The Definitive Guide To Nailing The First Dance At Your Wedding... With Only 5 Moves

Today I'm going to show you how to nail your first wedding dance with only 5 moves. Regardless if you have two left feet, four left feet, or even if you describe yourself as "rhythmically challenged"...

Can you believe those mesmerizing first wedding dances were put together using a combination of as little as five simple moves?

And the best part? Zero back-and-forth traveling to dance studios, and no breaking the bank on professional 1:1 instructors. Those elegantly simple moves were learned in the comfort and privacy of the couple's own home, with my Date Nights Dancing program, using my Mix and Match Wedding Dance strategy.

Today, I'm going to show you how to use this strategy for yourself, so your first dance leaves your guests in awe, and maybe a touch jealous of you too.

Your First Dance Starts Tonight, Free

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The Strategy in Action: 3 Real First Dances

We'll take three clips from the video at the top of the page and break them down into the exact moves each couple used. Let's get into the groove with this first one:

This first video is a great example of how simple and minimal can still look elegant and impressive. In this clip, the couple used a grand total of 2 different moves. Yep, just 2: the Infinity Loop, and the Air Dip.

They did something really smart here: a simple, no-frills base (Infinity Loop) with something extravagant sprinkled in (the Air Dip) to get the "wow"s. That formula of simple base move + fancy extra move is perfect for a first dance, because it makes it easy to remember where the dance is headed.

Clip number two:

This couple used 4 different moves, with some beautiful transitions in between:

You've probably noticed that dips are very popular for first dances. They look impressive and difficult, making them instant crowd pleasers. (Spoiler: dips are deceptively easy once you learn how to do them! Click here to start learning.)

One last clip:

This is what it looks like when both partners are comfortable on the dance floor. Four main moves, mostly dips, and nothing looks rushed:

That type of confidence is exactly what Mix and Match gives you. With traditional lessons, you're not really learning to dance; you're memorizing a strict, one-use routine set to one song. With Date Nights Dancing, you build the skill of dancing itself.

And that skill doesn't expire after the big day. Surprise your spouse with a living room dance on your 5th anniversary, or bust out your moves at the next wedding you attend. The same moves even work for father-daughter and mother-son dances, so the lessons do triple duty.

4 Ways to Get Prepared for Your First Dance

Wedding planning is stressful enough. Your first dance shouldn't add to the mayhem; it should be the part that brings you two closer together. After hearing from thousands of couples who've prepared with Date Nights Dancing, here are four pointers:

1. Determine Your Budget

Lessons for a choreographed dance cost money, and multiple sessions add up fast. Figure out how much you want to spend before you spend it. You can pay per session, or some studios offer discounted first dance packages.

2. Shop Around

Studios vary a lot in price and quality, so compare a few before committing. And don't just compare money; read the reviews. Cheap lessons are sometimes cheap for a reason, and higher pricing doesn't always equal better quality.

3. Plan In Advance

Ideally give yourself about 4 months. Most couples need 10 to 20 lessons; at one lesson a week, that's two and a half months in the best case, and wedding planning has a way of eating your calendar.

4. Practice Routinely

The only way to get confident enough to dance in front of an audience is regular practice. Pencil in the same day and time every week, and make it a habit before the mayhem sets in.

Those four tips will give you a great leg-up. But they don't quite remedy all of the issues that come with private lessons at a dance studio...

The Downsides of Private Wedding Dance Lessons

Most couples don't foresee the juggling act waiting for them on the traditional studio route. As you plan your wedding, time, money, and energy are your most valuable assets, and you have a limited supply of each.

The hidden time costs are the first surprise. Choreographed perfection takes extensive practice, often six months to a year of it. Add the drive to the studio and back, plus aligning three busy calendars, every single week, during the busiest stretch of your life.

And let's face it, as Charity mentions below, the idea of taking lessons in a room full of people can be super-intimidating...

Then there's cost. A quick online search shows private lessons running roughly $75 to $150 per hour, and you'll probably need 10 to 20 of them. Quick math:

The traditional route can put you at least $1,000 out of pocket, and a "premium wedding dance package" can easily run upwards of $2,500. And if the wedding is only weeks away, expect to pay extra for cramming. Just like next-day shipping, procrastination is gonna cost you.

But there is a way to bypass all of it: my method, the Mix and Match Wedding Dance Strategy.

The Mix and Match Wedding Dance Strategy: Explained

You probably think the ultimate first dance requires a meticulously choreographed routine. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my experience, most couples don't need perfectly rehearsed movement. They need to feel comfortable and confident enough to enjoy their moment.

That's why I created Mix and Match. It's the core concept of Date Nights Dancing, and the exact strategy tens of thousands of couples have used for a showstopping first dance. Here's how it works:

The style I teach is called Social Swing, a fun, universal style that fits any music you choose. Rather than learning an entire routine, you learn individual moves. I teach 50 in the program, but you can work with as little as 5.

The moves are interchangeable. Once you learn them, they combine in endless ways, and because they flow together seamlessly, it's actually harder to mess them up than to execute them.

So instead of standing in the middle of the dance floor trying to remember a routine you spent months and thousands on, you can relax and enjoy your first dance.

That's exactly what you saw in the three clips near the top of this page: a few simple moves, mixed and matched into a full dance.

Picture This: It's Your Big Day

The moment arrives. A hush falls over the crowd, the music starts, and you glide into those moves you've learned. Your guests are captivated. As the dance comes to a close, the room erupts.

And the best part? It was easier than you ever imagined. Just a handful of moves. That's exactly what you and your partner can do with Date Nights Dancing:

• Choose from up to 50 moves to mix & match
• Videos are on-demand. Go at your own pace
• Not just for couples: any pair that wants to learn, including families
• Created specifically for beginners. No dance experience required
• Dance to any music you like: the lessons come without music, so you learn along with songs you both enjoy

And unlike the studio route, it won't put you $1,000 or more out of pocket. You've got enough wedding-related costs as it is.

From my perspective, when couples say they want a choreographed wedding dance, they're rarely asking for fancy precision and synchronization. What they're really looking for is someone to give them a plan and take away the stress of not knowing where to start.

Now It's Your Turn

At this point, you've got three options for your first wedding dance:

Option 1: You Go the Traditional Route

Studio lessons, choreographed down to the finest detail. It's a massive commitment of time, money, travel, and mental energy. Your dance may look perfect from the outside, but will you enjoy it, or spend it as a nervous wreck trying to remember every detail? And will those hours give you anything you can use after the wedding?

Option 2: You Go It Alone

You walk to the middle of the floor unprepared, take each other's hands, look into each other's eyes, and... awkwardly sway side to side for the next few minutes. It costs nothing, and it leaves your guests underwhelmed.

Option 3: You Use the Mix and Match Strategy with Date Nights Dancing

You learn a handful of easy moves in your own living room, at a fraction of the price of option one, and weave them together however you like. Your first dance becomes the special, memorable moment you dream of, and the skill stays with you for good.

Best of all, the time spent learning will actually bring you closer together in the lead up to your big day.