When are you doing your special dances?

PeachesKFG

I'm trying to get an idea of when we should do our special dances. Obviously, FI and I will do our first dance right after we walk in. We have a short song (2.5 minutes) so we aren't going to have the bridal party join us. Just me and him for the first dance.

We also have a father/daughter and mother/son dance...and now, our parents are thinking they might want to do a "parents dance" for just the 4 of them. So thats 4 special dances that we need to fit into the reception. I don't want people to think that they have to sit and watch dance after dance....so I'm trying to space them out.

When are you doing/did you do your father/daughter, mother/son, and parents dances? Will you do them between courses? All back to back?

Thanks ladies!

Mona8

We're doing our first dance right after our entrance. Then we'll be having the salad and pasta course. Then we'll do the parent dances, followed by dinner.

calindi

A parents dance?  I feel like people get sick of special dances, and that one might be the icing the metaphorical cake.  I wouldn't do it, personally.  They can all dance whenever they want.  We are having my parents' wedding song playing at some point, but it'll just be a dedication, not a spotlight solo dance.

We probably won't do our first dance when we walk in because we're being introduced during cocktail hour, not the reception, and our dancing is taking place outside under a tent.  So we'll probably wrap up dinner and have the DJ invite everyone to gather under the tent for our first dance, and then we'll be mildly introduced and walk out and dance.  Other than that, we're just having a father-daughter dance, and that'll be about 30 minutes after the start of dancing, about 20 minutes before dessert is introduced (we're not doing cake)

herb0622

We did our first dance as soon as we walked in too. We also did the father/daughter and mother/son dances directly after that, so that we could get all of the special dances done before the meals. I personally, wouldn't do a parent dance. If you want to do what PP did and do your parents first dance song at some point in the night (when everyone else was dancing too), that would be better.

rswan412

I agree with what PP said- perhaps you can play a special song and dedicate it to them, and then allow guests to join in?

I am also trying to figure out when to do special dances. We are doing a buffet, so there isn't really "courses" persay. We're getting married at the aquarium, and I feel like guests will want to look around and not be called back multiple time for dances, so we might just do them at the start and get them out of the way. Though I'm really really not sure what to do. Still thinking! I would take the location and flow of your reception into account...do you want to break it up or get it all done at once?

Mandafly84

Our timeline goes like this:

-Bridal party gets introduced
-We get introduced
-Everyone goes to their seats
-Blessing/toasts/dinner
-First dance
-Father/daughter dance
-Mother/son dance
-Open dance floor

I realize I'm totally in the minority but I never liked doing a few random dances, then going to eat, then everyone else gets to dance; it seems like an awkward flow.  I saw a wedding where the timeline was exactly what I listed above and (IMO) it worked really well, so we're copying it.

rswan412

Manda, I do like the way yours flows. Do you think it would work with a buffet? I was thinking of being introduced, first dance, toasts/dinner, and then about an hour into it having the mother/son-father/daughter dance. I just feel like with a buffet it's harder to time things...

LaurenG1986

Maybe ask your DJ for some advice...our DJ had a lot of great ideas about when to time things and has been really helpful!!

Abeja1226

Were not doing father/daughter or mother/son dances for the sole reason that I don't want to bore people and what not.  I went to a wedding where they did those, then the bride danced with her brother, then another special dance, all after one another and I was SO bored.  Just space them out and you should be fine.  Maybe space them throughout your dinner?
I wouldn't cut people off when they are dancing later on in the night.

Mandafly84

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_doing-special-dances?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:e702569e-7088-4a1f-b6b9-c9d6a78fff7ePost:8d766959-1ce5-4dad-89f1-0442af340c37">Re: When are you doing your special dances?</a>:
[QUOTE]Manda, I do like the way yours flows. <strong>Do you think it would work with a buffet?</strong> I was thinking of being introduced, first dance, toasts/dinner, and then about an hour into it having the mother/son-father/daughter dance. I just feel like with a buffet it's harder to time things...
Posted by rswan412[/QUOTE]

<div>I don't see why not!  I mean not everyone is going to finish eating at exactly the same time, but I like the idea of having special dances then kicking off ALL the dancing.  You could wait until about 85-90% of guests look like they're very clearly done with dinner, then have your DJ announce that you're going to do the feature dances.</div>

calindi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_doing-special-dances?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:65Discussion:e702569e-7088-4a1f-b6b9-c9d6a78fff7ePost:bfdec131-14da-4676-8d88-7ad866257498">Re: When are you doing your special dances?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: When are you doing your special dances? : I don't see why not!  I mean not everyone is going to finish eating at exactly the same time, but I like the idea of having special dances then kicking off ALL the dancing.  You could wait until about 85-90% of guests look like they're very clearly done with dinner, then have your DJ announce that you're going to do the feature dances.
Posted by Mandafly84[/QUOTE]

This is exactly what we plan to do.  Have him say something like, "Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom hope you have enjoyed your meal, and would like to welcome you outside to the terrace so that they may have their first dance as husband as wife."  For someone else, 'terrace' may be 'dance floor', but we have to move our guests to an entirely different space - outside under the tent - to start dancing.