Couples who book their wedding at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London will receive three complimentary first dance lessons, courtesy of Strictly Come Dancing star Izabela Rai.
You’ll be able to follow in the footsteps of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who also learnt to dance in the hotel’s historic ballroom with her sister, Princess Margaret. The star of the third series of the popular BBC programme, and professional partner of Brendan Cole, Izabela can choreograph a dance routine that’s perfect for you and your husband-to-be, no matter what your ability.
“I am delighted to have formed a dancing relationship with Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park,” says Izabela. “This hotel is very special to me, as my own wedding took place in the beautiful Ballroom. I absolutely love to see people dancing, especially on the most special day of their lives”. The Mandarin Oriental’s wedding package for 2013 starts from £21,000 for 120 people and includes a pre-dinner canapé reception, three-course wedding breakfast, Junior suite accommodation for the bride and groom on the night of the wedding and much more.
To find out more about this amazing offer and to learn more about the hotel, go to www.mandarinoriental.com/london
5 top tips for a fabulous first dance
Want to wow the crowd? Strictly Come Dancing star Izabela Rai gives us her top tips on how to impress your guests…
Think about timing
This is my big tip – ideally, you should start your wedding dance lessons at least three months before your wedding. This will give you enough time to plan and perfect your routine.
Choose the right song
Select a romantic song with a good, consistent beat. Many couples have a special song they want to dance to, but if you don’t have a song in mind, ask your dance instructor, DJ or band for suggestions.
Don’t bore your guests!
Select a song that is less than three minutes long. Two to two and a half minutes is just right for a first dance.
Know your dancefloor
Have a good idea of the size and shape of your reception dance floor. This is important, so you can practice and get used to dancing in that amount of space.
Wear the right gear
My biggest tip here is to practice dancing in something similar to what you will be wearing on the big day. A long maxi dress or an old ball gown would be perfect.
Are you looking to wow your guests with your first dance? We’ve got some more fab tips to help you with your first dance here!
