First Dance Flash Mob- We are the Champions from Dale Mackey on Vimeo.
There's a 50% chance you rolled your eyes when you read the title of this post. Actually, the combination of the phrases “flash mob” and “wedding” probably ups the odds to about 75%. I know. Flash mobs are played out and you're sick of reading about quirky weddings on the internet.
But if you're someone who likes dancing, large groups of people, and feeling like a rock star, you should really consider it. We had our own first dance, and then immediately after, “We Are the Champions” started to play, and maybe half of the guests stood up and danced along, including my 80-year-old grandmother. The rest seemed pretty delighted with the spectacle. It's a fun way to include the guests in the evening's events, and to facilitate some pretty awesome group bonding.
Here are my five tips for an easy wedding flash mob:
1. Share your dance moves online. My sister choreographed the dance, and she filmed herself demonstrating the moves along with the music. It was taken on her computer's camera and was very straightforward. You don't need a lot of frills. Then we uploaded the video to Vimeo and shared it on our wedding website (and via email to some folks I knew for a fact were not checking in on our website).
2. Easy is the key word here. Any time you're asking a large group of people to participate in an activity, the simpler you can make it, the better. When my sister showed me the instructional video she made, I remember thinking it was way too simple when I first saw it, but once I saw everyone doing it at once, I realized how smart it was. While some people had practiced quite a bit before the wedding, many were just learning it the day of, and they had no problem since it was so simple. And the fact is, when more than ten people are doing the same movements in sync, they will always look cool.
Make the first dance less nerve-wracking: GROUP DANCE!
Feeling first dance shy? If you want to dance, but are feeling the pressure, nothing says you have to dance alone. Grab your wedding party,... Read more
3. Invite everyone to participate. Sure, many of your guests might choose not to participate, and might think you're a little wacky, but you'll likely be surprised who will choose to participate if you give them a chance. We invited folks by posting a video of my sister demonstrating the dance on our wedding website, and a few months before the wedding my mom sent me an email saying, “Can I be in the flash mob?” Of course, mom!
4. Don't pressure people into participating. Just as there will be people who you'd never expect shaking their tail feathers in your flash mob, there will be people who you thought would love the idea that just didn't bother to learn it, or decide they'd rather watch. Don't take it personally — flash mobs just aren't for everyone.
5. Send a reminder. You don't want to be constantly harassing folks — no one wants to go to a wedding where they feel like they have homework — but a friendly email reminder a week or two before the wedding with a link to the video is fine.
Now get those booties shaking!
I tried to set up a ukulele flashmob during our ceremony. It ended up being just three of us, but HEY I was a bride with a ukulele with a massive grin on my face!
Maybe do it ala Black Eyed Peas in Chicago–instruct a few of your friends on the (EASY) steps, and have them get it started. Everyone who isn’t “in” on it (those people in the back) can follow along and join in once they “get” the steps.
My friend was the Best Ma’am in our friends’ wedding, and arranged a flash mob to interrupt her speech/toast. She started with a story that those in the know would recognize as not one to tell at a wedding, and as she mimed confusion at the music starting my husband and I started dancing out at her. Other friends started to join, we surrounded her, and she made a quick costume change out of a skirt into a more danceable outfit just in time for the major choreography. After the choreographed part, she pulled up the bride and groom and we grabbed other uninvolved guests and pulled them out for some simple follow along dancing until the song ended. Everyone who didn’t know what we had planned were totally shocked and amazed. It was awesome.
I was really into Zumba when we got married, and since several of my zumba mates were going to be at my wedding (and probably not dancing unless urged) I decided to play one of the songs we normally dance to in Zumba at our reception. Turns out, they all left before it got played, but I danced away and the moves were easy enough for people to follow along, and the whole dancefloor ended up participating and having a ton of fun. It wasn’t easy in a corset, though, let me tell you…
I’m so glad this is up here! I’ve been planning a flashmob for after the first dance at my wedding in my head for months, and thought I was mental – but one of my bridesmaids is totally up for choreographing, and I work in theatre so there’s a good chance lots of my guests will be up for joining in. It’s going to happen! (and it’ll be a great surprise for our parents!) Thanks!
Anyone have any ideas for a good song to do a flashmob to?
I’m planning on hiring actors to stage a flash mob to be our guest from Beauty and the Beast during cocktail hr to entertain while we do pictures. The dj is starting it up