Wedding Planning- 6 Alternatives To Having A First Dance

Not everyone loves the spotlight to be on them, and that includes newlyweds on their wedding day. If the idea of a first dance makes you more nervous than excited, maybe it's not for you. Wedding receptions, and their traditions, have evolved over the years and that means you don't have to do everything a traditional wedding would require. If you and your partner don't want to participate in a first dance, you don't have to! The good news is that even if you opt to not have a first dance, there are still other ways in which you can celebrate your love and still put the focus on you, even for just a moment. We've got 6 alternatives to having a first dance that are as fun and unique as you and your partner that we think you'll love. Keep reading to see our list, and hopefully it will give you an idea of how to make your wedding reception just a little more special, without the extra attention of a spotlight dance.



One of the more glamorous and pretty wedding trends we've seen recently is the champagne tower, and with good reason- not only does it make for a gorgeous decoration, it's also bound to be a crowd pleaser. Stack mini coup glasses on one another to create a tower, grab your favorite bottle of bubbly, your partner, and let the fun begin! Start from the top and watch the champagne flow down the tower all the way to the end. If you're worried about the the glasses falling and breaking, plastic cups are always a good choice or you can just take it slowly. Once the tower is poured, you and your love can take a glass from the top and raise it in a toast to the both of you. Guests can grab the other ones and raise theirs along with you. It's a great way to do something that honors you and tastes good! Plus, it's a great photo opportunity and the results are priceless.

Photo by Sara Myers Photography




Even if you love dancing, you might not want the spotlight to be solely focused on you for your reception. Who says you have to? Open up the dance floor to everyone, so your first dance as newlyweds can be with everyone you love. Maybe you have the bridal party join you to dance, and then family members you really want to highlight. You can pick out special songs for them to dance to that's just for them, so it feels extra special. It takes some of the pressure off of you and your partner for a solo dance performance, and instead allows you to acknowledge all of your guests. You can also just skip the theatrics all together and make the dance floor open to everyone all night long. That way you can get still get your dancing in, but without all the focus being squarely on you and you partner.

Photo by Kearies




Raise a toast to your guests with bride and groom speeches. Whether before or after bridal party perform theirs, make your way to the stage to celebrate your partner. After all, you wouldn't be there without them, and it's a fun way to share something that goes beyond wedding vows. Share a cute anecdote or your favorite story about your love and tell them just how much they mean to you. Then, they can return the favor. Even if you had vows performed at your wedding, it's a chance to say something that goes beyond that, where you can highlight even more what you love about your favorite person. It's also a great way to give a speech about all of the important people who are with you on your special day. You couldn't have done it without them, so show them a little thanks. It takes the spotlight slightly off you, but still allows you to shine, and that's definitely something to celebrate.

Photo by Petal Prod



Who doesn't want to see the journey of two people coming together to find love? Instead of putting the focus on your dance moves, let your guests adore you with a slideshow of you and your loves romantic journey together. Grab all the best photos of the two of you to create a video set to romantic music that will have guests in their feels. You can set the photos to you and your partner's song, or a compilation of all the sweet songs that you love. Include photos from your childhood too if you're feeling it, to show how two people grew up, and found their forever person. It's an emotional and beautiful way to celebrate the both of you and your love for each other. Love this idea but don't have a lot of time? Enlist the help of a family member or friend who can help you create a magical video for the reception. Be sure to grab some tissues too-a collection of all the best moments is bound to bring on the happy tears.

Photos by Carhart Photography




Maybe you and your partner are outgoing, and don't mind the spotlight, but you just hate dancing. For the bride and groom that are feeling bold, why not try having a karaoke session? Start off the night with a "Mr. & Mrs." song and then open the mic up to everyone else. Pick a fun song that the crowd can get into that's got amazing beats, or if you're feeling something more romantic, pick you and your love's romantic ballad (ie: your song). It's a great opportunity to get your guests involved, and it's incredibly more entertaining than a traditional first dance (there's nothing wrong with a traditional first dance by the way). Everyone will remember what a fun and engaging part of your wedding this was, making unforgettable memories. Just think of how fun it will be to go back and watch the video of your wedding reception karaoke performance for all the years to come!

Photo by Tin Smith Events




If you and your partner are looking to make your wedding unique and want to do something memorable, this is your chance. You can do anything you'd like- remember, it's all about being authentic to yourselves and what would make you happiest. It's your opportunity to create your own "first" that can become a tradition for the two of you. The beauty of that is it can be anything you like. Maybe you have a couple's sparkler session where it's just the two of you, or you buy each other small gifts and exchange them in a quiet place. It can also be competitive- have a hula hoop contest or play a game like ping pong or darts to see who's skills are the best. There is nothing off limits here, so make it your own. Get creative and make your own "first" that will be as memorable and one of a kind as you are.

Photo by Cat Satre Photography

Whatever you and your partner decide to do, it's important to remember that it's your wedding, and that you should have a ceremony and a reception that you both love. You don't always have to follow tradition, and instead, you can make your own. After all, there's no rule that says you must have a first dance. Having the wedding of your dreams and doing what you love will make you happier in the long run. That's something we can definitely cheers to.

What do you think about our first dance alternatives? If you chose to go with one of the suggestions we made above, how did it work out? Which one was your favorite, or which one could you do without? Let us know- we want to hear from you! Reach out via Etsy or Instagram to connect with us. Let us help take the stress out of event planning- For more wedding inspiration, subscribe to the email list, follow us on Pinterest and scroll down below to save 10% on templates. That way, you can focus on what really matters.