What is the Anniversary Dance?
You’ve heard of the bouquet toss, you’ve seen the garter toss. These traditional mini-events in weddings have happened for years and while we still love to do them, brides and grooms are looking for new traditions and new ways to celebrate.
Why are brides and grooms looking for something a little different? It can be for any number of reasons, but some reasons we have seen include that it’s a small wedding and there is mostly married couples, or just family. Sometimes the bride doesn’t want the attention of having her garter removed from under her dress in front of everyone. The brides don’t want the added expense of a tossing bouquet. It can be any number of things.
So, what the alternative? Brides and grooms are looking for something that can include (mostly) everyone. The anniversary dance is a perfect way to celebrate lasting love, showcase couples of all ages, and provide a good example to the new bride and groom.
Enter: the Anniversary dance. The DJ will ask all of the married couples to come to the dance floor. Typically the DJ will then play a medley or parts of different love songs through the ages, and as the music plays, the DJ will politely ask couples who have been married less than a certain amount of time to leave the dance floor. This results in the longest married couple as the “winners”.
There are a couple of variations to the anniversary dance:
The DJ says something to effect of “Anyone married less than 5 hours…” - this gets the bride and groom right off the floor. Usually, the crowd gets a good laugh!
Or, the game can be played where the bride and groom stay out the entire time, leaving the bride and groom dancing with the longest couple - a testament to “old” and “new.”
Sometimes, the longest couple is asked to give married advice to the new bride and groom at the very end.
So what’s the bouquet dance?
Sometimes, the anniversary dance is called the bouquet dance. This is the new alternative to throwing the bouquet. It’s essentially the same idea as the anniversary dance - at the end, the bride gives her bouquet to the oldest “bride.”
Got a Song in Mind?
Need a good song for the anniversary dance? We’ve compiled a playlist with some of our favorite anniversary dance songs for you to choose from!
Some of our favorites include:
When I Said I Do (with Lisa Hartman Black) - Clint Black, Lisa Hartman Black
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest
You’re Still the One - Shania Twain
When You Say Nothing at All - Allison Krauss & Union Station
Forever and Ever, Amen - Randy Travis
I Swear - John Michael Montgomery
Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
I Could Not Ask for More - Sara Evans
It’s Your Love - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
I Love the Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery
I Hope You Dance - Lee Ann Womack
Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
Love of My Life - Sammy Kershaw
