it in to your busy schedule, but practicing, when done intentionally and with a positive attitude, can result in major progress.
Here are a few tips for practicing at home in between wedding dance lessons.
