Who Dances the First Dance at a Wedding?
Traditionally the first dance is for the Bride and Groom. It is a symbolic dance expressing that the two are joined in union. In traditional European weddings the dance was usually a Waltz. This tradition carried forward as Europeans immigrated to the USA. Of course in today’s modern world, the bride and groom have musicians and wedding singers play more contemporary music, so the dance is not as formal as it once was.
The second dance is traditionally the father-daughter dance. This is the dance where the bride and her father dance. The symbolization is the father giving his daughter away so the dance carries the wedding tradition into the reception. The song choice is up to the bride and her father, most will have the wedding band or Disc Jockey play one of the more traditional songs; such as Daddy’s Little Girl by Al Martino or a contemporary song such as Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle.
Whilst these two dance are the most traditional the mother-son dance is becoming a mainstay dance as well. The groom and his mother share a dance. Unfortunately we can not always have historical accuracy on when certain traditions started or how they came about, but as an idea gains in popularity and new tradition is born.
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