How To Encourage A Reluctant Groom To Dance

wedding dance

Congratulations – you’re getting married!

There’s just one slight problem: the dancing thing.

You want to dance on your special day. Your soon-to-be husband? Maybe not so much, if he’s like a lot of grooms out there (not to stereotype too much).

The good news though is that you have time to try a few tricks that might help the groom to lower his inhibitors and dance the special night away. 

Here are some suggestions on how to do just that:

1. Outline The Benefits

If you are in a situation where you have to sell dancing to the groom-to-be, you might be able to do so first by enumerating its benefits.

Point out that research has already proven that dancing is the best thing he can do to his body.

It improves energy and mood, all while lowering stress levels. It also promotes weight loss, develops flexibility and range of motion, and strengthens muscles.

Even more, dancing enhances brain functioning!

If those benefits aren’t compelling enough for your man, then drop this bombshell: there is a touch aspect to dancing, and it improves one’s wellbeing immensely.

In other words, the two of you dancing benefits both of you, as – scientifically speaking – it’s like exercise and a hug rolled into one fun, dynamic activity.

You never know, but helping him to understand dance as a form of joyous exercise might just do the trick! 

2. Challenge The “Alpha” In Him

Let’s be honest:

A lot of men tend to respond to challenges, particularly when they feel that their “alpha” quality is being tested.

Thus, you can always play the real-men-dance card, and point him to examples he might appreciate.

For instance, you might note the universally-beloved Ryan Gosling, and point out films like La La Land and Crazy Stupid Love as examples of effortless, classy dancing; Gosling even does the iconic Dirty Dancing move in the latter film, and looks good enough doing it that your man might just want to try it.

Or you could point to athletes as successful as LeBron James, who’s been known to bust a few moves on occasion and even did so recently when his team, the LA Lakers, acquired fellow superstar Anthony Davis. U.S. gambling listings covering sports promptly bumped the Lakers up to NBA favorite status following this acquisition, so James’s dance was perfectly warranted – just as any dance would be (you might point out) after one gets married

3. Just Dance

Dance for your man. Show him your moves. Unleash your inner J-Lo or Britney, or just your fun-filled, festive self!

Let him appreciate your dancing chops, and then dance with him. Guide him, mentor him – every step, every count, every move, taking it slow if he’s self-conscious or just inexperienced. Essentially, give him some lessons! A lot of men who are apprehensive about dancing at weddings simply never got around to learning. But if you can make it your thing as a couple, and turn it into a shared activity, he’ll not only learn the basics, but may also come to look at it in a different way altogether. 

And if you want our help, you can sign up for a *free* wedding dance lesson here. We are not only experienced in teaching grooms who don’t want to dance, we know exactly what to teach to get them to love it too!

4. Play The Love Card

If all else fails, just play the love card. It’s not a legitimate threat or ultimatum of course (at least we would hope not!), and you don’t want to make him feel even more pressured. But the old, “if you love me, you’ll dance with me” card still packs a playful punch. 

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About the Author

Steph Grey is a history and culture enthusiast with a new found passion for healthy living. When she’s not buried in 19th century literature books, she is out biking discovering unspoilt nature trails or in a dance studio getting her fill of some Latin dance moves.