Traditional Spotlight Dances at a Wedding

What are the traditional spotlight dances at a wedding? What are spotlight dances in the first place? Spotlight dances are those during which the dance floor is open to a limited selection of couples. In some instances, the dance floor is available to only one couple.

The customary spotlight dances begin with the first dance of the bride and groom as a married couple. The song played is one that the bride and groom have previously selected. The song typically has a personal meaning or significance for the couple. Some wedding couples select the first song the two of them danced to or the first song they listened to on the radio. In some cases, the song is simply one that the both of them like. The bride and groom are the only ones who are on the dance floor at this time.

This dance is usually followed by the father-daughter dance. Again, the song has been selected by the bride ahead of time. The song usually portrays a special meaning for the bride and her father. In some cases, the bride might choose to dance not only with her father, but also, with her stepfather. Typically, two different songs are selected for this circumstance. The bride and her father are the only ones who are on the dance floor at this time.

Although this is not a traditional spotlight dance, many modern weddings include a mother-son dance at the wedding reception. If this option is selected, the groom and his mother the only ones who are on the dance floor at this time. The song that is played during this dance is one that the groom has previously selected.

The traditional dance to follow the father-daughter dance is one during which the parents of the bride and groom join the wedding couple on the dance floor. The bridal party also joins the couples out on the dance floor. The wedding couple usually selects the song for this dance as well. This particular spotlight dance is also not customary in all areas of the country. In some cases, the DJ or announcer for the band invites the rest of the wedding guests to join everyone out on the dance floor about half way through the song.

Some wedding couples might not prefer spotlight dances for personal or other reasons. For example, if any of the parents of the bride and groom are deceased or not present at the wedding for some reason, the couple might opt not to have these dances. If this is the case, a single dance that incorporates a series of cut-ins can be substituted for the spotlight dances.

This dance begins with the bride and groom. The bride’s father, if available, cuts in next. At this point, the groom takes his mother as a dance partner and enters the dance floor again. The groom’s father then takes the bride’s mother as a dance partner and joins the couples on the dance floor. The best man cuts in on the bride and her father next.

This allows the bride’s father to claim his wife as a dance partner. Subsequently, this allows the groom’s father to claim his wife as a dance partner. The groom is then free to take the maid of honor as a dance partner. After this, the ushers and the bridesmaids join the couples on the dance floor. As you can see, this song needs to be relatively long in order to accommodate all of the changes.

The choice to incorporate spotlight dances into the wedding is usually left up to the bride and groom. However, it is important to note that at some point each of the above pairings should occur on the dance floor.