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Water's Edge offers the most spectacular views of the Manhattan skylines anywhere on the East River. |
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A Tradition of Luxury and Grandeur
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Waterfront views, decks, great living spaces, spa bathrooms, this home has it all! |
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Carrying the most innovative invitation lines available today |
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We use makeup that is subtle and long lasting. You will look naturally radiant! |
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Wedding Steps
By Baria Bailey
Whether you want to tango or share a romantic dance while the band or DJ plays your favorite song, dance lessons are a great way to help you prepare for your first dance together, as well as alleviate some of the stress couples often experience while planning their dream day.
Jeanette Turner, a recently engaged bride-to-be, has had a vision for her wedding ever since she was a little girl: She’d wear a white, strapless vintage gown with a cathedral-length veil, and dance the night away as she and her groom first share the spotlight as husband and wife.
“There’s something magical and fairytale-like about that first dance with your husband,” says the 25 year-old marketing assistant from New York. “It’s like winning the best actress award at the Oscars and having your husband on stage with you. It’s just perfect!”
In her perfect wedding fantasies, Turner didn’t imagine a fiancé with two left feet. “Tim’s the absolute best man in the world, but he’s not the best dancer,” she says of her fiancé with a laugh. “We need some assistance with the dancing part of our reception in order to pull it off and have it look good!”
Turner and her fiancé, who began taking private dance lessons for their wedding, are one of many engaged couples seeking the help of professionals to prepare them for that special moment at their wedding. With the popularity of shows like Dancing with the Stars and Bailando Por un Sueno (the Latino version of the former), more and more couples are taking lessons, so they can be dance-floor ready when they take center stage at their wedding celebration.
“The newlyweds’ first dance is what people often remember the most,” says Sandra Casado, owner and instructor of the Come Dance with Me dance studio in California. The Long Island native, who teaches everything from ballroom to salsa dancing, says her clients have guests who talk about the first dance years after the wedding. “It’s really something special for both the couple and the guests,” says Casado.
Such is the case for Arlene Vaughn who took tango lessons with her fiancé for their wedding last year. “We met at a club on a tango night, and wanted to share how we met with our guests. What better way than to tango half the night at our wedding?” says Vaughn. “Although we love to dance we’re not professionals, but we still wanted to put on a great show.” They took group dance instruction for six months, which enabled them to put on quite a performance. “We really looked great, and our guests are still talking about it to this day. It was truly the highlight of the best day of my life.”
Heather Snively, founder and director of Weddings Unique, a boutique wedding planning firm in Central Florida, recommends that her clients take dance lessons before their wedding - even if their ultimate goal isn’t to waltz or swing. “Not only are dance lessons a fun activity that can help build confidence before the big first dance, they can also help set a regular date night where a couple can enjoy quality time together amidst the busy wedding planning.
“It’s important to laugh and keep your stress level down during your dance lessons,” says Casado. “When I see the way a couple looks into each other’s eyes as they prepare for their first dance, I can tell they’re getting closer as a result of the experience.”
Dance lessons serve other purposes, as well. Classes can help a couple express their cultural individuality. Snively recalls planning an intercultural wedding for a Latina bride who wanted to incorporate her culture in a fun way at her wedding. They arranged to have a dance instructor provide lessons for their families and friends at the rehearsal dinner. They hosted the event at a Latin restaurant, and after dinner and toasts, everyone was treated to professional Samba lessons. “It was a fantastic bonding experience for both families, and it set the stage for some great dancing at the wedding reception,” says Snively.
Even if you’re not planning to reenact scenes from the hit documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, experts recommend two to three months of private or group instruction to get you ready.
All the excitement from your wedding will naturally make you feel like dancing, but a bit of direction will help make your moment memorable.
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Photo by: Imagine Studios
Photo by: Perceptions Photography
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