How to Dance at a Wedding

The average person doesn't encounter many opportunities to dance during the course of a day. But as a wedding approaches, you may have the need to brush up on your dance steps. To avoid a potentially embarrassing scene, there are a few things you can do to prepare to dance at a wedding ceremony.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dance lessons
• Change of shoes

1. Wait for the right song before stepping onto the dance floor. If you're an inexperienced dancer, you should favor songs with slower tempos. It's easier to fake your way through a slow song than a fast-paced one.

2. Allow other more skillful dancers to take the dance floor first. You'll draw more attention to your skills (or lack thereof) by being one of the first guests on the dance floor. Once the party has started, you'll be able to find a discreet spot in which to test your dance moves.

3. Select a dance partner who can dance better than you can. That way, you'll be able to leave the fancier footwork to your partner. You may also be able to pick up some steps to improve your own dancing by copying your partner.

4. Swap dance partners throughout the reception. Dancing at weddings is different than dancing at nightclubs. Use your time on the dance floor as a way to socialize with many friends and family members.

5. Take the bride for a spin on the dance floor and offer your congratulations on her wedding. It's customary for close friends and family to take their turns dancing with the bride at the reception.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan ahead by enrolling in dance lessons before the wedding ceremony. A few hours with a professional dance instructor can improve your dancing skills immensely. Arthur Murray Studios offers a number of franchises across the country (see Resources below).
• You may feel silly dancing at a wedding, especially if you're an inexperienced dancer. But remember that nobody's judging you. You aren't on "Dancing With the Stars." It doesn't matter if you look silly, just as long as you're having a good time!
• Depending on how aggressively you plan to dance, you may want to bring a change of shoes for the reception. It can be dangerous to try and dance in high heels or slick shoes, especially if the champagne has been flowing liberally.
• If you're nervous about stepping onto the dance floor at a wedding, you might want to have a couple of drinks to help take the edge off. But be careful not to have too many drinks. There's a fine line between being confident and loose and making a complete fool of yourself in front of friends and family.

Resources

• Arthur Murray Studios for dance lessons.