Dance dance revolution

We’re not sure if the trend of choreographed wedding dances started when the video of the couple reliving the Dirty Dancing finale rocketed its way to the top of YouTube’s most-watched clips (and even ended up on Oprah), or if it really caught on with the site’s more recent matrimony hit, “Baby Got Back,” but one thing’s for sure: We dig it. It’s cheaper than hiring professional dance instructors, more memorable than the waltz and the next best thing to appearing on Dancing with the Stars. So how to get started? We pulled together wedding dance tips from seasoned amateur Jessica Taksas, who, with her husband, Jason (both pictured), surprised their 300 guests with a performance to MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” at their wedding in February:

Don’t pick a current pop song (unless it says something about you two as a couple); choose something that’s reminiscent of the time you lovebirds met. “Our original song was “2 Legit 2 Quit,” but my husband couldn’t figure out the fingers,” says Taksas. “We grew up in the ’80s.”

No need to hire a professional choreographer; ask a friend with a sense of rhythm for help or make up the moves yourself. It’s all about keeping it personal.

If you can get them to practice with you a few times before the big day, bring in members of the wedding party for backup dancing (it’s something Taksas wishes she’d done herself).

Don’t wear your heels, ladies. Taksas opted for rhinestone-studded Keds just for the dance.

Keep it a surprise. Unless your friends and family have no sense of humor, they’ll love it. “People said it was the perfect lull between dinner and dancing,” Taksas says, “and it got everybody psyched to get on the dance floor.” Seventy-five hundred YouTube hits later, people are still enjoying their moves.

Read more wedding tips in this week’s wedding feature.