May 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!

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

Taking their first steps as Husband and Wife, this issue's celebrity couples are starting their long journey through life together, smiling and holding hands. They are Billy Joel with his Bride Katie Lee and Dallas Cowboys' Emmitt Smith with his new wife Patricia Lawrence.

2) A Wedding Tradition Explained!

"1000 Cranes - Or Is It 1001?"

According to Japanese, Chinese and Korean tradition, cranes stand as a symbol of peace, happiness, eternal youth and long life. Legends hold that the crane lives for a thousand years. Cranes also mate for life and remain devoted to their partners. The male and the female work together to build their nest and care for their young. Crane motifs were often used in Japanese weddings, on the wedding kimonos and in Japanese wedding decorations. It is said that if you fold 1000 paper origami cranes the gods will grant you a wish, be it for peace, health or luck. Today, couples will fold 1,000 cranes as a wish for a long and prosperous marriage. Others will fold the cranes as a get well wish for someone who is ill and many people fold them for peace in the world. The folding of the cranes can be done with entire families and friends, not just the bride or the one making the wish. It is believed that the more people involved, the more luck you will have! In Hawaiian weddings the paper cranes are extremely popular. Folding metallic origami paper into 1001 (for good luck) cranes is a tradition that has grown in Hawaii since the 1960's.

3) Kim's Wedding Tips!

1) Origami paper comes in many colors, sizes, and textures at art and stationery stores. Traditional origami paper is thin, strong, and holds a crease well, colored or patterned on one side and plain on the other. It's best to fold your first cranes with paper that is at least five inches square, smaller will be harder! To make a crane (and most other origami figures), the paper must be square. Make a perfect square out of any rectangular sheet of paper by lifting up the bottom corner of the sheet and fold it diagonally so that the bottom edge meets the side edge of the paper. Cut off the strip of paper that is left at the top, and you have a perfect square! If you want to work this tradition in make sure it is an idea both of you want to commit to and start at least a year in advance. I had a labor intensive favor project and it took me over four months to complete it.

2) Watch a lot of television or listen to the radio. TV is something most of us watch more than we should. Turn this into productive time.

3) Consider buying some of them as the time goes short. If you find that you have only a couple weeks left and are not almost done with your crane quota, there are a lot of places on line willing to sell them to you. You will have enough stressing you out as the big day approaches. Search "paper cranes" on Google and you will find a plethora of origami vendors.

4) Kim's Wedding Dance Tip "Whatever You Do, Don't Look Down!!"

All dance instructors wish they had a dollar for every time they have had to say "Don't look down!" We do not say this because it looks bad, even though it does look ghastly. There are more important reasons.

For Men/ Leaders: Having good posture is key for leading because women follow you from your chest. When you look down your posture slumps, your movements become indecisive, you also increase the distance between you and your partner and you make yourself difficult to follow. It is the women's job to keep her feet out of the way, not yours! You are responsible for driving so keep your head up. You don't look at the gas pedal when you drive on the road so cease doing it on the dance floor! Besides, you will not be able to see her feet in her wedding dress anyway!

For Women/ Followers: Your feet are protected by keeping your distance from the groom exactly the same throughout the dance. You must "keep your frame up". You can do this by pushing OUT (not down!) with a consistent pressure with your left hand on his right shoulder as seen on the photo on the left. When you master the knack of keeping the distance between the gentleman and yourself consistent, you will cease to get stepped on by anyone you dance with.

5) Group Classes

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

Sign up for our mini groups in the spring!
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.

6) This issue's Featured Vendor

Click on the banner above to visit John Whitman's web site or
Click here to e-mail John Whitman.

John Whitman's style in covering weddings is unobtrusive and candid. He is very easy to work with and is always catching people in the best light possible at all the events we do together. Below are some of his clients' personal comments on his work:

"The pictures are absolutely beautiful - everything I had hoped for and more."

"Thank you again for the absolutely wonderful job you did in photographing our wedding & rehearsal festivities (and the engagement photos for that matter). All our family members have commented on the outstanding picture quality. As you can tell by the quantity of photos we've ordered, we thought many of the pictures were fantastic."

"We will recommend you without any hesitation to any friends and family planning events in the future."

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.

"Fold a thousand cranes
because in a thousand acts
one may touch a soul."

Stef Maruch

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.

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