First dance - love it or hate it?

#firstdance

#weddingfirstdance #yourfirstdance

Whether you love or hate dancing, the first dance is a tradition that always produces some fabulous photos and for those couple of minutes you will be the focus of everyone's attention.

Apparently it wasn't always this way. In 1922, Emily Post, an American author famous for writing about 'Etiquette', wrote that newlyweds join the dancing after their guests and "simply dance with one another first before moving on to other partners". It wasn't given particular attention or treated as a performance.

Today, however, it starts with just the two of you and you will be the centre of attention, so it's a good idea to think about what kind of dance to go for.

Some couples choose to learn a routine with many dance instructors now offering a "first dance" service.

Others will be content swaying slowly from side to side and just enjoying the intimacy of the moment together

Traditional wed

ding dance order #weddingdanceorder

There is in fact a specific order for the traditional wedding first dance however any part of it may be changed according to needs and tastes of the couple. According to etiquette, the newlyweds start the dancing first, then the groom should dance with his new mother-in-law, then his own mother. Meanwhile, the bride should dance with her new father-in-law and then with her father.

Dancing with my father

These traditions vary according to the couple and their own family, so depending on your own circumstances, the bride may choose to dance with her mother.

Dancing with my mother

Choosing Your Song #yoursong #yourweddingsong

Most couples choose a song which resonates or has some history between them. While this is generally a slow love song, couples are now choosing more up-tempo routines to ring the changes.

Up-tempo first dance

Hitched have listed the best 150 first dance songs (https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-songs/first-dance/) of which their top ten are:

• Perfect – Ed Sheeran

• At Last – Etta James

• All Of Me – John Legend

• Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

• Amazed – Lonestar

• Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

• Your Song – Elton John

• How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding

• Something – The Beatles

• Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

Cheeky first dance

Whatever your choice of dance and music, the most important thing is to enjoy the moment. And, if you want to dance all evening, the next important thing is to choose your footwear carefully, or kick off those shoes!

Wedding Photography & Group Shots

When planning your wedding day you will at some point get to the part regarding group shots. This can often be a difficult moment as there are a number of things that you and your wedding photographer will need to consider such as:

• Should you have group shots?

• How many should you have?

• How long should they take?

• When and where should they be done?

The answers will of course depend on your personal preferences but you should also take into account the style of the wedding photographer that you have hired. Now, there’s no right or wrong answers here, it’s simply a matter of choice, and to help you make that choice you might consider the following.

Should you have group shots? You might have been to weddings in the past and got frustrated hanging around for the group shots - most people just want to get on and enjoy the nibbles and drinks at this point of the day. If this is you and you’re considering not having group shots then that’s fine, but before making a final decision ask yourself who might like to actually have these photos to look back on? Often Mum, Dad, Nan or Gramp's will and so perhaps this might sway you.

How many group shots should I have? This will depend a lot on how much time you have available and we’ll discuss that next but for now a couple of things to consider.

1. You will be in all these shots so if you want to have 20+ groups then that’s a lot of smiling for the camera!

2. You want to keep you family and friends happy and enjoying the day so if you are looking to have a lot of groupings they might be waiting around for up to an hour or more. Personally, we advise on limiting group shots to six and suggest the following groupings:

• Everyone

• Bride, groom and both families

• Bride, groom & both sets of parents

• Bride, groom & each set of parents (2)

• Bride, groom, bridesmaids and groomsmen

How long should the group shots take? This is a big question full of uncertainties. In our experience you should allow an average of 3-5 mins per shot. Some might take longer and some less, but on average we find this is about right. The actual shot takes just a moment, arranging the group could take from 20 seconds up to two minutes depending on the size of group but the unknown is finding the people needed for the shot. If they’ve gone to the loo, or to the bar, nipped back to the car or simply vanished you can be waiting indefinitely! The other factor to consider is your wedding photographer’s style. Some will pay a lot of attention to these shots and make sure everything is 100% perfect before moving onto the next one. There’s nothing wrong with this approach but it will take longer and you need to consider if this is for you.

When and where should the group shots be done? Immediately following the ceremony works best in our opinion simply because everyone is together and in the same place. Once people start to scatter it takes longer to call them back for the photos. The best location for the group shots should be discussed with your wedding photographer. You might have a preferred location because of the backdrop however the photographer will need to consider the direction of light/sun, the amount of natural shade, the closeness to the background and any distracting elements in the distance.

We hope this bog has given you some insight and helps to ensure your wedding day runs smoothly as a result. If you’d like to make an enquiry into our availability please do so here.

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