A daddy-daughter dance can be just as memorable as a bride and groom’s first dance — especially when it’s one that guests talk about for years! I asked my dad even before I was engaged to take dance lessons with me and he gladly accepted and added dance to his typical pastimes of sports, fishing and hunting. Seven months, two dance styles and many weekly lessons later, we pulled off a flawless performance. His success was due in part to the stand-in partner he created for practice sessions: a basement pole with bungee cords attached to its sides, mimicking arms. Many guests asked my dad if he was a professional dancer, and to this day, he receives accolades for his moves. He continues to take lessons, but this time with his my mom, Jodi. She jokes that she will outdo us with an epic mommy-son dance (provided that my brother ties the knot one day)!

We received a gift certificate to Arthur Murray Royal Oak from my parents and we wasted no time starting 10 months before our wedding. With time by our side, we enjoyed the process of learning plenty of social dances and narrowed our first dance performance to our favorite styles: the rumba and foxtrot. We smiled and laughed throughout our performance and impressed our guests with fancy dips, spins and even a lift!! We attribute our success to starting lessons early and having an encouraging instructor who made everything come together beautifully.

In learning a first dance for their wedding, we grew closer as a couple. Our favorite part of dancing at Arthur Murray is the emotional response and physical connection it creates between us. It puts you in such an amazing mood with an added adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment. We relish in celebrating every move we get right and look forward to learning more.