Newport Beach Wedding Dance Interview with Sara and Ash

This week I got to interview Sara and Ash about their wedding dance lessons. They make a very sweet couple and have been together for a year and a half. They are excited to be getting married and having a Newport Beach wedding at Pelican Hill this weekend! One of my favorite questions when doing my interviews is typically finding out how long couples have been together before tying the knot. I usually find that couples wait around 8 years, so it was a nice change to hear that they’re getting married after having been together for a year and a half. When you know, you know! It was a privilege to get to know this Newport Beach wedding dance couple on a more personal level. Hope you enjoy the interview about their wedding and their dance experience here at Bella Ballroom Dance Studio in Costa Mesa, California!

Where is your wedding and when are you getting married (and performing your first dance)?

S: Pelican Hill Newport Beach and its on June 18^th, 2016.

A: This Saturday. A little nervous.  

How did you meet?

A: Through family friends. Our moms have friends that set us up on a blind date.

S: We had a nine-hour first date!   

How long have you guys been together for?

A: A year and a half.

What is your first dance song? Why did you choose it for your Newport Beach wedding? Does it have any significance for your first dance?

S: We choose “At Last” by Etta James as our first song.

A: Its timeless.

S: It resonated with both of us. It wasn’t a specific song that we kind of had thought of before we met.

A: We just came across it.

S: It’s a classic.          

What type of first dance are you working on for your wedding?

S: A waltz.

Who is your dance instructor?

Both: Tayler

What is your favorite part about taking wedding dance lessons?

S: It was just fun to do something different.

A: Together.

S: Its almost our time to hang out since were so busy with work.

Do you have a favorite move that you’re working on during your dance lessons? If so, what is it?

A: I kind of like the double sweetheart. It’s cute.

S: Yea that’s a good one, and the dip at the end.

What do you find most challenging about the process of taking wedding dance classes?

A: Having time to practice it. Finding the right kind of space is difficult too.

S: Some people go to the gym where the empty basketball courts are to practice there.       

Do people know you’re taking dance lessons for your Newport Beach wedding or is it a surprise?

A: Some people know, not everyone. Were starting to let the cat out of the bag.         

What inspired you to take dance lessons?

S: I think I was so nervous about dancing and thought it would be fun.

A: Yea fun, and we thought our dancing skills weren’t adequate enough beforehand.

How do dance classes compare to other parts of planning your Newport Beach wedding?

A: For just a few minutes of actual dance time, we’re spending quite a bit of time and resources on it. Were enjoying the process for other reasons so its definitely well worth the resources and time together.     

S: I feel like we both have become more comfortable dancing.

While taking wedding dance lessons, has it inspired you to take other dance lessons for other styles? Do you want to pursue more?

A: A little bit. I mean we’re doing two types of dance styles right now: Waltz and hip-hop. We have played around with the idea of doing other stuff in the future.

S: Maybe Salsa.

A: Yea that would be cool. And Tango.

What was your first impression coming in for first dance classes and what is your impression now? How has it changed?

S: I think I was super nervous coming in and I didn’t know what to expect. And now I feel a lot more comfortable.
A: Yea. I agree with that. I thought it would be a lot more difficult. Not that it was easy, don’t get me wrong. But now it’s kind of like the comfort thing. We got more comfortable. Realizing that some of the moves may come across as more tricky looking than they actually are.

Any advice for future couples?

A: I would recommend doing some dance lessons to get a little more comfortable with dancing in general. I don’t think it’s a bad idea.

S: And use it as your time to just enjoy the wedding process.

A: That’s a really good point too.

 

Article and Interview by Jacqui