‘Believe it or not, everyone can dance,’ says Lesley Osman, the general manager at Danceworks. ‘There are no lost causes here. It’s a transformative process for people, not just on a physical level but dancing is such a confidence boost and who doesn’t want that in the run up to their wedding day?’
The options are designed to suit all couples, no matter how time poor. You can choose from a one-off session with a professional dancer or from a choice of wedding packages that offer three or five one-hour sessions. If you feel you need more, that can easily be timetabled but most people achieve what they are looking to in that time. For the really time strapped, dance teachers will travel to your home or office, as long as you have the space available.
‘Our teachers are all professional performers who are active in the industry, many working in the West End,’ says Lesley. ‘They are fully dance trained. We have former world and national champions, Bollywood dance stars like Naz Choudhury, but they are all willing to teach total beginners. Strictly Come Dancing definitely raised the collective consciousness that it is possible to start from nothing and learn to dance. It’s in our culture now.’
The list of options is virtually endless with couples able to choose from tap, burlesque, Irish, Chinese, ballet, Latin American, ballroom, Afro-fusion or street. ‘You name it, we can teach it,’ adds Lesley ‘with the exception of pole dancing because of the impracticalities of the very high ceilings in our studios. The trend now is for fusion styles. Couples want to switch from a waltz into a street dance.’
While it is very common for there to be ‘some terror’ in the first lessons, the teachers are known for their kind and patient approach. ‘They will ask what shoes you will be wearing on the day and keep that in mind when choreographing your routine. They’ll also consider how long your dress will be, the kind of music you like, what style of dance you prefer, so that they can really customise the performance to the individual couple. It will feel very special to you.’
Many couples continue dancing together after the wedding because they enjoy it so much. Nine studios hosting one hundred classes a week makes that very easy. ‘Dance lifts your mood, it’s very inspiring for people, it affects you in mind, body and spirit,’ adds Lesley. ‘Weddings can be intense so to come into a dance studio and lose yourself in the music, with someone guiding you through the steps so you go from feeling awkward to feeling really comfortable is so beneficial. We’ve had 100% satisfied customers because it’s very cool to be able to dance.’
Danceworks also offer dance parties for hen dos, choreographed routines for the wider wedding party and engagement parties for up to sixty people with live music and dance performances.
J & M Davidson
Head to J & M Davidson for your special guest gifts like beautiful silk scarfs or leather accessories made from sustainably sourced soft Spanish nappa leather. Upgrade your handbag for the honeymoon or pick up the perfectly proportioned white leather Colletto bag for a chic and slick city wedding day.
Honeymoon pack with precision with Metier’s high functioning approach to travel bags that are designed from the inside out. Each bag is handcrafted in Italy and improves with age, so they never need to be discarded or replaced. Take a seat at the green marbled bar at the rear of the flagship Mayfair store and trade travel stories with fellow lovers of luxury leather goods.
You can walk into this permanent antiques market and buy a gift that speaks to you then and there. Or you can challenge one of hundred resident jewellery, art and antique dealers to source something specific for you. Be inspired by antique lace, porcelain, silverware, cufflinks and even that most traditional of wedding gifts – a canteen of cutlery!
Browns
The setting of this Grade II listed building may be historical but what you’ll find inside are some of the most contemporary global designer collections including Prada, Versace, Burberry and Gucci plus the latest high-performance beauty products perfect for post-wedding gifting. The experience extends well beyond the retail floors with bespoke suit tailoring, personal shopping and a thoughtful Thrift+ for Browns service that allows you to denote your pre-loved designer pieces while raising money for good causes and earning Browns credit.
Imagine returning from your honeymoon to a bed that has been dressed with your own monogrammed Italian linens or personalised embroidery. Better yet, opt for the home-installation service and the Frette specialists will not only arrive to dress the bed for you, but they will iron all the linens too and offer styling advice for the bedroom and beyond. The perfect antidote to post-wedding blues.
A little slice (or pot) of the Cotswolds comes to Mayfair at Bamford, bringing with it a nurturing and restorative wedding gift list. Choose from products infused with natural ingredients including sage, geranium, English Lavender and rose, cosy up in matching waffle robes or buy two of the rose quartz crystal chakra hearts.
Bamford
