For many couples, the first dance is the part of the wedding they dread most. Everyone is watching, the phones are up, and you are expected to move in time to music.
Here is the good news: guests are not judging your footwork. They want to see two people enjoying each other.
Choose the song
Pick a song that means something to both of you: the one playing when you met, a favourite from a road trip or a song that sums up your relationship. Listen to the lyrics carefully. Some romantic-sounding songs are about breakups.
Length
Many songs run four or five minutes, which is a long time to dance while people watch. Ask your DJ to fade the song after two or three minutes, or to invite guests to join halfway through.
Sway or show?
Some couples slow dance and sway. Others hire a choreographer and prepare a routine, sometimes starting slow and switching to an upbeat Afrobeats or highlife track. Both work. Choose what fits your personalities.
Take a lesson
Even one or two lessons with a dance teacher can make you feel more confident. They can teach simple turns and how to hold each other comfortably.
Practise in costume
Practise in shoes similar to your wedding shoes. If the bride’s gown has a train, learn how to bustle it or hold it before dancing.
Know the floor
Visit the venue to see the size and surface of the dance floor. Tiles can be slippery; grass is uneven.
Bring in family
Many couples invite parents to join after the first minute, followed by the bridal party. It takes the pressure off and makes the moment about family.
Traditional twist
In Ghana and Nigeria, first dances often move quickly into lively dancing with guests spraying money. Plan for the transition with your DJ.
Relax
If you miss a step, laugh. If you forget the routine, hold each other and sway. Nobody will remember a missed step. They will remember that you looked happy.
The moment
After months of planning and a long day of greetings, the first dance may be the first time the couple is alone together, in the middle of a crowd. Many couples say it is the part of the day they remember most clearly.
