Wedding Blog
My favorite movie between the ages of 10 and 13 was Dirty Dancing. I think I must have watched this movie over 200 times during this three year period. I thought Patrick Swayze was the most handsome man on earth and I loved their summer romance and forbidden love! Mr. Pinot Noir and I started dance lessons last night and all I could think was “Spaghetti Arms” and “Keep that Chin Up.”
We both have two left feet so we needed some serious help before attempting to dance in front of others. We looked into private lessons but decided that group lessons were a better fit for our budget. Another advantage to taking a class instead of private lessons is that it takes a little pressure and attention off of us and we get used to dancing around others.
We signed up for an 8 week class that meets for one hour every Thursday evening. I was a little nervous about the class but excited too! We arrived to find that in addition to us, there was one couple and one single woman there. We learned after the class that the other couple is moving to a different class at another location… Do you know what this means?! We are essentially paying the group rate for private lessons! How lucky is that!? Our instructor is great and in the first one hour lesson we learned the basics of the foxtrot and the waltz.
While Mr. PN and I still haven’t figured out how to turn in circle, and I am not a very good “follower” (I’m more of a leader-type), with some practice (okay - a lot of practice) I think we will be able to put on an acceptable show for our first dance as husband and wife.
How are you preparing for the first dance?
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We are taking lessons, too. So fun, but we don’t practice like we should! So far, we have only done 2-step (live in TX) but hope to move to the more formal ones soon…
We are taking lessons - and the first lesson the instructor and I jinxed in saying “spagetti arms!” and she almost fell over laughing when I clarified to my fiance that “this is my dance space, this is yours.” Both of which got my confused looks from my fiance… he had never seen Dirty Dancing!!!! We corrected that oversight a few nights later. =)
So funny that you just posted about Dirty Dancing - I did too!
http://barefootstargazer.blogspot.com/2008/07/real-life-love-and-indy-racing.html
Different context, same great movie!
We’ve been taking lessons since last September - it’s a LOT of fun! We’re actually working with our dance instructor from our previous group lessons on a first dance - it’s going to be pretty exciting.
I completely understand with the “I struggle with leading when I’m supposed to be following” mentality. I’m a pretty bad follow. I wish I could give you tips, but all I can say is: “He’s the leader and thinker on the dance floor, but everywhere else… that’s me.” My sister swing dances a lot and something the follows do is wear a blindfold for a dance or two. I haven’t tried it, but I imagine that since you can’t see what he’s doing, you have to follow?
Have fun!
I’ve taught dance lessons for years, and I *always* recommend group classes for beginners for exactly the reasons you said. Hopefully, you’re getting to rotate to other partners during the class. That’s a great way to keep from developing bad habits together. Glad you’re having fun!
We mostly just need to decide on a song. So many of the songs we love to dance to don’t have words or are *very* inappropriate for a wedding. “Crazy ‘Bout My Baby” by Fats Waller is currently the leader.
@mdarrah: I’m so glad I’m not the only one reciting Dirty Dancing during lessons!
@missbean: Great idea about the blindfold! We might try that the next time we practice.
When I saw this post, I was sooo hoping you were going to say that you’re doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYhlm9GTAQ0
I tried to get my fiance to do this, but I’m just going to settle on “I’ve had the time of my life” as the last song of the night. 
gotta have some DD on my wedding night!
well i am the dancer which is the problem because as much as I am full of dance moves and keeping with the beat my FH is NOT!!! and I mean two left feet and a problem with hand feet cordination!!! IDK what to do with him I still have 15 more months lets see what I can do with him… I got him dancing to merengue but I love Salsa (we are Puerto Rican) and he is LOST!!! maybe I should have my mom teach em? hhmmmm!!! Good Luck
we lucked out - we met dancing.
for those considering lessons, definitely take some group classes and switch partners often - it really helps the learning process, allows you space to learn and make mistakes and diffuses some of the tension, especially if one partner is getting it faster than that other.
whatever the situation, try to relax and have fun - no point if you’re not enjoying it.
[...] Mr. Pinot Noir and I are headed to Birmingham, Alabama this weekend for a wedding. Mr. PN and the groom were college roommates! This is my first southern wedding and I am really looking forward to it! I am especially excited about practicing our new dance moves. [...]
[...] may remember that Mr. PN and I took a ballroom dance class this summer. Well, because Songbird isn’t your standard Waltz or Fox trot, we decided to sign up [...]
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Mrs. Pinot Noir, New York/Napa Valley
Age and Occupation: 24, Health Educator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Market Researcher
Engagement Date: November 10, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 25, 2008
Venue: Auberge du Soleil
About Me: I am a Minnesota raised, NYC transplant planning a destination wedding in Napa. I'm balancing my love for the environment and my hubby-to-be's love for tradition to create our "green wedding in disguise." Our wedding will include local food and wine, antique touches and lots of love and laughter. When wedding planning isn't taking up my free time (and money) I love to read, cook, workout, watch baseball and travel! Follow along in my adventure as I attempt to plan an eco-friendly and socially responsible wedding (with eco-oblivious Mr. Pinot Noir).
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