First Dance Impressions' Wedding Ezine

Most Recommended Wedding Dance Company
By Local Vendors and Brides Online or In Person!

Wedding Ezine - The Online Magazine

Issue March 1-15, 2005

We hope you enjoy our Wedding newsletter and find it both a fun and useful tool in the wedding planning process. Don't forget to book your Wedding Dance lessons with First Dance Impressions!

Our students Tim and Molly dancing the Foxtrot for their first dance.

Table of Contents
Click on a topic or scroll down.

Celebrity Wedding Photos

Wedding Traditions

Kim's Wedding Tips

Wedding Dance Tips!

Special Events

Bridal Vendor Special Offers

Poems, Prayers & Promises

Bridal Themed"Wallpaper"

Wedding Ezine Archive

Wedding Song Suggestion List

Information on Dance Lessons

Free "Wedding Ezine" Subscription

1) A Different Celebrity Wedding Photo from Past or Present!

This issue's celebrity newlyweds got married under a Chuppah. They are Shoshanna Lonstein coming down the aisle with husband Joshua Gruss and famous spoon bender/ psychic Uri Geller scanning the crowd for his bride.

2) A Wedding Tradition Explained!

"What is a Chuppah?"

According to Jewish tradition, the marriage ceremony takes place under an ornamental canopy called a Chuppah. The canopy is symbolic of the couple's first home and is open on all four sides to show the couple's home will be open to friends, family and needy strangers. The Chuppah's presence itself above the bridal couple also symbolizes God's indwelling presence (Shekhinah), which stays close to the bride and groom on this most magical of days. A Chuppah may be supported by for poles in stanchions or portable and carried in on poles as part of the wedding procession. It is considered a great honor to hold someone's Chuppah at their wedding.

In ancient times, the Chuppah was quite literally a tent under which the wedding was consummated. This custom disappeared but the traditional use of the chuppah in the ceremony remains and continues to evolve. There are no set dimensions for how big a Chuppah should be, nor are there any specifications from which cloth to make it. Some couples get married under a tallit, a prayer shawl; others use a family heirloom like an embroidered tablecloth. Some synagogues own and lend their own decorated chuppah for weddings. Many couples design their own to match their wedding colors.

3) Kim's Wedding Tips!

Kim Bosch van Drakenstein, Owner/Founder of First Dance Impressions & Social Dance Instructor
Decide if you want your Chuppah to match your wedding colors or if you want it to be more of a decorative personal heirloom. A chuppah can be batiked, woven, embroidered, silk-screened, appliqued, caligraphed or painted, to name a few possibilities. I am a big believer in researching and shopping for everything on line. For a one time use you are probably better off either making or renting a Chuppah. If you are looking for a display Chuppah start your search at www.E-Chuppah.com. Their handmade Chuppot are incredibly gorgeous and are made to order so they can be personalized.

4) Kim's Wedding Dance Tip "Split The Dances!"

Jen dancing with her dad! Do not put The First Dance and The Honors Dance next to one another unless both generations know how to dance. If neither couple can dance it is too long and awkward. It is better split up for example, with the Bride and Groom dancing shortly after being announced and having the Honors or Parents Dances after the cake cutting.

This is particularly true if one of the men knows how to dance and the other doesn't. If your Dad doesn't dance it would be cruel to make him dance right after you and your husband if the two of you have taken lessons. The reverse is true as well. If you do an awkward bear hug sway with your husband and then your dad gets out there and whirls you around the floor, your future husband's lack of skill is further highlighted. Check out our Packages Page for more information on dance lessons for the Bride and Groom and their families.

If all parties feel comfortable on the dance floor then putting the dances together will be more like a show. Do them earlier rather than later so that you are not too full from eating. Tradition also states that no one dances before the Bride and Groom so dancing early will let others get up and dance too.

5) Group Classes

Our teachers run events and perform locally on a regular basis.

Sign up for our mini groups in the winter!
Have you and your friends always wanted to learn Swing, Salsa or even the sexy Argentine Tango? Dancing is a great stress reliever and wonderful social activity which can give you one of the best aerobic workouts possible. We will tailor a group class for 4, 6, 12 or even 50 people. No no experience is necessary. Call us at (703) 868-0982 for more information.

Argentine Tango Classes and Practice Parties,
Friday, March 4th, 2005

Argentine Tango performance with Kim and Fabio Learn The Dance Of Passion: Tango! The 1st & 3rd Friday of every month. International competitor and performer Fabio Bonini will be teaching the sexy Argentine Tango with a practice party "Milonga" afterwards. The "total beginner" lesson is 7:30-8:15 pm and the "beginners’ challenge" lesson runs 8:15-9pm. From 9pm-midnight dance at the MILONGA (Argentine Tango Dance). Only $12! BYOB; soft drinks and snacks provided. Generations Dance Studio in Alexandria. For more details call Fabio Bonini at (703) 200-4520. Mention First Dance Impressions and your 1st Group class Free!

Argentine Tango Classes and Practice Parties,
Friday, March 18th, 2005

Kim and Fabio performing Argentine Tango Catch the Passion of Tango! The 1st & 3rd Friday of every month. The international competitor and performer Fabio Bonini will be teaching the sexy Argentine Tango with a practice party "Milonga" afterwards. The "total beginner" lesson is 7:30-8:15pm and the "beginners’ challenge" lesson runs 8:15-9pm. From 9pm-midnight dance at the MILONGA (Argentine Tango Dance). Only $12! BYOB; soft drinks and snacks provided. Generations Dance Studio in Alexandria. For more details call Fabio Bonini at (703) 200-4520. Mention First Dance Impressions and your 1st Group class Free!

6) This issue's Featured Vendor

Click on the logo above to visit Innovation Events and Best Wishes Floral Design web site
or call 703-203-2870 to contact Janet Carter of Best Wishes Floral Design.

Featuring: Flowers for your Wedding Day! In-Home Consultations, Creative Bouquets and Floral Design & Bouquet Preservation.

In addition to the standard wedding flower arrangements, such as Bouquets, centerpieces and boutonnieres, they are offering a totally new way to surprise your guests: Embossing on Live Flowers. . . Your Names, Wedding Date Or Any message you choose!

Mention First Dance Impressions when you order your complete floral design package from Best Wishes Floral Design and receive 36 cups of these Fresh Imprinted Rose Petals for your Wedding Day Free! A $72.00 value. Offer good with this ad and the purchase of a complete flower package.

7) Poems, Prayers & Promises

A romantic quote to simply to elevate your mood or to help you find the right sentiment for your vows or ceremony.

"My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me."

Winston Churchill

8) A New Bridal Themed Wallpaper for your computer desktop!

Now your computer screen can be dressed up too! Simply right click your mouse on our background and tell your computer to save ("set") as wall paper, BUT be sure you have saved the current background on you computer desktop first, if you want to get it back! If the background does not show up immediately, right click on your desktop background and click on refresh.

HOME * PACKAGES * DANCE DESCRIPTIONS * PHOTOS AND TESTIMONIALS
ABOUT US * LINKS * CONTACT US * WEDDING SONGS * HONORS DANCE
WEDDING EZINE * WEDDING TRADITIONS * GIFTS * IN THE NEWS *

Copyright © 2000-2004 The design of this web page, all artwork, logos and wording are the physical and intellectual property of First Dance Impressions, Inc. All photographs within this web page are licensed exclusively to First Dance Impressions, Inc. None of the material within this web page may be used or copied without express written permission from First Dance Impressions, Inc.