Although your reception needs to have plenty of time for people to mingle, talk, and do their own thing, you'll also need to set aside time in your schedule for some very important wedding dances. Some of these dances are traditional and are almost always included in the wedding festivities; others are optional and are meant to be a little fun.

Obviously, the first dance of the night should be between the two of you. Known as the “First Dance,” this moment is meant to celebrate your first dance together as husband and wife. You'll be on the dance floor alone, possibly even with a spotlight pointed on you as the rest of the guests watch and your photographer snaps pictures. Don't worry if this sounds intimidating or if you're worried about your dancing ability. Your guests aren't there to decide if you have dancing talent but to celebrate this happy moment. If you're very nervous, then consider taking a few dance lessons. It's fun, good exercise, and great preparation for the rest of the night.

You'll also need to select a specific song for this dance. Ideally, the song will be one that has sentimental meaning for both of you, perhaps it was the first song you both ever danced to or it was playing in the background when he proposed.

After the First Dance, the bride usually dances with her father. Again, don't get too nervous by all the flashing bulbs and eyes watching your movements on the dance floor. This is supposed to be a special moment for the two of you. If your father is nervous, then ask him to join you for some of the dance lessons, too.

Generally, the Father/Daughter dance is a slow dance, too, so you'll want to choose an appropriate song. If no particular song comes to mind immediately, then you could consider songs, such as “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle, “My Girl” by The Temptations, or “You Are so Beautiful to Me” by Joe Cocker.

Following these two dances, you can have a few other special dances. The groom might want to dance with his mother or you may want to have a special dance for the wedding party. That's completely up to you.

If you want to throw in a few fun dances to really get your other guests involved, you might want to consider doing a money dance. With the money dance, the bride and/or the groom agree to dance with different guests who are willing to give them a dollar. You'll want to play an upbeat, fun song for this dance and really have fun with it. Consider having it a little later in the reception when people are feeling more loosened up and you'll be able to walk away with a nice little chunk of change for the dance.

You might find that some of your guests are a little shy about coming to the dance floor. In that case, try a Snowball dance. Have the entire wedding party start dancing, then after a few seconds, the DJ stops the song and the wedding party goes out into the guests to select separate partners. Then they dance a little longer and the music stops again so everyone on the floor now can find additional partners and bring them to the floor, too. It won't take long and you'll have everyone on the dance floor enjoying your reception to its fullest.