The most important thing couples get wrong in their first dance (are you making this mistake?)

I work with a lot of couples who are planning a wedding, and want a spectacular first dance. They’ll come to me with song choices, dance style choices, just brimming with ideas, which I love to see. Whether a complete beginner or more advanced in their chosen style, it is a joy to work on such an important part of someone’s life and see them work together to make something beautiful. I always love how they’ll begin so enthusiastically, dreaming of that ever approaching special day.

However, I inevitably observe the same pattern: although they start enthusiastically, the stress of planning a huge, once-in-a-lifetime event, and learning a whole new skill on top of that, can overtake the most important aspect of the whole thing: their reliance on each other! This can start to wear on the happy couple.

Now, I get that in this day and age nobody wants to admit that they rely on ANYBODY. Being independent is a virtue, and to be dependant in any way can seem distasteful. BUT you can’t forget that it literally takes two to tango…and in your first dance (just like in any good relationship), you need to work together to make it look flawless. You can be strong, focussed, and determined, and that is a great thing! But if you try to do everything yourself, it can make a couples dance look more like two solos happening on the same dance floor: discordant and messy! Learn when to lead and when to follow, how to give and how to take, and you’ll be on your way to making your first dance look like the winning couple on Strictly Come Dancing.

Of course, this is one of my areas of expertise, so don’t be afraid to ask for a little help when you need it ;) Happy dancing!