Of all the traditional rituals that you will encounter on you wedding day, one of the most tender and romantic moments is likely to be your first dance together as man and wife.

If you have yet to choose a song for your first dance, you should bear in mind the style of dancing required by you and your new husband to accompany the song - it doesn’t make sense to choose a salsa if the two of you have only ever danced a waltz together.

Once you have decided on the style and music for your first dance, you will need to make sure that the party in charge of your reception music is aware of your choice in advance, whether it is a DJ, a band or an orchestra. If your wedding song is to be played live, you should make sure that the band leader is aware of the length of time they are required to play your chosen song for and at what tempo.

Being inadequately prepared for this dance can often spoil the moment. Partnered dancing requires a certain amount of competence and ability to work well, and since your first dance together will see all of your wedding and reception guests focusing on the two of you as a couple, it is only natural that you will want to glide on to the dance floor with as much confidence and style as you can muster.

If you are anxious about the dance and don’t feel prepared, you won’t fully enjoy it. Your dance shouldn’t be judged as a performance as such, but many couples decide to take a small number of dance lessons together to practice and build confidence, which doesn’t seem too farfetched when you consider that this is something that you will remember forever as a married couple, and will likely be one of the most treasured memories of your wedding day.