Cheesy Wedding Songs: Must Or Bust?

Though many couples want to avoid cheesy group songs at all costs, banning the DJ from ever playing them, I personally am glad we chose to include them at our wedding reception. Why? Because everyone loved them and had fun!

As cliché and overdone as songs like YMCA and Thriller might be, they never fail to get everyone on the dance floor, laughing, acting crazy and having a great time. Looking back, one of my favorite things about our wedding reception was that we also decided to vary our music selections, playing a mix of our current favorites, old-time classics and well-known favorites in different genres. As a result, we had three generations of guests packing the floor throughout the night!

One of my bridesmaids even told me afterward that our wedding had made her grandmother “young again,” and that she hadn’t seen her move like that in years! Worth an Electric Slide or two? Definitely!

What do you think? Will you include fan favorites and a variety of music at your wedding?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography)

The Anniversary Dance: 58 Years Of Devotion

I said a few weeks ago that our first dance was my favorite part of the entire reception, but I may just have to take that back. That's because the more I think about it, there's another dance that stands out even more. Of course, I'm talking about the anniversary dance.

While this dance is quickly becoming a standard at many weddings, I wanted to ours to offer up a twist or two. So, first, as guests danced to Kenny Rogers' "Through the Years," they were treated to a surprise slideshow featuring many of their own wedding photos, which we and our families had provided, and which my bridesmaids had kindly worked into a presentation. This display was such a hit that the DJ even had to replay the song a second time, since the first round consisted of everyone simply standing on the dance floor watching!

Finally, when two of Stephen's family friends were at last declared the winners for having been married nearly 35 years, we presented them with a wine-themed salt and pepper holder we'd chosen as a fun prize.

They loved it, and everyone cheered, but the surprises didn't end there. You see, there was another very deserving couple in the room, though they were unable to take to the floor and dance. This time, I'm talking about my grandparents, both cancer survivors who have fought and beat the odds more than once, and who recently celebrated 58 years of marriage.

To the resounding applause of the crowd, I presented them with another wine-themed gift, as the DJ shined the spotlight and they enjoyed a little well-deserved attention. Though I know they certainly won't be with us forever, being able to share my wedding day with them was in every way a dream come true.

Are you doing anything special to honor loved ones at your wedding?

(Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography)

My Proudest Wedding Day Moment

Not normally accustomed to being the girl in the spotlight, when Stephen and I first decided to take dance lessons to prepare for our wedding day, I doubted how far we’d get, especially since I’ve spent my entire life believing I have two left feet. But with the help of our fabulous instructor Kathy, plus many patient hours spent communicating and practicing together, we managed to learn our routine confidently and even have fun while we were at it.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous right beforehand on our wedding day. What if, after all that hard work, we majorly messed it up? Would my heavy dress throw me off? Would we be too nervous and forget the steps? After all, we only got one shot at our first dance!

How did things turn out? Have a look!



As you can clearly see from the sheer joy on my face both throughout and upon finishing the routine, performing our dance to the resounding cheers of our guests was by far one of the proudest and most exhilarating moments of my entire life, let alone the wedding day. Although we may have gone off-beat once or twice, we made it back before the end, and I was beyond thrilled to nail some of the more difficult turns.

I’m so glad I had the confidence to give this a try, and even more importantly, that Stephen and I worked so well together as a team in bringing the routine to life!

LESSON LEARNED: If you have the budget and the desire, learning a routine for your first dance is a great way to surprise your guests, while also fostering communication and teamwork between you and your fiance. Our three dance sessions may have cost $60 per hour, but the experience we got out of them was ultimately priceless.

What are your plans for a first dance?

(Video Credit: Max MacIver Videography; Photo Credits: Alex Neumann Photography)

Dancing King & Queen?

I used to be afraid to dance. As someone who always struck out during freestyle dances and the salsa lessons I took with my friends at clubs, I had simply resigned myself to a lifetime of having two left feet.

Then, Stephen and I signed up for a wedding dances class at our community center last summer. While definitely not ready to enter a competition anytime soon, we surprised ourselves by being one of the better couples on the floor. After just a few weeks of training, we had easily picked up the basics of foxtrot, waltz and rumba.

Buoyed by that experience, we were excited but a little nervous to begin our private first dance lessons earlier this month with the same instructor who taught our summer class – Kathy Carroll of Tom Woll & Associates. Would we remember anything? Would we still be as in sync on the floor?

Well, guess what? We were! After a few rounds of practice, we had brushed up on most of the moves from the class, including some of the fancier aspects. We still have one more lesson to go, but I think we’re hopefully on our way to a great dance routine that will be fun and memorable for both our guests and us.

Want your first dance to shine? Here, the best tips I’ve picked up so far for creating a fabulous routine that’s sure to wow.

• Never danced a step before in your life? Take some group classes to get started, and only go into private lessons once you have the basics down and just need to work on creating a routine. You’ll save time and money, since private lessons are costly.

• Don’t choose a long song. Our pick, “Fly Me To The Moon,” runs only a couple minutes in length. The short playtime eases the pressure on us, and won't push our guests’ patience levels to the limit.

• If you plan to wear a long gown at your wedding, be sure to bring a crinoline to wear during dance lessons. It has taken Stephen a while to get used to leading without being able to see my feet, and to become comfortable with putting his own feet underneath the skirt. Don’t wait until the wedding day to test this out for the first time.

• Encourage your DJ to start the music as part of your grand entrance, so that you can head straight to the floor and start dancing. Nothing is worse for a couple’s nerves, Kathy told us, than standing in position on a silent dance floor waiting to hear the first notes of the song.

• When your gown is bustled, be sure it doesn’t drag on the floor in the front or back, which might cause you to trip during your routine. Also be sure that the bustle is secured tightly enough that it won’t come undone during all of your twists and twirls throughout the dance.

• And finally, remember that it’s OK if everything does not go perfectly! Sure, Stephen and I miss a step here and there, and we still have lots of practicing and work to do before the big day. But we’re having fun together and working as a team, which is definitely the most important aspect to focus on.

Did you or will you take dance lessons to prepare for your wedding day? Are you more excited or nervous about your first dance?

(Photo Credits: Kathy Carroll)

The First Dance: And The Winning Song Is…

…“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra!

We just love the classic, big band sound of this song, as well as its romantic message. I’m so excited about our first private dance lesson this weekend!

What is or was your first dance song? Did you take lessons ahead of time?

The First Dance: Help Pick Our Song!

With our wedding getting closer by the day, Stephen and I are busy making sure we have all our ducks in a row when it comes to music. This month, we’re lining up dance lessons, prepping our outline for the DJ, and making sure the church is all squared away with sheet music.

The one little problem? We’re stuck about which song to choose for our first dance!

Knowing that we want an upbeat classic, we’ve narrowed our choices down to these three tunes. Take a listen, and let us know what you think!

“For Once in My Life” – Michael Buble

(The opening line is cut out in this clip, but the rest of the song is very clear.)

“Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra

“Ain't That a Kick in the Head” – Dean Martin

Dancing With Dad

During the wedding reception, we’ll be asking our guests to give us their attention during our first dance, a slideshow, the anniversary dance, the bouquet toss, the garter toss, the cake cutting, and the toasts.

One thing they won’t be watching attentively? The father-daughter or mother-son dances. While I know these traditions are important parts of the reception for many couples, they just don’t feel especially poignant or necessary to us.

Why? Well, first, we want our guests to spend the majority of the reception dancing and having fun, rather than simply watching us dance and have fun. For this reason, we’ll also be doing our first dance immediately after entering the ballroom, before the meal begins, so that if guests wish to dance immediately after they’ve finished eating, they’ll feel welcome to.

And besides, the image of my motorcycle-riding, pickup-truck-driving dad waltzing around a dance floor really doesn’t make much sense. When my father wishes to dance with me, and Stephen’s mother with him, I see no reason why all of our guests shouldn’t also be out on the floor enjoying the party, rather than sitting in their chairs watching the four of us sway to and fro.

Will you be doing a father-daughter and/or mother-son dance at your wedding? Which songs will you choose?

The Anniversary Dance: Celebrating a Lifetime of Marriage & Love

When I was little, I loved looking through my grandparents' wedding album as we gathered together to celebrate their anniversaries. Today, as Stephen and I prepare to set out on our own lifetime together, my grandparents continue to celebrate nearly 60 years of being married, happy and in love.

To honor them, and all of our married relatives and friends, our reception will feature an anniversary dance set to Kenny Rogers' "Through the Years," a favorite of our family members and a song with beautiful lyrics about a love that has stood the test of time.

Throughout the song, the DJ will eliminate couples until only the longest-married pair remains, and we'll then honor those two by giving them a special gift, although we've yet to decide exactly what it will be. And to make the dance more unique, plus let those who aren't participating still feel included, we'll simultaneously play a slideshow featuring the wedding photos of our married guests, including a few favorites from the album I used to love perusing as a kid.

While I know our wedding day will come and go in a flash, this dance allows us to truly honor marriage as the lifetime partnership and commitment that it is. And in my opinion, there's no better way to kick off our own life together than by recognizing those who've already been at it for years or decades.

Do you plan to include an anniversary dance or other special tradition as part of your reception? If you're doing a dance, which song will you play, and what are you giving away as the prize?