Who Dances With Who At A Wedding: Planning And Order

It can be confusing to identify who dances with who at a wedding, but you only need to remember the wedding dances expected at the reception. We will also discuss the order and etiquette when dancing with different people at a wedding, so you’ll be prepared. 

Furthermore, you’ll find out who should dance at a wedding. But for a more in-depth order discussion, we recommend reading who dances first at a wedding

who dances with who at a wedding

 

Who Dances With Who At A Wedding: Wedding Dances Etiquette Guide

 

Bride and groom take the first dance

The newlyweds take the first wedding dance once they arrive at the wedding venue. Then, of course, the bride will dance with the groom, and this iconic moment is called the first dance after they are introduced as Mr. and Mrs. 

Of course, this is applicable regardless of whether the couple is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. It can take three minutes, so you may want to practice with your partner, especially if you hate being the center of attention.

It also doesn’t have to be a slow dance. Nowadays, some couples prepare lively choreography and amuse their guests with an upbeat first dance. 

 

Parents’ dance

The other traditional wedding dances expected at the reception are the parents’ dances. Again, it can be unclear to know who dances with who, but you only need to remember that the first parent dance is by the bride and her father. 

Then, the groom will dance with the bride’s mother, the bride’s parents will dance, and the groom will dance with his mother. Finally, the groom’s parents will also dance together. 

Of course, families differ in dynamics, so the partnerships can be changed accordingly, especially if a parent is deceased or remarried. You can also dance with your step-parent to honor them at your wedding. 

If you have a good relationship with your birth and step-parent, you can dance with both of them. But what about same-sex parent-child wedding dances?

Feel free to dance with whoever you want, regardless of the traditions, as it’s your wedding anyway. For example, it’s perfectly acceptable for the bride to dance with her mother or the groom with his dad if they cherish them dearly. 

 

Bridal party dance

After the wedding dances of the newlyweds’ parents, the next to partner and dance on the dance floor is the wedding party. First, the best man and his groomsmen will dance with the bride, and the maid of honor and bridesmaids will dance with the groom. 

Often, these dances are meant to entertain the guests, so they can also be funny and less serious. The bridesmaids and the groomsmen can dance together, and the best man and maid of honor can also pair up. 

But depending on the duration and program at the wedding reception, these dances can be omitted. Instead, the wedding party dance is blended with the party portion of the wedding reception with other guests. 

 

Guests dancing at the wedding reception

When it’s time to party, there are no rules on who dances with who at a wedding reception. So you can dance with whatever sex or age you can have fun with on the dance floor. 

But an example where guests can pair up is when the wedding has tosses. For example, the bachelor who caught the wedding garter and the bachelorette who caught the bridal bouquet is sometimes paired up to dance. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the wedding tosses, you can read what the bride throws at a wedding or what the groom throws at a wedding

 

Who Should Dance At A Wedding?

  • Newlyweds
  • Bride and her father
  • Groom and bride’s mother
  • Bride’s parents
  • Groom and his mother
  • Groom’s parents
  • Bridal party

 

Does everyone dance at a wedding?

Everyone part of the wedding dances will dance at the wedding according to the flow of the reception. But for the partying portion of the wedding, you’re not obligated to get up if you don’t like it. 

Everyone should have fun and shouldn’t feel forced to join the dance floor. And if you brought a date, slow dances are perfect to have a sweet moment between you. 

 

Do groomsmen have to dance with bridesmaids?

The groomsmen can dance with the bridesmaids as the wedding party is usually acquainted with each other. It’s also traditional to have the bride dance with the best man, the groom with the maid of honor, the ushers with usherettes, and the ring bearer and flower girl. 

 

How To Dance At A Wedding?

 

Newlyweds

  • Practice on the song you chose for your first dance
  • Identify the song’s rhythm
  • Asisgn is a leader and follower
  • Try the under arm-twist, waltz box, and the iconic dip
  • Wear comfortable shoes 
  • Have the bridal gown bustled

 

Guests

  • Practice in front of the mirror
  • Do basic rhythmic movements like swinging your hips back and forth 
  • Experiment with different simple movements to look effortless 
  • Do not overthink 
  • Listen to the music 
  • Try copying someone’s movement

 

Conclusion

And that’s it! To recap who dances with who at a wedding, it is the bride with the groom, the parents of the newlyweds with their children, and the wedding party. 

But overall, you don’t need to participate on the dance floor if you’re uncomfortable. You can still have fun by doing rhythmic movements on your seat, like tapping your feet or bobbing your head. 

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