The Sound of Music with The FlashDance
The reception is the perfect place for guests to let loose, but curating the ultimate dance party (with seamless transitions)? Well, it's no easy feat. Which is why we turn our tables to the professionals dance party starters. Cue The FlashDance, who has given us an inside scoop on what it takes to create a memorable musical fete below!
Ceremony
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t walk down the aisle to whatever suits your fancy! You will never regret the parts of the wedding that you, as a couple, incorporate from your actual life (not someone else’s). You most certainly will regret walking down the aisle to some stuffy chamber music because a relative insisted, or trying to be extra hip and doing something trendy. Be authentic and true to yourself with every song you choose. Try not to choose too many songs, less is more. Make your recessional (after you kiss) song upbeat and fun! Sevie Wonder or Michael Jackson are good, but maybe Johnny Cash or The Smiths is more your style.
First Dance
Limit to one song that's less than 3 minutes (if possible). Have the father & daughter start the dance, mother & son join halfway through. I like to ask guests to join as well for the last portion. Immediately following the first slow dance, everyone of your friends (bridal party if you have one) should look like track runners on their starting blocks waiting for the gun to fire. The “gun” should be a seriously amazing song, a surefire party starter! All of your ‘go to’ dancers should know that as soon as the father daughter song is over it's time to rush the dance floor and nothing gets a party hype like all your guests dancing like lunatics to a super fun song! Why do our first dance before dinner you ask? Good question!
ONE | You know when everyone hugs the wall nervously waiting for the first person to shake it? Yeah, it's not a good look. If you have your first dance before dinner you will clear the awkward energy on the dance floor and get everyone really excited for the dance party that will follow after entrees
TWO | If you get nervous about slow dancing in front of everyone, it's nice to get this out of the way and enjoy your dinner, rather than let it weigh heavy on you while you pound martinis and push your food around on your plate!
THREE | Everyone is still looking cute, hair is in place, outfits are not a sweaty disheveled mess, and as a result you will actually get some great photos of your first dance!
Cut the cake
Please do it before the dancing starts (pretty please)? If you absolutely can't do that, please DO NOT stop the music for an audience. Instead, grab your sweetheart, your photographer, and maybe your folks and go do it in a corner! Nobody else really cares and announcing it and/or changing music will put a halt to all dancing which will take even the most experienced maestro 20 – 30 minutes to recover from.
Dinner
Get all speeches out of the way before dinner is over! Nobody wants to be waiting around to party while Uncle Jim talks about the time you crashed your dad’s car when you were 16... Another quick note, it's way more natural to have the guests who are speaking just come up and announce themselves (if necessary) no need to have your DJ stumble over people's names that everyone already knows.