Should I Take Wedding Dance Lessons?

On your wedding day, you and your soon-to-be spouse are the focal points of all the festivities. However, there’s one moment, in particular, where all eyes are on you—your first dance.

If you’re nervous about dancing in front of an audience, you may want to sign up for wedding dance lessons. Lessons can help you and your fiance get comfortable on the dance floor. They can also teach you some fancy choreography that you'll be proud to show off to your friends and family.

So, are wedding dance lessons right for you? Below, we’ll dive into the following topics:

• Why You Should Take Wedding Dance Lessons
• How Much Wedding Dance Lessons Cost?
• How to Make the Most of Your Wedding Dance Lessons

Why You Should Take Wedding Dance Lessons

Here are some reasons why you might want to take dance lessons to prepare for your wedding day.

#1 Dance Lessons Can Increase Your Confidence on the Dance Floor

After putting so much time, effort, and thought into your wedding day, you want everything to be perfect. That’s why you hire a team of professionals to help you look and feel your best, including:

• Hairstylists
• Makeup artists
• Tailors
• Photographers

Why not put that same energy into your dancing? If you’re worried about looking like you have two left feet on the dance floor, dance lessons can certainly help.

Dance lessons let you overcome your dancing fears in the privacy of a studio, rather than in the spotlight on your wedding day. During these lessons, you can develop the coordination, balance, and muscle memory you need to put on a performance that makes you proud.

#2 Dance Lessons Can Level Up Your Choreography

Some couples are happy swaying side to side in a simple dance routine. Other couples want to wow their audience with complex choreography. If you’re feeling ambitious, dance lessons can help you master advanced moves that are sure to impress your guests.

Depending on the amount of time you have to commit to wedding dance lessons, you can learn:

• The basic steps of your preferred dance style, whether that’s:

  • Waltz
  • Swing
  • Rumba
  • Mambo
  • Salsa
  • Foxtrot
  • Hip hop

• A loosely choreographed number

• A complex choreographed dance destined to impress

#3 Dance Lessons Give You and Your Fiance a Chance to Bond

Even though you’re engaged to the love of your life, wedding planning can get a little stressful. You have to juggle calls with vendors, answer all of your guests’ questions, and plan every little detail about the day. With so much going on, you and your fiance may not have time for as many date nights as you used to.

Wedding dance lessons give you the perfect excuse to take a break and enjoy a weekly date night. Even though these dance lessons are technically still wedding preparation, they’re also a wonderful way to bond as a couple, have fun, and let loose for a while.

Additionally, trying something new together is a great way to add some spark to your relationship. You may find yourselves falling in love all over again as you dance the night away each week.

#4 Dancing is a Great Form of Exercise

As your wedding day approaches, you may be motivated to hit the gym to tone up for your big day. If so, dance lessons are another great form of exercise to add to your workout routine.

Your dance lessons will help you get in some cardio, increase your muscle strength, and improve your flexibility. As you focus on the choreography, you may not even notice that you’re working out.

Dancing also comes with all of the psychological benefits of exercise. Research shows that dancing is a powerful way to increase your endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. In turn, it can help you relieve stress and quell those pre-wedding jitters, as well as:

• Boost your mood
• Improve your sleep
• Support your brain health

#5 Dance Lessons Can Help You Finalize Your First Dance Song Selection

Choosing your first dance song is a big decision. You want it to be romantic, meaningful, and most importantly, easy to dance to.

Before you attend your first wedding dance lesson, brainstorm a list of potential songs with your fiance. Whether you’re leaning towards a tried-and-true classic or something a little more unconventional, you can run these songs by your dance teacher. He or she can let you know which ones are viable contenders for your preferred style of choreography.

During your lessons, you can also dance to the top songs on your list and see which ones feel the best. After that, your teacher will choreograph the perfect moves for your final pick.

Once you have the song chosen and the choreography mapped, you can communicate with your wedding DJ or band about how to transition into the first dance. If you haven’t found the right musician yet, head over to Zola’s wedding vendor marketplace. You’ll be able to search how much a live wedding band costs by location and budget to choose the perfect artist for you.

#6 Dancing is a Lifelong Skill

Just like riding a bike, learning to dance is something you’ll never forget. Thus, the moves you learn in your wedding dance lessons can serve you as a couple for years to come.

In the future, you and your spouse may find yourselves on a dance floor at someone else’s wedding, at a concert, or on vacation. During these moments, you can dance together again and impress surrounding onlookers.

Every time you do, you and your spouse can reflect on your beautiful wedding day and all of the fun you had leading up to it.

How Much Do Wedding Dance Lessons Cost?

Wedding dance lessons have a lot to offer. But how much do they cost?

Your budget is another important factor to consider when it comes to deciding if wedding dance lessons are right for you.

The Average Cost of Wedding Dance Lessons

On average, the hourly rate for professional dance lessons ranges between $50-$100+ ($80 - $200 in NYC).

However, the cost of wedding dance lessons depends on a variety of factors, including your:

• Location: Dance class rates vary depending on where you live and how many dance teachers are available in your area. By doing your research and comparing prices across studios, you can find the most affordable lessons near you.

• Instructor’s Degree of Experience and Specialization: Highly-trained dance teachers often charge more for their services. While you may be tempted to get the best salsa instruction money can buy, this may not be the best choice for your budget.

Fortunately, many affordable dance teachers are well-versed in a variety of dance styles. Unless you have super complex choreography in mind for your big day, a cheaper teacher should be able to provide you with all of the guidance you need.

• Lesson Type: You can take private or group lessons.

  • Group lessons: Group lessons are generally much more affordable than private lessons, since the cost of the class is shared amongst all members of the group.

The other students in your group will most likely be other engaged couples. If you and your fiance love socializing with new people, this can add to the fun.

You can also sign up for group lessons with your friends or family members. If you have wedding dances planned with your parents, in-laws, or grandparents, they may be eager for some pre-wedding dance instruction too.

• Private Lessons: Private lessons usually cost more, as you’re footing the entire bill for your teacher’s time.

However, during a private lesson, you’ll enjoy your teacher’s full attention. You’ll also receive more individualized instruction and choreography that’s made just for you. As an added bonus, you won’t have to worry about dancing as a novice in front of anyone besides your fiance and your teacher.

• Desired Number of Classes: The number of wedding dance lessons you need to take depends on your goals, budget, and time frame. If you just want to learn the basics, a handful of lessons should suffice. If you want to learn more advanced choreography, you’ll need to start practicing earlier and make time for more lessons.

Here are the number of dance lessons you should take to accomplish the following goals:

• Learn some basic dance steps and get comfortable dancing: one to three lessons
• Master a few fancy moves, like turns, dips, and lifts: two to five lessons
• Add an entrance and ending pose to your choreography: three to eight lessons
• Learn a fully choreographed dance number: 10 to 20 lessons

Naturally, the more classes you sign up for, the more expensive your dance lessons will be. Luckily, some studios offer discounts if you purchase a package for a certain amount of lessons. You can also practice at home to maximize the impact of your dance lessons without increasing the cost.

• Time Frame: As with many other wedding services, it’s more cost-effective to book your wedding dance lessons in advance. Dance teachers have busy calendars, so fitting you in at the last minute may force them to rework their schedule or work overtime. In turn, they may charge you a higher hourly rate.

If you enroll in wedding dance lessons well in advance, you’ll be more likely to receive the standard rate. You’ll also get to enjoy a more leisurely, relaxed experience. Most dance studios recommend starting wedding dance lessons at least three months before your wedding day.

• Wedding Season: If you’re getting married during peak wedding season (summer or fall), you’ll probably start dance lessons around the same time as many other engaged couples. Due to the increased demand, your lessons may be more costly than if you enrolled during a different season.

How to Save Money on Wedding Dance Lessons

With these pricing factors in mind, you can save money on your wedding dance lessons by:

• Choosing an affordable instructor
• Enrolling in group lessons
• Signing up at least three months in advance
• Taking advantage of any available discounts
• Practicing at home to cut down on the number of lessons you need to buy

If you implement all of these tips, you can enjoy the benefits of wedding dance lessons without breaking your budget.

Another option you can consider is asking a family member or friend to fund your dance lessons. Find out if they would be willing to purchase these lessons instead of buying a gift from your wedding registry. At Zola, we make it easy to link to your wedding registry from your wedding website. Likewise, you can link to your desired dance lessons to see if anyone’s interested in contributing to them.

How to Make the Most of Your Wedding Dance Lessons

If you think wedding dance lessons are right for you, that’s great. Grab your dancing shoes and read on to learn some helpful tips and tricks for making the most of them:

#1 Research Different Dance Instructors and Studios

As with all wedding vendors, it’s important to find a dance teacher who shares your vision for your wedding day and fits your budget. You can narrow down the options by doing your research online.

As you check out different teachers and studios, pay close attention to their:

• Hourly rate
• Dance package discounts
• Dance style specialties
• Group and private lesson offerings
• Availability

#2 Check Out Their Reviews Online

Once you find a few teachers who seem like promising contenders, take a look at their reviews.

Over two million weddings take place each year in the United States, so you’re certainly not the first person in your area to look for a great wedding dance teacher. The brides and grooms who came before you probably left some helpful reviews.

After reading these reviews, you can sign up with a dance teacher who sounds like they’ll be a perfect fit, whether you prioritize:

• Patience
• Friendliness
• Energy
• Experience
• Expertise
• Choreography
• Affordability
• Scheduling flexibility

#3 Request an Introductory Lesson or Wedding Dance Consultation

Your wedding dance is a very special moment in your life—potentially one of the most memorable ones you’ll ever experience. The last thing you want is to work on your first dance with an instructor who you don’t get along with.

Since wedding dance lessons can be costly, you may want to take an introductory class with a teacher before committing to more lessons with them. Many dance studios offer introductory lessons and wedding dance consultations. During this initial meeting, you can see if you like the instructor’s teaching style, choreography, and personality. They may also ask you some of the following questions:

• Do you want to learn a simple, understated dance or a flashier choreographed routine?
• Have you chosen a song yet?
• What is the layout and size of your venue?
• How do you want to enter and exit the dance floor?

As you discuss these details, you can get a sense if this teacher is a good match for you. If they don't share your goals or vision, that’s okay. You can always try out another one.

#4 Wear Comfortable Clothes During Your Lessons

Even though your final performance will be in your formal wedding attire, you don’t need to show up to your lessons in a ballgown or tux. Instead, you should wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move around in. Dressing this way will allow you to focus on learning the choreography.

Once you’re more comfortable with your dancing skills, you can practice your dance a few times in your heels or dress shoes. If you want to be extra prepared, you can even do a practice run in your gown or tux a few days before your wedding. This way, you’ll know how it feels to perform in your wedding clothes.

Don’t have a pair of wedding shoes picked out yet? No problem. At Zola, you can shop for a beautiful pair of bridal shoes or men’s shoes by price, color, and brand.

#5 Film Your Lessons and Practice at Home

If you want to accelerate your dance progress, film your lessons and rewatch them at home. This way, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly what parts need some extra practice.

Try to practice your dance at home for at least 20 to 30 minutes a couple of times a week.

#6 Throw a First Dance Dress Rehearsal

By hosting a first dance dress rehearsal, you can run through your dance at your venue a few days before your wedding.

During this rehearsal, you and your fiance can get comfortable in the space, make sure that the floor isn’t slippery, and plan out your entrance and exit. You should also wear your wedding attire. This way, you can find out if your dance causes any wardrobe malfunctions. For example:

• Fitted sleeves can restrict your arm’s range of motion
• Strapless wedding gowns may be prone to slipping down during lifts and dips
• Mermaid wedding gowns can restrict your leg’s range of motion

You can even invite your dance teacher to conduct your final lesson during this dress rehearsal. They may have some expert advice for performing your first dance in your venue.

#7 Relax and Have Fun

While wedding dance lessons are supposed to sharpen your skills, they’re also meant to be fun/ Don’t forget to enjoy the process.

Once it’s finally time to perform your first dance, savor the moment and be present with your spouse. Even if you miss a few beats of choreography, just laugh it off and carry on. At the end of the day, you’re the only ones who will know you made any mistakes.

#8 Memorialize the Moment

Finally, don’t forget to flash a few smiles for the photographer and videographer. If you nail your number, you’ll surely want to watch it back and revel in all of your dancing glory.

After your wedding, you can showcase these stunning photos in a signature Zola wedding album. Creating a custom wedding album with Zola is easy. All you have to do is share your vision with our Album Wizard tool, and it will do the rest. If you want to make adjustments to the photo selection or layout, no problem.

You can look back on this beautiful album for years to come. It will serve as a lasting keepsake of your special day (and your newfound dancing skills).

Practice Makes Perfect

Wedding dance lessons are a fun way to prepare for your special day. By the time your big day rolls around, you’ll feel much more comfortable and confident busting out your favorite moves on the dance floor.

Taking wedding dance lessons is just one of the many steps you need to take to prepare for your wedding. For the rest of your planning needs, there’s Zola.

At Zola, we strive to make the wedding planning process easy and enjoyable. We’ll help you design beautiful wedding invitations, create a custom website, set up your gift registry, and do everything else in between. Feel free to peruse our site to learn more about our innovative wedding planning tools.