Belly Dancing at Weddings - Top 4 tips

With Wedding season upon us, I've been performing at many lovely hen parties and weddings. It's always a privilege to celebrate and share this special day with brides, grooms and their loved ones. 

In Egypt, Turkey and many other Middle Eastern countries a belly dance performance has been a traditional part of the wedding celebration, with the dancer as the symbol for bringing good luck and blessings to the marriage union. Now this tradition is fast spreading in the UK and not just at Middle Eastern Weddings, I've performed at Asian, English and Eastern European too.

If you've received an invite to a wedding some of you may go out to buy a new outfit and choose what to wear as a guest - it's the same for belly dancers too. I have to choose costumes that will be appropriate for your special day. Something bright but not too much white as I don't want to upset the bride and something respectable so that it's tasteful and family friendly. In my recent trip to Istanbul, I found 'the one' a beautiful coral two-piece, beaded number that works well for weddings and hen parties alike. I've always been a sucker for embellishments and hand-crafted items. It must be my inner magpie coming out. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to see what it looks like and pictures/videos of me performing. 

I'll finish with saying Good Luck to all brides getting married this year. No doubt you'll look beautiful and special on your day. Before I gave up my job to dance full-time, I was (and still am) an event manager so, I've included some top tips for brides below. Good luck and enjoy your wedding day!

Top 4 tips for brides

1. Take the time to text your future husband-to-be on the morning of the big day with a few sweet words. The day will go by so quickly it's nice to take moment to talk to the man you're about to marry.
2. Don't be afraid to mention what your budget is when hiring an entertainer. The entertainer might not be able to reduce their price as they have costs to meet and bills to pay however, they might be willing to throw in a few added extras to ensure value for money. It's worth talking to the entertainer if you really admire their work. It's up to you and what your priorities are. Remember, going cheap may mean that you have to sacrifice on quality.
3. Make sure all items/tasks are complete at least 1 week before the wedding so you can focus on pampering yourself and winding down. You don't want to be running around sorting out favours/contacting suppliers on the morning of your wedding.
4. Download the free app, Wedding Happy to help you manage all your tasks and ensure that you stay organised with all your details in one place. More info about Wedding Happy App