I tell ya what. There is one consistent thread in shooting weddings….you can spot a white people reception a mile away. I am not saying this with any prejudices….it is just hilarious when you go back through photos and look at the frozen positions of a bunch of white people busting it out. There is something very angular and awkward. Nothing “Stomp the Yard” about these moves. You can almost hear “The Electric Slide” coming through the photo. For the life of me, there is no way to escape “The Electric Slide” and the “Cha Cha Slide”…and truth be told…they really do get people on the dance floor…but come on people!!!!!
I will say with utmost confidence, I know this song is several years old, but I love “HEY YA” still! That is such a happy song and so easy to dance to and if you are really good, you can even clap on cue.
This Friday was Kristie’s wedding….and the angels rejoiced. I don’t think I have ever heard more whooping, hollering and clapping crescendo to a frenzie then when they were pronounced husband and wife. It has been a long three years, but man was it worth it! I got to finally BE in a wedding, not shoot it. Ryan was still the photographer, but at least at the reception we got to dance together which was so fun.
The problem was my dress decided to attack my ribcage. Half-way through the reception I realized no amount of adjusting could relieve the pressure around my ribs. Maybe it was the glutenous way I went through the buffet…but I could not take a full breath. I finally had to change into my regular clothes, which I am kicking myself for not putting more thought into the outfit I came to the church in. I had a skanky gray tank-top and rag skirt….so most of the pictures of me from the reception are not in my pretty dress, but in my mis-matched outfit. Oh well!
For those of you who saw the movie “Hitch”…you know at the end they play the song, “Now that we’ve found love what are we gonna do” ( I don’t know if that is the official name) This is the part in the wedding reception where we separate out the ladies and gents to different sides and then in pairs you make your way down the line doing some sort of coordinated dance. For me, I get REALLY anxious about such unadulterated attention. I mean I can shake my money maker, but I prefer to do this on a VERY crowded dance floor. Ryan and I were searching for the perfect dance. (Not to be mistaken with the perfect cheer)
You know this is true..you better be REALLY REALLY good or REALLY REALLY goofy. Don’t be mediocre or you get the weak “whoooooo” called at you by the crowd because they kind of feel bad for you. WE decided to go the goofy route and play up what we knew. Ryan would just photograph me going down the center dancing all crazy for him. So here I am….go white girl! Contrary to the affect on the photos, I am 110% sober!
This move is from two movies: Kill Bill 2- Where she plucks that chics eye out or a less gorier version can be found on Blades of Glory….the bird.
This is the move where I show my dominance on the dance floor by flaring my nostrils and sticking my chest out. Some may mistake it for a mating ritual, but really it is just me being ultra cool.
Now this shot, wow, this is where I am saying to Ryan, “OOOOOOOHHHHH Man, I am killing it on the dance floor! Do you see how jealous everyone is of me?” I said this with modesty, of course.
Our last shot on this tour of wonder is my bad as can be face. You might want to add a little head bobble in for extra flare.
Don’t steal my moves! I know them all by heart and will be forced to have a “Dance Off” with you if I catch you doing them.
And here is the beautiful bride:
If you would like to see more shots of Kristie’s bridal portrait session last month, we can now release them. Ain’t she purdy? You can hardly tell that is was 95 degrees and there were about 30-40 crickets inside of her dress the whole time.
I have to say peeps, I am really enjoying not blogging much lately. I may be slowing my posts for a bit. There is so much going on with our business, my new nephew was born yesterday and we have tons of company coming in this weekend. This is why you should get Bloglines! It will save you tons of time checking in. If you don’t know what it is, go….sign up, it is 10 times easier than setting up a blog and will save you SOOOO much time once you subscribe to your favorite blogs feeds. What are you waiting for…go!
this kills me. for multiple reasons:
a) I’m in a wedding this weekend, where the bride is a dance instructor, and her bridal party has been learning a choreographed hip hop dance - for MONTHS now. so even though we allllll white, we will be rockin’ it. no electric slide here.
2) I just, JUST saw Hitch a few weeks ago (i know) and that exact dance you’re talking about inspired me to put that in a video I made for our bride for her shower. it turned out pretty hilarious. Very “white” but still, funny.
d) I am loving your dance with Ryan - i mean, work what you got. i also love when people who know they might not have the moves just pop out their cell phones and point at people as they go down the row - that’s always a classic signature move that gets a laugh. put that in your back pocket if you’re ever in a dance jam.
IV) I think you look CUTE!!!
Ahh…You are too much, too much! Love the moves;) And beautiful pictures, really enjoyed your photography site!
Bloglines ROCKS my socks! EVERYONE should use bloglines, it really does save so much more time when blog reading.
Girl you are HILARIOUS! Bust a move sister. It seems like every reception we go to also plays “Sweet Home Alabama” and we live in Tennessee. It’s like some redneck reception anthem. Everyone gets on the dance floor. Yee haw.
Those photos are gorgeous, too. Uh, the bridal ones.
Seriously, though, you’re cute even in your skank get up.
I am a great dancer if I’ve had a glass or two of champagne. GREAT.
p.s. I used to do Bloglines and now do Google Reader. Not sure which one I like more but yeah it does help when there are a ton of blogs to read.
The wedding was so much fun, and dancing like a whitey with a bunch of other whitey’s was the best. We may not dance well, but boy can we clap! I liked your eye-pluck move, but you also summed up another whitey dance move in the second picture - the pursed lip. Love it!
And don’t forget about the “white man lip bite” perfected by my hubby. Has he showed you guys that one? those pics are priceless, Kel. I especially like the intensity of the come hither look you are giving the camera in number 3. Wish I could have busted some white girl moves with you guys, the last wedding we were at ended with alex on the mike rapping to “baby got back” and smacking bootiliciousness. You and I could really bring the house down on that one!!
Okay, I laughed too loud and woke Lily up. Thanks Kelly!! Girrlll, you cur-razy!
that’s FABULOUS! congrats to kristie!
i know this post is mostly about your friend, who looked gorgeous by the way, but dude……..you look HOT!!! i’m just saying….
Those are some serious dance moves. We’ll all have to have a dance-off in a restaurant bathroom if you ever come live in Amanda’s basement
I wish I could come spend a few days with you so you could teach me some photography tips to get me started. I cant find anyone around here and the internet hasnt produced much help either.You guys do some rockin work and if I could go back in time you surely would of been the ones doing my wedding.
Now, forget all that! Where is my Chloe fix???
Okay…fine. You can live in the top part of our new house and We’ll live in the crawl space. Just promise me you’ll teach me those wicked dance moves.
i’m so jealous.
Lovely lovely. I’ll miss you if you blog less, but I will still be around.
I think I might be in love with you. Those dancing pictures are awesome.
And I just clicked thru your photography blog. OH. Gorgeous. I’m so jealous.
gorgeous shots of the bride and the groom. sounds like a good time was had. great dance moves!
I might have to steal some of your moves, but I promise to give you full credit : )
Ryan’s pictures are awesome as always. You guys make me want to hav another wedding just so the two of you can photograph it.
Mkay… I’m digging the pics, as always… But could you not humor me with a vid of your fabulously patented smooth dance moves? I mean, ya can’t let a girl down now, can ya?
Awesome moves
It does my heart good to know that I’m not the only one with dancing skills. I think I got so good by watching Dancing With The Stars…Who am I kidding? I’m half black and my husband says I’m the whitest girl he’s ever met. What’s that supposed to mean?