How to plan a father daughter dance
Everything You Need to Know
Ah, the father-daughter dance. It's that moment during the celebration when the bride honors their father, and it represents the gratitude they have for their father's love as they enter a new phase of life. At best, this dance can provide a sweet moment of family connection; at worst, it can feel a little antiquated. Either way, it's a staple at many, if not most, weddings. The father-daughter dance (similar to the mother-son dance, which usually follows) is a way to shine a spotlight on the person who helped guide the newlywed through life.
As you consider integrating the tradition into your wedding, questions will likely arise, such as: When does the father-daughter dance take place? How long should it last? What song should we choose? Where did the tradition come from, anyway? Well, we have answers to all those questions and more. We spoke to Alicia Mae, owner and lead wedding planner of ILÉ Events, about everything pertaining to the father-daughter dance.
Meet the Expert
Alicia Mae is a New Jersey-based wedding planner and the CEO of ILÉ Events.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about the father-daughter dance tradition.
The History and Meaning of the Father-Daughter Dance
As many wedding traditions do, the father-daughter dance stems from our patriarchal history. Back when most marriages were arranged and social, political, and monetary alliances were what led to unions rather than love, the father-daughter dance served as a sort of final demand by the bride's father before their husband became the most important man in their life. After this dance, the bride would be able to dance with their new spouse, whom they had likely only met recently.
Nowadays, the father-daughter dance doesn't carry the same meaning and seldom comes first, at least in American wedding culture. "Initially, in the previous era, the father would have the first dance with his daughter and then 'give her away' to her husband," Mae explains.
"As culture evolved, many couples opted for the first dance to be theirs. Now, you will find the father-daughter dance taking place right after the newlywed's first dance."
Since love is the primary driver for marriage these days, most traditions rooted in gender inequality have been reclaimed as special moments between two people who deeply care for one another. The father-daughter dance is regarded as a beautiful moment between a bride and their father and symbolizes their appreciation for the love and guidance they received throughout their life.
Father-Daughter Dance FAQs
When should we have the father-daughter dance?
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.
What song should we dance to?
You can talk to your father about what song they would like to dance to, but ultimately, it's up to you.
"Some brides choose a heartfelt song that leaves the crowd in tears while other brides option for a song that brings laughter as Dad boogies," Mae says. Whether fast or slow, it should be something that speaks to your relationship. Thankfully, there are a bunch to choose from.
Should we choreograph the dance?
If you're dancing to a more upbeat song, it's not a bad idea. If you're sticking to a traditional slow dance, it might not be necessary, and you can just opt for a couple of dance lessons instead.
Can I also include my stepparents?
Of course! You can always switch partners and songs midway through. If you have a few people you'd like to honor, they can take turns cutting in to share the dance.
Raised by two fathers? Pick two songs, shorten them to about two minutes each, and dedicate a special dance to each of your dads, one after the other.
How long should the dance last?
A lot of the time, the dance will last as long as the song does, granted it falls in the three-to-four minute range.
Some people recommend, however, playing a shortened version rather than the full one, since guests' attention spans tend to wane.
Tradition Alternatives
Wedding traditions are not one-size-fits-all and should not be treated as such. There are many ways brides can go about making the father-daughter dance their own. First, it's important to acknowledge that some brides might not have a relationship with their father or, sadly, may no longer have them in their lives. In this case, one might choose to dance with their mother, another family member, or someone else who played an important role in their life growing up.
Mae says that she's seen many creative ways in which couples modernize traditions, which helps to put a unique spin on a wedding. "One of my favorite experiences was watching the newlyweds have their first dance while the bride and groom's parents dance alongside them," Mae recalls. "It was an extended first dance that exemplified the love between each family.
Later in the song, other married couples joined in on the fun. This unique twist presented the feeling of family and unity, compared to the old tradition," she says. "Instead of a father giving his daughter away, the two families became one."
As always, whether you stay classic, remix the tradition, or forego it altogether, the choice is yours. "Individually and collectively, the message or traditions you want to begin as a couple rely entirely on you," Mae says. "Starting and sticking to that truth will help you pick what is most valuable to you while wedding planning."
7 Viral Father-Daughter Moments From Real Weddings to Melt Your Heart
15 Father-Daughter Dance Themes and Ideas
We value your privacy. We use cookies and other technologies to keep the site reliable and secure, tailor your experience, measure site performance and present relevant offers and advertisements, as described in our Privacy Policy. Got it!
| Resources / School Posted by Sarah Pryor Father-Daughter dances are a great chance for dad to bond with his little girl, all while getting dressed up and showcasing some silly dance moves.
Organize food donations for the dance with an online sign up. SAMPLE
Coordinate volunteers for dance setup and cleanup with an oline sign up. SAMPLE
Cherish these daddy-daughter moments! Sarah Pryor is a journalist, wife, mom and Auburn football fan living in Charlotte, N.C. | |
Whether it’s a room full of toddlers or a group of teenagers cutting a rug with their pops, here are 15 themes and ideas to make your father-daughter dance something they’ll both remember for a lifetime. 
Your photo booth can include feather boas, candy cigars, fedoras and other pieces from the period. 
When dads and daughters want to take a break from dancing to “Luck be a Lady,” have “dealers” teach them to play some simple card and dice games. Hire an Elvis impersonator, or suggest dads dress up as The King himself so you can have an Elvis impression contest.
Bring in a line dance instructor to teach the cowboys and their little cowgirls how to really get down on the farm. 
You could also bring in a dance instructor or two to show dads and daughters the basics of ballroom dance.
” Outfits for guests can be simple and varied: dad can choose whether to be the scarecrow or one of Dorothy’s other pals, while daughters can put on some blue gingham to channel their inner Dorothy (or even a pointy black hat to become the witch). DIY your own “Emerald City” backdrop or see if your local theater company has one to spare. Details like sparkly red shoes and stuffed dogs in baskets as centerpieces will bring this theme to life.
Father and Bride Dance
Ballroom Dance Latin American Dance Contemporary Dance Strip Plastic Yoga
Fitness Oriental Dance Children Dance Wedding Dance All Directions
Father and Bride Dance
Dance of the father and the bride - a symbol of love and respect
Honoring parents during the wedding ceremony is performed in a dance, this is the best way to demonstrate love and respect.
If you are going to get married, then you must definitely take care of the organization of this dance, because it will become a moment that will remain in the heart and in the memories of the dearest person - the father - for many years.
The dance of the father and the bride is an old wedding tradition, in another way it is called honoring.
This moment consists in the fact that during the ceremony there is a dance of the young with their mothers and fathers. In order for this exciting moment to stick in your memory for a long time and give you the most pleasant memories, you need to correctly plan the movements. This is a crucial moment that can cause tears even in unemotional people. He personifies respect and gratitude addressed to the main people in life, who gave birth and raised the young.
In just 3-5 minutes before the eyes of the father and daughter, all the carefree childhood presented by the father runs through. Traditionally, this dance is the second number.
This is an obligatory element of the entire solemn program. In life, there are situations when the father, for various reasons, cannot be present at the wedding. A dance composition is organized with other family members, it all depends on the personal preferences of the bride. An important role is played by the preparation for the dance.
Enroll
Secrets of successful dance preparation
On the one hand, this composition is a sweet and delicate moment in the entire celebration, but the ritual will not take place if there is no quality preparation for it. Several important points are taken into account:
- style and choreographic features of the dance;
- setting composition;
- time for rehearsals;
- musical composition;
- additional design and decorations;
- father's speech.
Turning to the Fashion Dance dance studio, you can prepare a truly touching number that will impress any guest.
The main condition observed by our specialists is to do everything so that both dance partners feel confident. And to achieve such a result is possible only through contacting specialists.
Choice of style and music
It is important to fully consider the choreography and music of the wedding dance. Depending on the father's ability to perform dance movements and his daughter's knowledge in this area, you can choose:
- waltz;
- tango;
- medley;
- rumba.
You will please your father if you choose a composition that will remind him of the carefree and happy years of his youth. Also, musical compositions are often chosen, in which touching words about the relationship between father and daughter appear. Such songs cause a storm of emotions in dancing people and their guests. The use of foreign compositions is not recommended, because the Russian word can sincerely convey all the awe, warmth and tenderness.
Why it is important to turn to professionals
The Fashion Dance studio employs masters of their craft who know and love it.
It is easy to choose the solution that you see fit, and you do not have to worry about how the chosen dance looks from the outside, because our specialists will organize everything at the highest level and will allow you to get a lot of impressions.
Wedding dance of father and daughter: types, how to stage it correctly
Contents
- Why does the father dance with his daughter at her wedding?
- Types of modern dances of father and daughter
- Potpourri
- Dance scene
- Folk dance
- Dance with song
- Waltz
- Classical dance
- What to choose?
- How to organize?
A wedding is perhaps the most touching event in the life of every person. On this day, excitement overcomes everyone: both parents and grown-up children.
Many traditions and customs are associated with the marriage process: they are honored and believed that compliance with the unspoken rules is guaranteed to lead to a happy and strong union of two people.
One of the most beautiful and touching traditions of the wedding event is the father's dance with his adult daughter-bride. But, despite the fact that many consider this ritual mandatory, few people know where it came from.
Beautiful and touching dance of the father with the bride
Why does the father dance with his daughter at her wedding?
The tradition originated in ancient times. Now no one will answer the question of who decided to be the first to dance with her daughter at her wedding, but the meaning of the rite itself has been deciphered. The fact is that a wedding in Ancient Rus' was inextricably linked with death - in the sense that a girl died, and a woman, a mother, a successor to her husband's family, was born.
The dance symbolizes the girl's farewell to her former family
For the last time her father holds her in his arms - now she no longer belongs to him.
A man gives his treasure to another "owner" - her husband. The wedding dance is the last unity of father and daughter, she is no longer subject to him.
In addition, it is stated that in this way the father says that the girl is untouched, pure. He seems to guarantee that none of the men, except the father, touched the girl, and the father passes this honor to own the treasure - an innocent girl - to the groom.
In modern times, the ceremony of the wedding dance of father and daughter has lost its true meaning.
Types of modern dances of father and daughter
Custom does not state what exactly the wedding dance of father and daughter should be. Below we list the most common options.
Potpourri
Original combination of various cuts from popular compositions, mix. It attracts by the fact that the movements do not need to be learned, it is more like a fun improvisation. The potpourri dance gained popularity after the performance of a father and daughter from an American family - they danced cheerfully and fieryly, not really thinking about the rhythm and synchronization of movements.
Types of wedding dance of father and daughter
Dance-scene
Often performed to a song from a famous cartoon or movie. Heroes - father and daughter - play well-known characters. You need to prepare for such a dance: think over the plot and movements.
Folk dance
Popular among middle-aged people, and young people often play along with them. For example, a square dance looks great: its movements are simple, and the music is cheerful and incendiary.
Dance with song
Requires at least minimal vocal skills. More often, the bride sings a song in honor of her beloved father and invites him to dance, and a slow composition is usually chosen. This option is good because only a girl can rehearse, the father’s business is just to circle his daughter in a dance.
Waltz
The most beautiful dance. For the first time, a father and daughter performed it at a wedding in the 19th century, since then the waltz has not lost its relevance and has not gone out of fashion.
Requires joint rehearsals of dancers.
Classical dance
The simplest and most affordable option: even those who claim they can't dance can do it. Dad does not have to rehearse, it is enough to remember his young years and circle his daughter in a dance.
Classical dance - the easiest option
What to choose?
First of all, focus on individual abilities. Everyone knows that some people find it difficult to perform in public - in this case, choose a regular slow dance, or let the daughter sing a song and invite her father to dance.
Remember that a wedding is a very exciting event for everyone. Whatever acting skills a father or daughter has, at such a moment it is very easy to get confused: you should not be wiser with movements.
The following melodies are suitable for slow dance:
- Mozart "Music of Angels";
- Sanna Nielsen Undo;
- Garou "Gitan";
- Alsou "Father's Daughter";
- Soso Pavliashvili "White Veil";
- L.
Agutin "Father next to you"; - Eric Clapton Wonderful Tonight.
Choose the closest one. Perhaps there is a particular composition that particular dancers like.
If a dance scene is planned, it is necessary to rehearse - in this case, professional choreographers or wedding planners can help.
A wedding is an exciting event for everyone
How to organize it?
This dance shouldn't come as a surprise. Therefore, if the young people decide to include a father-daughter dance in the wedding scenario, both parties must be ready.
It would be good if the background on the screen were shots taken from children's photographs of a girl in a family circle.
Usually it looks very touching, brings tears to the eyes of guests - such moments are remembered for a long time
Take care of comfortable clothes and shoes. Especially if you are planning a fast, incendiary performance. A broken heel can ruin not only the dance, but also the bride's evening.
