Hokay, so apparently if I HAVE talked about the tribute to my dad at my wedding, some people missed it, so I’m gonna (re?)write it because it’s, like, something I’m super proud of.
For those who aren’t aware, my dad passed away unexpectedly in mid-August – two months before my wedding. Yeah, that fucked me up. Anyway, before he died, we were talking about music and songs and whatnot, and he was giving me shit because there was a certain song I REFUSED to include but he insisted was vital to every reception.
So after he passed, I wanted to do something special in his memory, but I didn’t wanna bring the wedding down, you know? Like, I knew if I played some sappy song or had like some kind of montage, everyone would just be kind of bummed out. I struggled with it for, like, a month and a half before inspiration struck.
My dad’s death hit my family super hard, so I made sure to ask everyone that would be attending if they’d be comfortable with my idea – what my dad and I found acceptable was not always shared by the rest of our family. Each and every one of them laughed and said it was perfect. Then I talked it over with my DJ, and not only did he laugh his ass off as well, he said that in all his years in that job this was the cleverest idea he’d ever heard.
Anyway, fast forward to the reception. Everyone’s having a blast, and the DJ meets my eyes across the dance floor and we nod at each other. Shit’s Going Down.
So I go stand next to the DJ booth as the current song ends, and he gets over the PA and starts his spiel we came up with during the planning. “Ladies and gentlemen, if all those who are able would join us on the dance floor, the bride has requested everyone participate in a tribute to her father, who recently passed away.”
Instantly, like, everyone just gets SUPER quiet and uncomfortable, just like I knew they would. But, like, they felt obligated, right? They couldn’t refuse the grieving bride. So they all shuffle onto the dance floor, and I can see everyone exchanging glances like, “Let’s just get this over with.”
The DJ says, “This is for you, Adam,” and queues the song.
There’s a moment of absolute, uncomfortable, solemn silence as everyone bows their heads.
Then “The Chicken Dance” blares over the speakers.
I wish to God I had video of the look of absolute HORROR that swept over the crowd. Jaws fucking DROPPED in shock and they were about three seconds from tearing the DJ apart for his “mistake” – until they saw me laughing and dancing.
That’s when they realized they’d been pranked, and I’ve never seen people more relieved to do the Chicken Dance.
This justifies the existence of The Chicken Dance.
Mooncustafer 