If your wedding is coming up in October, November or December now is the time to consider your first dance!

Will it be slow and romantic or upbeat and swingy?  Will your dance have  lots of movement  to show off a big dance floor or are you working with a small square or runway floor and need something compact?

Don’t have a song yet?

Well, let me tell you what some of my couples are using right now so you can get those creative juices flowing!

Click on the (Lyrics) link to see the wonderful words to these great first dance songs and see if they don’t just describe your relationship perfectly!

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First Dance Songs!

“Wrapped Up In You” by Garth Brooks (Lyrics)

“Someone Like You” by Van Morrison (Lyrics)

“Yellow” by Coldplay (Lyrics)

“Better Together” by Jack Johnson (Lyrics)

“When The Stars Go Blue” by Tim McGraw (Lyrics)

“I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” by Savage Garden (Lyrics)

“These Are The Days” by Van Morrison (Lyrics)

“L-O-V-E” by Frank Sinatra (Lyrics)

“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Michael Buble (Lyrics)

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Whatever song you choose you’ll want to get started soon on learning how to lead (gentlemen) and how to follow (ladies).

I write everything down at the end of each lesson so you have something to practice with at home and you’re always welcome to bring your phone or camera and we can video some steps too!

Remember the further away from the big day you start the more the dancing steps and technique have a chance to get into your muscle memory.

After all don’t you want to be gazing into each others eyes rather than trying to remember what comes next in your dance

For more song suggestions visit my Music page at:

http://www.OurWeddingDance.com/wedding-music.htm

And… you can always text me at 949.400.7347 and ask me what type of dance would go well with the song or songs you’re thinking of using!

Happy September,

Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

BallroomDanceWithJillian.com

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance.com

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EMAIL:  Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

And I just couldn’t resist this adorable picture I saw today on Yahoo News of President Obama and First Lady Michelle DANCING!

Michelle’s Valentine’s Day advice, btw, is “Laugh with your partner”.  And she attributes much of the success of her 19 year marriage to “a lot of laughing” together.

In this Jan. 20, 2009, file photo President Barack Obama dances with first lady Michelle Obama at the Midwestern Ball on the night of his inauguration in Washington. Here's the first lady's advice for couples this Valentine's Day, Monday Feb. 14: laugh with your partner. She says it's what she and the president do, and it seems to be working. It also helps that her husband is "very romantic". (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

So on this wonderful Valentine’s Day why not take a leaf out of their book and laugh together while getting ready for that first dance?

I offer foxtrot, waltz, swing and tango just to name a few of the fabulous dances you can learn for your wedding!

Why not get Dad out to polish up some of his moves for the Father/Daughter dance or maybe Mom for the Mother/Son dance?

It can’t hurt and I bet it leaves everyone feeling just that much more prepared for the big day!!

Besides, I promise we’ll do some laughing to help ease the stress during the hectic wedding preparatory months.

Give me a call at 949.400.7347 or email me at Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

You can visit my FaceBook page here too and see lots of fun videos of my couples dancing and testimonials and pictures from their awesome day of days!

To read the Yahoo News article I’ve referenced, just click here.

And Happy VDay to all.

xxoo Jillian

Jillian and Brian whirl on the dance floor

So in love!

Let's Dance!

Jillian and Brian were married 1/1/11!!!

Below is their lovely testimonial…

Wonderful photographs are by David Casas of Full Spectrum Photo Studio.

Please click here to visit his web site.

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Jillian is a very sweet woman who really listened to us about what we wanted and how we wanted to express ourselves on our very special day.

We went for a total of five lessons and we were completely comfortable working with Jillian.

Everyone LOVED our first dance, thanks to Jillian our dance instructor. We were able to dance and feel like we actually knew what we were doing! We were a little nervous on the big day for our first dance, but it went off without a hitch! Now we are thinking of doing some salsa lessons with Jillian.

Thank you for everything, Jillian

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Visit OurWeddingDance.com for more wonderful testimonials!

Call 949.400.7347 to start dancing today!

It seems like it was just yesterday and I was thinking about presents and cookies and getting my December wedding couples happily on their way to wedded bliss and dreamy dances!

2011 is here!

The start of a new decade and we’re experiencing some cold, cold weather.

So, what better time then now to get that blood flowing and get out on the dance floor and do some dancing to get ready for your 2011 wedding.

I’ve got a couple right now getting married January 22nd and they’re well on their way to a fabulous wedding dance of rumba and tango complete with an awesome dress and long stemmed rose!

Another father/daughter dynamic duo just graduated with a beautiful waltz that will have all the ladies in their crowd reaching for their hankies and the gentlemen green with envy .

One of my December couples decided to even pantomime some of their awesome song with romantic gestures to each other as well as some hot swing and foxtrot moves.  (Their song was “Lucky” by Jason Mraz.)

Lots of brides… and grooms… are getting into the spirit and contacting me about their Spring and Summer weddings right now.

Don’t leave that first dance until the last minute.

Go ahead and take the plunge and email me at Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com and ask me about your song choice or choices and tell me a little bit about what you’re imagining for your beautiful first dance.

Time flies when you’re planning a wedding and before you know it the big day is just around the corner.

With over ten years of experience in the wedding dance choreography business and over, shall I admit to this??? , thirty years as a dancer – you can bet I’ve got a lot of ideas.

Happy Wedding Planning and can’t wait to email with you and start brainstorming about your first dance!

Jillian

OurWeddingDance.com

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance.com

BallroomDanceWithJillian.com

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PS:  Ok, I can’t resist – here are some of the goodies I baked over the holiday!

Homemade Gingerbread Houses!

]]> http://ourweddingdance.com/wp/2011/01/05/2011-is-here/feed/ 0 http://ourweddingdance.com/wp/2010/09/15/a-blast-from-the-past/ http://ourweddingdance.com/wp/2010/09/15/a-blast-from-the-past/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:07:27 +0000 admin http://ourweddingdance.com/wp/?p=475 I got a surprise last week.     Opening my email there was a blast from the past…  One of my marvelous couples from earlier this year sent me pictures and a very kind note.  I’ve included them below for you to see and read.

I can’t tell you how much I look forward to hearing news about “the big day”.  I get so excited being included in all the wedding plans that when it comes time to say good bye and send my incredible couples on to wedding bliss I do feel a bit misty eyed. 

Hearing the stories and seeing their smiling and happy faces is just a perfect end to a great time spent teaching dance to my wonderful wedding couples.

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Hi Jillian,

I know it has been a very long time since we last saw you, and even some time since our wedding, but I have been meaning to write you and send pictures. . .  and I am just now getting around to doing it!

Thank you so much for all your help, it was really so fun working with you and it was perfect to have a simple (yet choreographed) dance to do at our wedding despite our nerves!

Beautiful Cuddle

Actually, Chris did great and didn’t seem nervous at all, but I was – thank goodness he was leading!!

The dance went so well, although it did fly by!

I don’t think we missed a step.

The day was beautiful and our dance must have inspired all our guests because the DJ later told us that our guests did the most dancing he has ever seen at an afternoon (lunch) reception!

We all had a wonderful time and got some great pictures of the dancing.

Check out Mom of the Bride - so excited!

Thank you again for making it all so easy and just being a fun person to hang out with/learn from.

We wish you the best and will contact you if we ever need a brush up lesson!

Sincerely, Caitlin and Chris

(Photographs by Josh Aull.)

***

Remember call now or email Jillian for Fall and Winter weddings!

Reserve your favorite day and time today to look great on the day of your dreams…

Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

OurWeddingDance.com

ArgentineTangoWeddingDance.com

BallroomDanceWithJillian.com

Jillian & apples at Riley's Farm

Lisa & Ryan Dancing!

Hot off the press!

Lisa and Ryan – just married Saturday June 26th – sent me an email to let me know how their big day went and included this adorable picture.

Lisa looks oh-so-sexy in her gorgeous gown with the perfect flower in her long flowing curls and Ryan is the quintessential adoring husband in his dashing white suit.

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Hi Jillian!

We wanted to send you a quick pic of us dancing as a sneak peak before we get the video back.

Our wedding was simply magical.

And SO many people complimented us on our first dance.

It went beautifully and we greatly appreciate your support and guidance with our fun, fun lessons.  We will send you a video clip as soon as we receive it.

Cheers, Lisa & Ryan

***

Lisa and Ryan danced on their big day to “L-O-V-E” and also learned dance routines of five to eight figures in merengue, cha cha, swing and more foxtrot to their second fav song “Feeling Good” to wow their guests all through their reception with their fun and kicky couple dancing.

I can’t wait to see their video and hear more about their fabulous wedding and reception.  They were such a wonderful couple to work with and I shall think of them often, especially when I’m teaching dance in the early morning!

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Here’s their sweet thank you note and a picture of their gifts to me.  I got a bottle of  Old Moon zin that they served their guests and a large plant of what they did smaller for guest favors. 

Jillian,

Thank you for being the most patient, persistent, OUTRAGEOUS dance teacher ever!

Your guidance the past few months has meant more to us than you know.  We feel so much more prepared for our big day.

We’re going to blow them away!!

Many thanks, Lisa & Ryan

Lovey Gifts

Happy honeymooning in St. Lucia Lisa and Ryan!

And may you dance up a storm with your merengue and cha cha in the romantic tropical evenings…

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Visit the Our Wedding Dance Testimonials page at http://ourweddingdance.com/testimonials.htm for more sparkling testimonials from my couples.

Happy Summer, Jillian

Tel: 949.400.7347 or Email: Jillian@OurWeddingDance.com

Sandra and Mike were just such a couple.

Read on to find out about their dream first dance.

They loved the song You’re Timeless to Me from the musical Hairspray and decided to adapt the lyrics of it to their relationship and the year 2010, record themselves singing it and come to me to choreograph and block moves and dancing to this almost five minute ditty.

Click here to see this fabulously funny rendition of it on YouTube from the movie with Christopher Walken and John Travolta.

Well, needless to say, after about ten or so rehearsals and a heap of practicing they were absolutely show-stopping!

They mimed movement to the lyrics of their song and in the middle of it danced a full foxtrot, tango AND waltz with zesty abandon.

They said they nailed it and I believe it from all the fun and hard work we put into the practicing.

Here’s their testimonial and a partial video of their amazing 2nd first dance! on their happiest day ever.

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Jillian!

We had to get back to you to tell you how our dances [they also did a regular first dance to At Last - can you believe it?] went on Saturday!

WE NAILED IT!

We did not mess up at all!  They were beautiful!  What a surprise the second dance was to our guests!  They were in awe!  We can’t wait to see it on video!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It was all because of you we did so well to entertain our guests.  I wish you could have been there!  Rose was great getting that chair on the dance floor for Mike and then removing it.

People were in shock that the CD was us singing!  Once we find out how to send you some pics our friends took of us dancing we will send them!  The nun surprise was fantastic!

It was the perfect wedding!

It was a dream wedding.

Thank you so very much!  Hope to see you soon!

Sandra and Mike

Sandra & Mike

***

Happy Almost June!

Call Jillian at 949.400.7347 for 1st Dance Lessons

Visit Our Wedding Dance for more information.

It’s going to blue, blue and blue!

Any shade of blue… from the lightest, palest blue to the hottest tourquoise blue to the deepest azure ocean blue.

Brides are choosing blues for their colors.

You’ll see it on the bridesmaids, on the bride’s feet, on the table decorations, on the cake, on the mother of the bride, on the bridal bouquet and… on the groom!

With that in mind how can you keep your color in your first dance?

Here are a few song choices to get you thinking.  (Click on the links to see lyrics and hear YouTubes.)

“Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley (YouTube)

“Blue Moon” by The Marcels (YouTube)

“Blue Hawaii” by Elvis Presley/Frank Sinatra (YouTube – Elvis)

“Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65

The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss Jr.

Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

True Blue by Madonna

Blue Eyes by Cary Brothers (YouTube)

Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James and The Shondells (YouTube)

Mr. Blue Sky by E.L.O. (YouTube)

and for you retro eccentrics out there…

“Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire for the Roses” by Joni Mitchell

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And don’t forget you can always shine a beautiful blue gobo on the floor with your initials intertwined in it to dance on or how about giving the groom a pocketful of blue confetti he can throw up in the air to start your magical first dance?

Whatever your choices I know that you’ll have good luck with blue since we all know the charming old Victorian saying…

Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue…

Happy Wedding and let me know if I can help you with your “blue-tiful” first dance. 

OurWeddingDance.com

949.400.7347

The excitement is contagious and I can’t wait to work with these fantastic brides, grooms, moms, dads and wedding party participants.

2010 looks like a “bumper year” for weddings!

I’ve had questions about father/daughter dances, first dances utilizing musical numbers, wedding party group dances and beautiful bride and groom waltzes, swings, foxtrots and rumbas.

So far May and July are going to be big months for saying, I Do. 

The average sized wedding is coming in somewhere between 100-175 guests. 

Brides and grooms seem to be trimming their guest list so they don’t have to trim their wish list!

Popular right now…

The bride’s shoes in a color to match her bridesmaids dresses and her wedding colors.

Currently I have one dancing bride wearing gorgeous deep purple high heeled sandals with a rhinestone circle and another wearing red pumps to kick off a Valentine’s Day wedding!

Grooms are getting even more of that traditional “to do” list to do than in years passed.  At least 50% of my calls and emails have been from grooms this month;  fitting since they’ll be doing the leading in the first dance, I say!

So if you were thinking about dance lessons but putting off getting some info and firming up some evening or weekend dates… the time is now!

Be an “early bird who gets the worm” and email me today or call me at 949.400.7347 and start getting some dance figures and technique in your muscle memory today.

Happy almost February!

Just last Friday evening I was out on the dance floor, as the sun made its way into the Pacific ocean, working with my brand new couple and their wonderful wedding dance.

She’s a beautiful Irish lass with red/blond hair and he’s a joy to work with, with an incredibly great dance attitude; and they both brought leather soled shoes on their first lesson!  Neither have ever danced before and that night they were ready to jump in with both feet and get going.

We were learning some beautiful fluid figures to move across the floor, some sweeping boxes and some fun figures in place and all of a sudden he came up with the best one liner I’ve heard in a long time!

After “cuddling” up his bride he zinged her out in a whip and I looked over to see this handsome groom “flick” his imaginary tux shirt collar.   I think I’m going to do this every time, he said with a smile.

I’m going to pimp my bride with this fancy move and then flick my collar like Wow, look what I just did.

I couldn’t stop laughing.  It was great!  So guys – why not, “Pimp Your Bride” and do a little fancy footwork in that first dance?  Take some dance lessons together and we’ll come up with the moves that will make your crowd cheer.

She’ll look hot and you’ll feel like the coolest guy around…