Planning backwards from the date
How many first dance lessons do you actually need?
It depends on three things: what kind of dance you want, how much dancing you’ve done, and how soon the wedding is. Our own wedding packages make the maths concrete.
- Rated 4.9 on Google
- Founded by World and British champions
- Adults only
- No partner needed
Three sizes of first dance
Our wedding packages are all one-on-one and built around your song. They map neatly onto the three kinds of first dance most couples want.
6 lessons
For couples short on time. A straightforward, elegant first dance: steps, timing and movement for your song.
9 lessons
Custom choreography to your song, with time to refine it and add a dip or two, then rehearse until it feels natural.
12 lessons
For a fully staged routine or a surprise mash-up, with plenty of time to polish every moment. Music editing is included.
Beach Ballroom works each package out to about $138 a lesson.
When to start
Our recommendation is two to four months before the wedding. That leaves room for lessons spaced a week or so apart, with time to practise between them, and it means the final lessons aren’t competing with seating charts and suit fittings.
Starting that early isn’t about needing months of training. It’s about spacing. Two lessons a week for three weeks teaches you less than one a week for six, because your body needs the gap to absorb what you learned.
Book the last lesson close to the day, after the dress and shoes are sorted, so it doubles as a dress rehearsal.
What if the wedding is weeks away?
Don’t panic. We plan backwards from your date, and we’ve helped many couples prepare in just a few weeks. The trick is choosing the right ambition: a simple, elegant dance with one highlight is very achievable on a short timeline, while a staged mash-up probably isn’t.
Trimming the song helps a lot here. Most first dances are 90 seconds to 2 minutes, and a shorter edit means less to learn. Our page on first dance length explains how to cut it.
Experience changes the numbers
If either of you has danced before, things move faster. If neither of you has, that’s the norm rather than the exception: most of the couples we work with are complete beginners. Early lessons build the foundations, hold, timing and leading, so you stay in sync even if nerves kick in, before the choreography goes on top. Our guide for couples where neither of you has ever danced covers that start in more detail.
Lesson-planning questions
Do we need to choose our song before the first lesson?
No. Bring a few favourites and we’ll help you find the right fit. We build fundamentals first, then tailor the choreography to the music.
Do we have to learn a choreographed routine?
No. Some couples want a full routine, others something simple and natural. We can teach lead and follow, create a custom routine, or combine both.
Can we add the parent dances?
Yes. Father-daughter and mother-son dances can be built into your plan or booked on their own.
Get a number for your wedding
Book a wedding consultation. We’ll hear your song, see how you move together and recommend the package that fits your date.