We wanted to get all the “official” wedding stuff done quickly so people could just relax and have fun, so we did our dances to get everything going. We did not prepare a cool choreographed dance for our first move. We slow shuffled with Cherry Bomb, who would occasionally reach up and push our faces together to make us kiss. Even though the first dance is usually really awkward for everyone, both participating and observing, I really loved it. (I can’t speak for my guests. They look pretty damn bored in the background of these pictures.) We danced to the song I had dreamed we would dance to at our wedding since we first started dating. And, if you remember from earlier, it is also the inspiration behind the engraving on my wedding ring—Jonathan Richman’s “My Baby Love Love Loves Me.”
My baby love love loves me now/Even more than I prayed for/My baby love love loves me now/Even more than I praaaayed
I prayed/I asked/But I didn’t expect this/My baby love love loves me now/Even more than I prayed for/Even more than I prayed
Well she loves/She does/But I had to be ready for it/Well she loves/She does/But I had to be reeeeeady
I prayed /I asked/And I was blessed
Well, my baby love love loves me now/Even more than I prayed for/Even more than I prayed
Well, she loves/She hates/But she communicates
And my baby love love loves me now/Even more than I prayed for/Even more than I prayed
My dad dance was pretty weird, too. My dad and I don’t necessarily listen to the same music, and when I asked him what he wanted to use to dance with me, he said he’d get back to me. And he didn’t. So, I had to figure out what song encapsulated my dad to me. Whenever I think of my dad and music, I think of three different songs. Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” (because he enjoys singing it), Marty Robbins’s “El Paso” (also because he enjoys singing it), and Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Edmund Fitzgerald” (because he listened to it a lot.) None of them really seemed right for the moment, but Johnny Cash seemed like a good bet. So, I found a version of him singing “You Are My Sunshine.” It is probably the saddest version of that song ever recorded, but, hey, it was an artist we could both get behind and everyone knows the lyrics.
We shuffle danced and spent most of the dance talking and joking around. He asked for my critique of his speech and seemed generally happy. It was exactly what I expected.
It was a sweet moment and I’m glad we kept the traditional dances. It was something we toyed with not doing.
Like I said, lots of laugh. My sister made fun of us for just talking the entire time.
Mr. Cannon’s first dance with his mom was equally unplanned. Right off the bat, he decided to do a Neil Diamond song since his mom is a big fan, but he spent a long time figuring out which song he wanted to do. He finally chose the crowd-pleaser, “Sweet Caroline.” If you are nervous about your dance, it’s a pretty good choice, because everyone will take their attention off of you and do the “so good! so good!” chants and sing along parts.
MIL Cannon LOVES to dance, and I could tell this was a really special moment for her. Mr. Cannon is the third of four boys, and is the first to get married. I think she had been thinking of this dance for a long time before it happened.
How did you pick the songs you used for your traditional dances?
All Photos by Mary Wyar Photography
Oh these dance pictures are so sweet! I love all of the wedding pictures showing you two and your daughter. My toddler often makes my husband and I kiss, too. It’s so sweet!
My dad and I are going to dance to the song we danced to at his wedding when I was seven. I remember him putting me on his shoes and dancing with me. The song has always held a special spot in my heart and I couldn’t think of any other song that would be more perfect. My FI wants to surprise me with our first dance song.
I love that you danced with Cherry Bomb, those pictures look perfect.
I LOVE your first dance pictures. And (maybe it’s hormones) but I totally teared up at the part where Cherry Bomb made you kiss. That is so sweet.
Aw, your dance with Cherry Bomb is just too sweet!
Seriously, you two dancing with Cherry Bomb is the cutest! Such a special moment with you three 
Great pics!
I’m pretty sure that my father-daughter dance will be My Girl. He plays guitar, and when I was 8 or 9, he decided to teach me some “must know” (in his opinion) songs. My Girl was one of them, so I have many memories of him strumming away on his guitar and me singing the words to My Girl while jumping on the bed (as little girls are prone to do at Dad’s house without Mom there to say no jumping on the bed).
Had my bridal shower at the Ward Pavilion! Hope to see more details of your reception
Mrs. Cannon, Toledo, OH Age and Occupation: 27, Financial Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Assembler Engagement Date: February 28, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2011 Venue: Epworth UMC & Ward Pavilion About Me: I'm the curious combination of being a go-with-the-flow, laid back, obsessive planner. I try desperately to stay as busy as possible at all times (and am succeeding big time right now!) My biggest loves in life are Law & Order: SVU, Community (the show, not the concept, although I like that, too), ice cream, white cheddar popcorn, beer, hiking, knitting, decorating, writing, being outside, spending time with friends and family and musical theater. Mr. Cannon is pretty sweet, too. We've had a lot of fun traveling and having adventures all over the country, but have finally moved back near our hometown to settle down. We're planning a low-key, colorful, fun wedding and an awesome-to-the-max reception.
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