Mine at Last: My Wedding Present

 

Mr. Palindrome was shocked when I told him that I had gotten him a wedding present.  "Do I have to get you one?" he raised his eyebrows in disbelief.  Sigh.  What a romantic! 

Turns out, he truly is a romantic.  With a few days until our wedding, he booked us a last minute dance lesson to prepare us for our first dance and serve as his gift to me.  He knows how much I love to dance and how much I had been wanting to rock our reception.  I fancy myself a ballroom dancer, much like I fancy myself an American Idol contestant.  

As our Ukranian instructor whipped us into shape, I realized how very much we had to learn and the very short amount of time we had to learn it.  We danced back to back lessons with our instructor tucking wayward chins, lifting sloppy arms, and tolerating us as we stepped on his feet.  

Every day after the lesson, we dutifully practiced.  We set up a video camera to critique our hand placement, sway, and expression.  We danced some really great routines.  We made ourselves nervous with bad routines where we forgot even the most basic step.  Whether we nailed it or failed it, I was all smiles.  I would whisper into his ear as he pulled me close for a spin that this was the best present he had ever given me.

However, when the band cued At Last and our gorgeous vocalist channeled her inner Etta James, our feet responded with all the right muscle memory.  I was sweeping across the dance floor.  I was lit by the glow of our new initials.  I was in the arms of the man I love.  The one who had just promised his life to me.  And that was better than being on Dancing with the Stars.  I think.

Are you considering dance lessons in preparation for your wedding?

*Dance lessons taken at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Durham, NC.  We were very pleased with the choreography, the one on one attention, and their flexibility with our scheduling.  We would highly recommend them to couples in the Triangle area.

 **All photographs courtesy of Sam Hughes Photography