Before or after?

dster417

My fiance and I were having a debate about whether the first dance should be done right after the bridal party is announced, before dinner OR right after dinner... is there a correct way to do it or is it a personal thing?

tidetravel

There's no right or wrong answer.  The first dances are done to signal the opening of the dance floor.  We did ours upon our entrance to the reception, but others wait until after toasts and dinner, and then officially "start the party."

Kristin789

In my area, the couple swings right into the first dance when they are introduced and enter the reception.

tenofcups4me

Personal taste. I usually see the couple go right into the first dance, but in my crowd, we have continuous music and dancing between the courses -- so the couple does their first dance, dancefloor opens for everyone, then first course, then dancing, then main course, then dancing, etc.

[Deleted User]

It is definitely personal preference. We did our first dance shortly after dinner.

fallbride1109

We did ours upon being announced.  We didn't want to be announced and then just go sit down--we thought that was awkward.  Plus we were nervous about it and wanted to get it over with so we could enjoy our dinner.  Our guests naturally got up and danced once they finished dinner.

Night_Sprite

We did it after dinner and toasts.  We also did our parents dance first because we wanted people to come out and join in the dancing in the middle of our song.

sister2groom

IF you're going to introduce the BP, I would introduce them first because otherwise will they sit outside during your dance? You could do, BP intro, newly-wed intro and then have your first dance any time after that.

Judith233

We are being announced and then people are eating.  After eating, we'll do the first dance and parent dances.  I didn't want a room of 200 hungry people staring at us.  But we are having stations, not a plated meal so people can't dance between courses like some pp mentioned.

Pick what works best for your situtation!  As PP have said, there is no right or wrong answer

lyndausvi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_before-after?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:4eb39f4e-ec17-48ee-bb9f-87c1a274a45ePost:b2a8982a-5908-493a-8bbb-717389a0d3b5">Re: Before or after?</a>:
[QUOTE]We are being announced and then people are eating.  After eating, we'll do the first dance and parent dances.  I didn't want a room of 200 hungry people staring at us.  But we are having stations, not a plated meal so people can't dance between courses like some pp mentioned. Pick what works best for your situtation!  As PP have said, there is no right or wrong answer :)
Posted by Judith233[/QUOTE]


In my experience with stations is people eat at very different rates then at a plated.  Some people will only go up to 1 or 2 stations, others will hit everyone multiple times.  So you will actually find people will be done eating and wanting to dance but can't because you having had the first dance yet.

We did it right after we were announced.  We had a lot of dances and they danced before, during and after dinner. 

Ckirwin

we're doing intro, dinner, toasts, first dances. totally up to you and what you're comfortable with! GL!