Wedding Songs

A couple's first dance as man and wife is an important wedding ritual and one I've been paying close attention to for years.  Whether I'm supposed to or not, I haven't felt much of anything while watching close friends and family at the alter exchange vows, but when the first dance is carried out to the right song, it can be a transcendent experience.  I sometimes kid that I am a little bit psychic, but it's during this moment, with the pressure of an oftentimes ritualistic charade behind them, when a couple's love has the potential to bleed out into the room.  It's kind of magical.

Unfortunately, I've also witnessed many couples unintentionally stamp on their sparkle.  Some through dance lessons, others by choosing a song rather than letting a song choose them.  So what if the bride and groom aren't gifted dancers?  Aimlessly swaying in lost harmony, sharing in the giggles of imperfection, and serenading each other with unblinking eyes is something special.  Nervously counting steps to impress an audience of guests as if they will be raising scorecards is nothing.

Of course, the most important element to any dance is the song.  I believe everyone who has ever loved someone could play a matching game, pairing up important songs to the cherished people in our lives.  None of which we sat down and decided upon.  When and where they happened are unique to each individual or couple, but it's almost impossible not to feel the synchronized sentiment emanating from the dance floor at a wedding when a loving pair dances without a care in the world.