Let's dance!

 The wedding song has long been an integral ceremonial part of the western wedding reception.

 Couples are supposed to choose a song for their first dance in wedded bliss that reflects their feelings for each other and, hopefully, sets a pleasant tone for the future of the marriage.

 But while the first dance might be the most memorable and most recognized of the wedding-night dancing traditions, couples planning to incorporate a little musical interlude into the evening must be prepared to selectmore than one swinging song.

 The father/bride and mother/groom dances are each usually part of the standard western wedding reception. The bride and groom should have the music to which they wish to dance with their respective parents chosen beforehand.

 The father/bride and mother/groom dances are usually the second and third dances, respectively, to take place at the reception.

 Keep in mind that things can get a little boring for your guests during the father/bride and mother/groom dances, so the participating father and mother may want to invite the other guests up on the dance floor after a few passing moments alone with their partner.

 The snowball dance is also a popular one and a good way to get folks up on the floor and into a rockin' mood.

 This dance starts with the bride, groom and all the members of the bridal party on the floor.

 After a few seconds of inter-dancing with each other, each person quickly breaks from the dance floor and grabs a partner from the sidelines.

 Having doubled the number of people on the dance floor, in another 30 seconds or so, everyone on the floor goes back to the sidelines to grab another partner,and this cycle continues until everyoneis on the dance floor having a grandtime.

 There's also the lesser-known money dance.

 This little ditty is usually organized by members of the bridal party. It's an opportunity for anyone and everyone at the dance to take a brief turn on the floor with the bride or groom, or both, in exchange for a sum of money designed to help support the couple's honeymoon plans.

 "If I Had a Million Dollars" by the Barenaked Ladies is commonly favoured as the song of choice for the money dance.

 But for those family and friends ponying up a few dollars to have a dance, you'd better enjoy it while it lasts, because when the money dance is performed properly, the bride and groom have plenty of partners and cutting in is encouraged, with partners changing every few seconds.

 Beyond the traditional dances, couples planning a dance as part of their wedding reception would do well to take a good look at the musical tastes of the family and friends they're inviting.

 While your own musical tastes areimportant, if you believe the attendees will overwhelmingly enjoy a particular kind of music, whether it's country,techno, ska or old-time rock & roll, it's probably best to cater to the crowd, whether hiring a DJ or playing the music yourself.

 And, don't forget that wedding music doesn't start with the reception or the march down the aisle - guests expect up to 30 minutes of music to set the ambiance for the ceremony prior to the arrival of the bride.