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The first dance at the wedding reception is an important one. For many newly married couples, it has significant meaning and is the best way to say how you feel to your spouse without saying the words. It is a warm embrace in your lover's arms as you celebrate your new life together.

There are many traditional wedding songs to choose from but many people feel that they are overused or generic in a sense. There is no law that says you have to use something traditional. Use the song you want and if all else fails, you can use traditional songs as back-up plan.

Picking out the first song isn't always an easy task for some. For others, picking out just one song is the hard part. Try using the song that means the most to you and your mate. Pick something that says how you feel or a favorite song that you both enjoy.

Think about the duration of a song. Ballads are nice but can be lengthy. Pick something short and sweet. A fifteen-minute song might be sweet but it will bore the guests and cause your feet to hurt, too.

Pick a song that is slow and easy to dance too. You don't want to hurt yourself attempting the electric slide, the moonwalk, or the cabbage patch right off the bat. There will be plenty of time later in the reception to dance to songs with harder beats.

Choose a song that is not vulgar or inappropriate. Avoid songs that use profanity or that guests might find offensive. You have the rest of your lives together to play songs that other people might not enjoy.

Of course, there are many things that can come up at a reception. Take those into consideration when you are choosing the songs that you want played. If you are having a live band, check ahead of time to see what they can and cannot perform.

If you are making your own music tape or disc, plan for mood changes. Sometimes a song might seem like it fits, but when it comes down to it, it doesn't. Record several songs so that you like so that you will have more than one chance to dance, and more than one choice when it comes to songs.

It is your wedding and your special day. You have the right to choose the songs that best suit you. Do not let someone else talk you into songs that you don't like. These are your memories and you deserve to have the songs that you love played.

If all else fails, ask for suggestions or just tell the band to play a slow song. It isn't always the words and the song that matters. Chances are, when you are in your new spouse's arms, the last thing on your mind will be the music anyways.

Learn more about this author, Laura Leigh Fields.
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