The Evolution of the Bridal Waltz

Who honestly doesn't love a wedding? Witnessing an authentic and beautiful celebration of love. Being present in that magical moment when you see two people committing in unity to spend their lives together.

One of the most long-awaited and exciting moments of a wedding (and the most tear-jerking) comes in the form of the first dance. The first dance between the bride and groom is what all the guests have been eagerly waiting for. Not forgetting the heart warming first dances between father and daughter or mother and son.

The union and celebration of family and love that we experience during a wedding is quite unmatchable (someone pass the tissues)! But the first dance isn't just about pulling on your heart-strings for no reason; there is a little history and symbolism behind it all- so let's take a look.

To understand the origins, we need to picture the 17th century; Kings and Queens or wealthy families often held dance balls. At these grand events, it was the custom for the hosts or the guests of honour to take the first dance of the evening. Once the first dance was complete, all were free to bust an (elegant) move on the dance floor. The first dance was the dramatic opening to the ball that all the high society in their gladrags waited for. These old-school traditions eventually made their way into the social norms of weddings. It was all about putting on a show and honouring the most important guests. Gradually, a traditional developed which meant that the first dance between a newlywed couple symbolised a celebration of their love and union.

Originally, the father and daughter first dance would come before the bride and groom dance. Traditionally this was an extension of the idea of giving away' the daughter. It can even be viewed as related to the ancient custom of the dowry. The concept of offering the bride symbolically, from her father's possession to her new husband's, is generally no longer seen as valid. These are mostly outdated concepts in our modern society. Currently, the father and daughter's wedding dance is more used as a celebration of the daughters' love and happiness. If the father-daughter dance is taken before the bride and groom dance, this can be viewed to represent the father's acceptance or trust of his son in law.

It isn't just the father of the bride who gets to have all the fun with the first dancing! The traditional mother-son dance is symbolic of the groom showing honour for his mother. It's a particularly beautiful moment whereby you see the woman who gave birth to the groom celebrate motherly love and their bond on his special day.

The bride-groom first dance allows the couple to use their body language to express their devotion to one another. The couple dance and show the guests their chemistry and solidarity. Dancing, generally speaking, has the great ability for one to express their emotions using their body. Dancing with another, especially someone you are in love with, allows the euphoria of this expression to become even more profound. Dance movements together are about collaboration, unison and synchronisation; all things that can lay the foundations of a beautiful marriage. Both the bride and groom, their family and the other guests will find cherished memories within this moment.

Back in the day, ballroom dancing was a skill that many people had, so Waltz was often used for the first dance. These days many more of us don't know how to waltz! Many couples just have a little sway during their wedding dance and leave it at that (it's still beautiful to watch nonetheless)! Others like to get dance lessons leading up to their wedding dance so that they can learn a particular kind of dance.

Some couples like to shake things up and have a choreographed bride-groom dance routine that's modern or funny and performed to a catchy song. The wedding dance all depends on your wants as a couple and a family. Whether you stick to traditions or create something of your own, the main thing is that you feel happy and comfortable. You should seek to express your love in a way that's personal to you. The first dance at a wedding is one of those once in a lifetime romantic moments so you'll want to really make it count.