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Dedicated June 2021

When do the spotlight dances occur?

Emily, on March 27, 2021 at 10:06 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 13

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I’m trying to decide when to do the father daughter dance. Does it occur after the first dance or later on during the reception? We are doing the first dance after dinner to start off the dancing part of the reception.
So far, our plan was after dinner and the cake cutting, we do the first dance, then about an hour of dancing then the bouquet and garter Toss then finish the rest of the night of just dancing. I’m just having trouble of deciding when to have the father daughter dance.

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Latest activity by Courtney, on March 30, 2021 at 9:33 AM

Legend November 2019
Caytlyn · on March 27, 2021 at 10:14 AM
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If you’re doing your first dance before dinner, the other spotlight dances typically occur after dinner and speeches.
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Legend July 2022
Lisa · on March 27, 2021 at 10:17 AM
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You can do the spotlight dances whenever you'd like! One thing I'd recommend is to do everything before the dance floor opens for everyone. That way, you won't interrupt open dancing and risk people not getting back out on the dance floor after the spotlight dance. If you're doing a plated meal, you could do spotlight dances in between dinner and dessert? Or right after your first dance?
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VIP August 2020
Katie · on March 27, 2021 at 10:19 AM
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Hi Emily! We had father/daughter dance later in the reception after cake cutting so guests had something to watch while they ate cake 😉 may work having yours after the first dance as already have guests attention so they don’t miss it. Good luck ❤️
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Beginner October 2025
Kayla · on March 27, 2021 at 10:48 AM
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We did the entrances. Then first dance. Then father-daughter. Then mother-son. Got them all out of the way, so then people could relax and eat.
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Dedicated June 2021
Emily · on March 27, 2021 at 10:53 AM
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We plan on doing our first dance after dinner.
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Expert April 2022
Fred · on March 27, 2021 at 10:56 AM
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L wanna steal your idea 😇. It's better than just be seated and watch the couple.
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VIP October 2021
Monica · on March 27, 2021 at 11:59 AM
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We are doing grand entrance straight to first dance. Toasts & speeches then dinner. At the tail end of dinner we are doing the rest of spotlight dances while ppl are still seated. Then cake cutting and open dancefloor for dancing. After an hour of dancing we will do bouquet and garter toss.
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Champion December 2022
Michelle · on March 27, 2021 at 2:51 PM
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Do what works for you. To be honest, most guests don't pay attention to spotlight dances so they can be done anytime: during dinner and get it out of the way so guests can dance after dinner or wait and do everything after dinner. If you can any spotlight stuff while guests are being served and eating, that will be your best bet since it allows guests more time for dancing, etc without the rush.
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Master August 2019
Rebecca · on March 27, 2021 at 9:36 PM
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We had dinner before we did any spotlight dances. We did our first dance, then father-daughter, then mother-son.
It's best to do them all at once, a lot of people expect dancing to open up after spotlights.
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Expert October 2021
Kristen · on March 29, 2021 at 8:14 PM
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At most weddings I've been to, the father-daughter dance immediately follows the first dance, and all of that dancing occurs after dinner. Now at my friend's wedding (that friend who is now one of my bridesmaids), she and her dad did their dance first, which was right after dinner. Then her husband did his dance with his mom, and then they did their first dance as a sort of finale before the dance floor was open. The one time I've ever seen the dances be done before dinner was at my cousin's wedding eight years ago.
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Expert March 2021
Nikki · on March 30, 2021 at 1:03 AM
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I was lost on this too. I did lots of research also made note of what I wanted to include in the reception. We did wedding party Intro, then right into our first dance, dinner, toasts speeches, then went to a first dance for my best friend and his wife, father/ dance #1 mother/son dance, then father/daughter #2. Once those were over did the rest of the gun stuff 🥰 hope this helps
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Expert September 2022
Courtney · on March 30, 2021 at 9:32 AM
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We briefly considered doing our parent dances before the first dance so that we could invite guests to the dance floor about halfway through the dance. I'm still considering it, but I've never seen or heard of anyone doing anything like that.
But what I've seen with a lot of weddings is grand entrance, cake cutting, dinner, toasts, first dance, parent dances, and any of the other 'activities' (bouquet/garter toss/anniversary dance) that way your dancing proceeds organically from there.
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Expert September 2022
Courtney · on March 30, 2021 at 9:33 AM
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Oh this is good to hear that I'm not the only person who's done/considered dancing with the parents before the 'first' dance.
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