Miss Airplane, Plymouth, MichiganAge and Occupation: 26, Fundraising Project CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Food & Beverage ManagerEngagement Date: March 31, 2012Wedding Date: September 2013Venue: Fox Hills Golf Club & Banquet CenterAbout Me: I'm a true Michigander (born and raised) and a die-hard Wolverine. I am the definition of a multi-tasker and like to believe I am also a perfectionist, but my horrible short-term memory likes to prove otherwise. I'm an English major and a pretty punny girl, so get ready for some really horrible plays on words! When I'm not consumed with wedding planning, I enjoy copious amounts of television and an equally unhealthy addiction to bacon.
Dad and daughter relationships have always made me slightly emotional. Whether in a movie, a book, or heck, even a TV commercial, there is no doubt that I will get a little misty eyed. (Mrs. Armadillo’s recent post about her dad walking her down the aisle? Pass the tissues, stat!)
The worst emo attacks come from songs. I was super into country music growing up, and this one always got me.
Miss Camera, Charlotte, NC/Charleston, SCAge and Occupation: 27 & Emergency Room Physician Assistant
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31 & Newspaper Editor/Designer
Engagement Date: October 7, 2012Wedding Date: September 2013Venue: The Island House, Charleston, SCAbout Me: I'm a north-to-south transplant, currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina, but still representing all things Pittsburgh, PA. One month after I moved to NC, I went on a date with a guy I met on Match.com, and now we're getting married! I work in a busy Emergency Room as a Physician Assistant and while the hours are sometimes difficult, I can't see myself doing anything else. I live with my fiance in uptown Charlotte. We have an opinionated 5 year old tabby cat named Milo and a sweet, but rambunctious 8 month old mutt named Charlie (short for Charlotte - she's a girl!). I've embraced Southern culture, and our wedding is no exception---what better location than Charleston, SC? I watch too much TV and know every word to every episode of Friends (I've watched The One With Monica and Chandler's Wedding at least a hundred times...hope I have enough money for Wedding Scenario A!). I love baking cupcakes, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State Nittany Lions and am openly addicted to celebrity gossip and pop culture.
The father-daughter dance. The moment where your daddy spends two to three minutes swaying with you to a sweet song about true, unconditional love. You are surrounded by friends and family who feel that love and often shed a few tears of joy.
Papa Camera is one of those extra-special dads. He’s always been there for me, gotten me out of about a million jams (mostly car-related), and can always make me laugh. He’s supported me emotionally and financially through 27 years of life, and loves Cam to pieces.
Cam told me that when we were up in Pittsburgh last summer for MOH JJ’s wedding, he asked my dad permission to propose to me. Here is how he said it went:
Mrs. Hawk, Richmond, VAAge and Occupation: 26, FinanceFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, District SupervisorEngagement Date: March 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Chapel of the Sir Christopher Wren Building, 2007 Legacy HallAbout Me: I’m an Arizona-born girl who has spent the majority of my life living below the Mason-Dixon line. The South has definitely earned a special place in my heart (alongside my Virginia born and bred fiance, of course!). We are planning a traditional Christian ceremony at my alma mater in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, followed by a rocking reception filled with Southern cooking and vintage/shabby chic details. When we’re not wedding planning, we enjoy spending time with our three dogs, going for runs together, watching plenty of football (or baseball depending on the season), and sampling new wine.
One of my favorite parts of the reception was the anniversary dance. Mr. Hawk and I took the dance floor and as the song progressed, Liz asked other couples to join us according to how long they had been married.
T and GM J were the first to join us, only being married three weeks. Needless to say T was quite excited.
Mrs. Dalmatian, Nashville, TNAge and Occupation: 23, Pediatric NurseFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer Engineer and Entrepreneur Engagement Date: April 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Historic CedarwoodAbout Me: I am a Northern girl from Chicago who is planning a wedding filled with Southern charm in Nashville, Tennessee. I love dogs, the White Sox, Full House reruns, and anything with ruffles on it. Mr. Dalmatian is my computer-genius problem-solving fiance who is constantly teaching me new things and making me a better person. We live with our adopted pup Echo, who is very excited that his parents are getting married!
Before we could pump up the jams and get the party started, there were a few dances that we had to get out of the way. The reason I put it like that is that the men involved in these dances were not exactly super excited about partaking. Don’t get me wrong, both Mr. Dalmatian and my dad were complete gentlemen and did wonderful jobs moving me about the dance floor, but neither is a fan of the art of dancing, especially when it is just them in front of a large crowd of onlookers. But despite their possible lack of enthusiasm, they stepped up to the plate and played their roles as groom and father of the bride quite handsomely. First up, our first dance as husband and wife.
After much contemplating, we selected Brad Paisley’s “Then” for our first-dance song. I know this has become a popular choice, but with good reason! I love how the lyrics capture the past, present, and future of a relationship, and as I have mentioned I am a huge sucker for Brad Paisley (props to anyone who noticed the Brad Paisley connection in the title of this post).
Mrs. Wizard, PittsburghAge and Occupation: 22, Front-end Web DeveloperFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Software ProgrammerEngagement Date: June 8, 2011Wedding Date: June 2012Venue: Glades Pike Winery, Somerset, PAAbout Me: I’m a born-and-raised Pittsburgh girl marrying a born-and-raised Pittsburgh dude. I’m a stubborn Italian with a huge personality, and I love oldies music, baking, housewifery, and all things Harry Potter. He’s a quiet, level-headed guy who loves my cooking and laughs good-naturedly at my lack of verbal filter. He’s an intellectual who likes to learn, and can often be found going on "Wiki walks" and landing on the most hilariously weird articles imaginable. We truly are a case of "opposites attract," and we balance each other out perfectly. We keep each other sane and make each other laugh so hard we cry almost every day, and that’s all I could ever ask for. Together we’re planning a simple, elegant, summery June wedding, and we can’t wait to be Mr. and Mrs.!
Right after cutting our cake (and after I managed to gag mine down), we made our way to the dance floor for our first dance as husband and wife.
This is always one of my favorite moments of a wedding reception. My someday-imaginary-first-dance is one of the few wedding-related things I daydreamed about since I was a little girl. I can remember being younger than 10 years old and proclaiming to my aunt in the car one day that “Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Savage Garden was going to be my first dance song at my wedding, and she promised she’d hold me to it. Luckily she broke that promise, and we were able to select a better song.
We stepped onto the dance floor, pulled each other close, and began our dance.
Mrs. Doily, Cedar Rapids, IowaAge and Occupation: 25, Autism Paraeducator/ StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, IT Hosting SupportEngagement Date: August 27th, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Father’s Vineyard Church/ A Touch of Class Banquet CenterAbout Me: I’m an Iowan girl with a deep love of Harry Potter, classic movies, cardigans, and Post-Its. My type-A Virgo tendencies often cause me to drive my laid-back college sweetheart fiance batty with lists and PowerPoint presentations. I love to be crafty and do things myself, which explains why my two crazy kittens often will prance around the house covered in glitter and ribbons. When I am not bogged down with work, school, or wedding planning, I like to travel to visit my expansive family and have wild adventures with my best friends. After a rollercoaster ride of a love story, I’m ready to take that final plunge, marry the love of my life, and become a Mrs.!
Now that the dollar dance was over, it was time to really let loose and get down. Our DJ cranked the music and played all of our favorites to get the guests up on the floor. From this point on, the floor was never empty until it was time to leave:
Mrs. Doily, Cedar Rapids, IowaAge and Occupation: 25, Autism Paraeducator/ StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, IT Hosting SupportEngagement Date: August 27th, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Father’s Vineyard Church/ A Touch of Class Banquet CenterAbout Me: I’m an Iowan girl with a deep love of Harry Potter, classic movies, cardigans, and Post-Its. My type-A Virgo tendencies often cause me to drive my laid-back college sweetheart fiance batty with lists and PowerPoint presentations. I love to be crafty and do things myself, which explains why my two crazy kittens often will prance around the house covered in glitter and ribbons. When I am not bogged down with work, school, or wedding planning, I like to travel to visit my expansive family and have wild adventures with my best friends. After a rollercoaster ride of a love story, I’m ready to take that final plunge, marry the love of my life, and become a Mrs.!
There has been many a debate about whether or not couples want to include a dollar dance in their reception. It wasn’t a debate for us, though, as it’s a very traditional thing to do in the Midwest, especially in Eastern Iowa where there is a heavy German/Polish (I myself, am half German) population. Every single wedding I have been to in this area has had it, and no one has ever blinked twice. In fact, I have found that it’s often common practice to hold back some of the money you wanted to gift the couple and save it for the dollar dance. Because of this, when the DJ announced the dollar dance, we had lines immediately form. Most people see it as a fantastic way to get a little extra one-on-one time with the bride and groom.
MOH A and Best Man N both took their positions near us to collect any offerings and also to keep track of time. I noticed that during this time, a lot of people took the time to talk to other people they may know or work on our guestbook pages when they weren’t dancing with Mr. D or me:
*
My mom was the first person in Mr. D’s line. She thought it was a hoot when he gave her a turn:
Mrs. Pain au Chocolat, Wilmington, DEAge and Occupation: 29, RealtorFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, RealtorEngagement Date: November 21, 2009Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Greenville Country ClubAbout Me: An ENFJ with an artistic streak who loves backgammon, sailing, graphic design, and sleeping in. Travel (near or far), good wine, and tasty food makes my heart sing. I'm a compulsive list-maker who lives to plan and organize. Mr. P and I have lived together for 4 years, all the while renovating our city townhome bit by bit. We're planning a whimsical, Anthropologie-inspired garden wedding in June 2011.
Given the post title, you can probably surmise that “In My Life” won out as our father-daughter dance song. Daddy PaC and I have too much fondness for The Beatles to dance to anyone else. Lyrically and sentimentally, “In My Life” made the most sense. Dancing to this song just felt right. Because of my dad’s misgivings about the tempo, Mr. PaC and I did a quick demo to show that it needed no choreography, just a general idea of how we’d move. All I had to do was follow Daddy PaC’s lead.
A proud Daddy PaC leading me onto the dance floor. (My grandmother and two aunts are framed underneath our arms.)
Mrs. Sunhat, Dyer, IN Age and Occupation: 32, Tax AccountantFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Landscape ForemanEngagement Date: September 25, 2010Wedding Date: December 2011Venues: St. Andrew the Apostle, Fiesta PalaceAbout Me: I'm a Midwest girl who grew up in the country and now works in the big city! I love cooking, entertaining, reading (addicted to my Kindle) and going to the movies. I don't miss an episode of Hoarders and I start cleaning every time I watch! My profession doesn't call for much creativity so wedding planning has been a great outlet. Mr. Sunhat and I met online three years ago, cheer for rival MLB teams and share a home with our dog, Wrigley. We are planning a traditional, Polish, Catholic wedding with lots of DIY elements and some fun surprises. I'm so excited to be married on New Year's Eve and we can't wait to ring in the new year as husband and wife!
Mrs. Bunting, Grand Rapids, MIAge and Occupation: 25, freelance illustratorFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, retail/graduateEngagement Date: December 3, 2009Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Spring Grove Park & St. George Banquet CenterAbout Me: I am a freelance illustrator and designer with a love of nature and a taste for adventure. Textures and color fuel my world, along with apple cider and noodles. I'll try anything once, especially if it involves heights or food. I've hiked the Grand Canyon, gone sky diving, cuddled a baby wolf, and now my latest venture consists of designing and planning a large wedding involving color, DIY details, love, and marrying my best friend.
I was nervous and excited for our first dance as newlyweds. Nervous, because neither of us is very good at dancing. Excited, because our chosen song is awesome. At least to us. Maybe to you too? Let’s put it on to set the mood:
The song speaks to us on multiple levels and never fails to make me feel incredibly alive and inspired. It’s not your typical first-dance song, and it’s not even much of a traditional love song, but it is ours and it was perfect for beginning the next step of our adventure.
Mrs. Otter, Indianapolis, INAge and Occupation: 22, Freelance Social Media ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, CVS Shift SupervisorEngagement Date: November 11, 2011Wedding Date: April 2013Venue: Mustard Seed GardensAbout Me: I'm a born and raised Hoosier girl, but a diehard Michigan Wolverines fan. I have a tendency to take too many photos and spend full days having TV marathons. Mr. Otter and I met in high school, started dating a couple years later, and moved in after a month of being official. He is easygoing and makes plans on a whim, while I'm color coordinating my planner and organizing everything in sight. He hates glitter, but it's my favorite thing. I have tattoos and he still won't get one, despite my attempts to convince him. We're planning a small, rustic, and (hopefully!) peony-filled wedding to get our married life started. (And yes, there will be glitter involved!)
If that title didn’t capture your attention —let me say it again:
Today we’re talking about DANCE OFFS.
Yep, at the wedding. Here’s what happened: Mr. Otter and Best Man Batman declared that they wanted their own dance. They reasoned that if Mr. Otter gets a dance with me, why does he not get a dance with his best man!? At first, I laughed this off. There was no way I planned to let this happen. But then…genius struck. The boys want their own dance? Fine. Then the girls will have our dance too.
Mrs. Hawk, Richmond, VAAge and Occupation: 26, FinanceFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, District SupervisorEngagement Date: March 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Chapel of the Sir Christopher Wren Building, 2007 Legacy HallAbout Me: I’m an Arizona-born girl who has spent the majority of my life living below the Mason-Dixon line. The South has definitely earned a special place in my heart (alongside my Virginia born and bred fiance, of course!). We are planning a traditional Christian ceremony at my alma mater in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, followed by a rocking reception filled with Southern cooking and vintage/shabby chic details. When we’re not wedding planning, we enjoy spending time with our three dogs, going for runs together, watching plenty of football (or baseball depending on the season), and sampling new wine.
After Daddy Hawk’s and my emotional daddy-daughter dance, it was Mr. Hawk’s turn to take the floor. Originally Mr. Hawk was against doing a mother-son dance. He typically avoids dance floors at all costs and didn’t want to be the center of attention; however, as the day approached and we had our final vendor meetings, he had a change of heart. He selected Louis Armstrong’s classic, “What a Wonderful World.”
Mrs. Hawk, Richmond, VAAge and Occupation: 26, FinanceFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, District SupervisorEngagement Date: March 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Chapel of the Sir Christopher Wren Building, 2007 Legacy HallAbout Me: I’m an Arizona-born girl who has spent the majority of my life living below the Mason-Dixon line. The South has definitely earned a special place in my heart (alongside my Virginia born and bred fiance, of course!). We are planning a traditional Christian ceremony at my alma mater in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, followed by a rocking reception filled with Southern cooking and vintage/shabby chic details. When we’re not wedding planning, we enjoy spending time with our three dogs, going for runs together, watching plenty of football (or baseball depending on the season), and sampling new wine.
Although I had the best intentions not to cry, there was no fighting the tears back when it came time to dance with Daddy Hawk. Working with my DOC/DJ Liz, we created a special surprise recording to the beginning of our song. While I had already made the recording and knew what I said, nothing could have prepared me for hearing it for the first time and seeing my father’s reaction.
“Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke with Hawk intro:
Mrs. Toadstool, Obregon, MexicoAge and Occupation: 23, Research AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Sales ManagerEngagement Date: October 1, 2011Wedding Date: December 2012Venue: Hacienda los AgavesAbout Me: I’m a born and bred Mexican girl with a severe coffee addiction, an obsession for books and an aversion for exercise. I like to plan things, so this wedding’s my dream project---I just need to remind myself from time to time that I’m the bride and not just the planner. I recently realized brown’s my favorite color as I was trying to incorporate it in every aspect of our wedding and I'm dreaming of an autumn vibe since we don’t have that around here. I’m marrying my best friend and partner in crime on the day of our nine-year anniversary! He’s an awesome, smart, fun guy who is patient, and crazy enough to spend the rest of his life with me. We’re planning our not-so-dreamy dream wedding in December in a non-traditional way and making it our own.
There’s a song I grew up listening to. It’s kind of a classic. In the song a guy asks the woman in his life about the new man in her life, telling her to go with him and be happy and not to think about how he’s hurting. In the chorus he sings:
What’s he like? Where did he fall in love with you?
Where’s he from? What does he do with his free time?
Ask him why did he take a piece of my life?
He’s a thief that took everything away from me.
Here’s Marc Anthony’s version with English translation:
I always liked the song, but it took a total different meaning a few months ago when a coworker mentioned that although the song is widely known as a romantic song, it was inspired by the writer’s daughter when she got engaged.
Mrs. Sparkler, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 27, WriterFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, PublisherEngagement Date: July 21, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Chicago Illuminating CompanyAbout Me: I’m a Southern lady living in the big city of Chicago. Well, lady may be a stretch, but I’m working hard to keep some Virginia charm in our sleek, urban, wedding-palooza! I’m addicted to marathons, not-so-famous bands, Chicago restaurants, and Mark Twain. I cry during SPCA commercials, and I think LOST was the best show to ever hit television. Mr. S and I met at a classy college mixer and, 7 years later, he’s still by my side. He’s the only child, laid back, free spirit... I’m the oldest of five kids, type-A, organizer. It doesn’t work on paper, but we’ve never paid attention to that stuff anyway. Somehow it works. And like they say, sometimes when you know…you just know.
Before our wedding, I always stood firmly in the “no lessons needed” camp when it came to preparing for the first dance. I was convinced that it was silly and time consuming and no one would ever even notice that we’d re-learned the fox trot or waltz.
Buuuut…I have to admit, I think I’ve changed my mind.
Click to play our first dance song as you read along…
