Sequence of Dance Partners in Wedding The bride and groom will dance first. This is the usual format. Then the parent dances with the couple - the father with the bride and the mother with the groom. The groom's father will then dance with the bride and the groom with the mother-in-law.
If you want to go a more "traditional" route, there is a generally-agreed-upon etiquette when it comes to the ordering of the dances: The bride and groom share the first dance. The father of the bride then dances with the bride. The groom may also dance with the mother of the bride.
The bride will typically dance with her father and the groom typically dances with his mother. If the parent is not present, then a substitute from the family will replace the parent.
Father-Daughter Dance FAQs
Most brides have the father-daughter dance right after their first dance with their spouse. If you don't want to have it after the first dance, other good times to squeeze it in are following the toasts and before the cake cutting.
This is far more common today. The bride and groom dance alone and complete the full number. Then the bridal party join the bridal couple and several couples dance. The best man will dance with the first bridesmaid (Matron of Honour) and the groomsman will dance with the second bridesmaid and so on.
Typically, most couples save the first dance until after the sit-down dinner has finished, however some prefer to head straight to the dance floor at the start of the reception, which is quite often referred to as the grand entrance.
The bride and groom will dance first. This is the usual format. Then the parent dances with the couple - the father with the bride and the mother with the groom. The groom's father will then dance with the bride and the groom with the mother-in-law.
Typically, the Father-Daughter Dance occurs right after the First Dance, with the Mother-Son Dance following that. However, if you do not want it happening right after the first dance, you can also do it after the toasts. How long should it last? Normally the dance will last as long as the song.
The bride and her father are usually the ones who select the father daughter dance song. Whether it is a combination of the both of you or one or the other, it's really up to personal preference who you designate this job to.
The bride is escorted down the aisle with her father, who stands on her left side. Together they process down the aisle towards the groom. Once they have reached the altar, the groom turns around and takes a step forward to greet the bride. The bride takes her place next to the groom, standing on his left.
Sometimes, parent dances occur immediately after the first dance. Other times, these dances will take place toward the end of dinner, after the toasts, or after the cake cutting. For heterosexual couples, bride dances with her dad, and then the groom dances with his mom.
From walking down the aisle first to last, the traditional order is: Mother of Bride, Mother of Groom, Grandparents of Bride, Grandparents of Groom, Groom, Officiant, the Wedding Party, Maid of Honor and Best Man, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl and lastly the Bride and her Father.
Reception entrance
Next, your wedding DJ or band will announce the entrances of all the following wedding party members, in this order: The parents of the newlyweds. The bridesmaids and groomsmen (who have the option to perform funny dances if they so choose) The ring bearer and flower girl/boy.
The wedding party is announced. Traditionally they are announced in the following order: groom's parents, bride's parents, flower girl and ring bearer, bridesmaids escorted by groomsmen, maid/ matron of honor escorted by the best man and finally the Bride and Groom.
The mother-son dance is a popular tradition for the groom during wedding reception celebrations. The groom will take his mother out on the dance floor for a special dance together for this tradition. It is a time for the groom to focus on his mother and create a special moment together one-on-one.
The best man follows the bridesmaids and groomsmen and can walk down alone or with the maid of honor. He may also be the ring bearer for some weddings, and will stand next to the groom at the altar. Should you choose to have the maid of honor walk down separately, they should follow the best man.
Stick to Tradition
Traditionally, the bride and groom serve wedding cake in between dinner and dancing, often following the couple's first dance. This is mainly because cake cutting serves as a silent clue that guests can start heading home, especially if they aren't planning to stay for the after-party.
The father-daughter dance is a staple at many weddings. It's the moment when the bride honors their father, and represents the love and gratitude they have for the father or father figure in their life.
The traditional order of dances at a wedding are the ones that go in the usual format. It starts with the bride and groom taking the dance floor to a slow or fast song. The parents follow up by dancing with the couple in the father-daughter and mother-son dance.
At the end of the first Bridal Waltz, announce: “Ladies and Gentlemen, (Bride and Groom) invite you all to join in the dancing.” The DJ generally takes control of proceedings from this point.
What is the father-daughter dance? The father-daughter dance takes place between the bride and the father of the bride. It usually happens just after the first dance to a song that represents the relationship between the bride and her dad.
Typically, evening guests are encouraged to arrive before the first dance begins, and sometimes before the cutting of the cake – usually around 6-7pm. Talk to your wedding planner and/or venue to figure out a rough timeline of the day, and then you'll know when to ask your evening guests to appear.
Toasts can be before or after the cutting of the cake, depending when you cut the cake. At Craig y Nos Castle, toasts are normally done at some point during the Wedding Breakfast, not at the Evening Party. If however you were only having an evening wedding function, then Toasts would be done before the first dance.