A bride and groom wowed guests when they learned the iconic Dirty Dancing choreography for their first dance—lift and all.
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Last August, Lan and Chris Donais said “I do” during a gorgeous wedding in Dedham, Massachusets, and they left a lasting memory for friends and family when they cleared the dance floor to perform the same moves that Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey performed in the 1987 classic.
“Our guests couldn’t believe their eyes because for as long as they have known us, they couldn’t predict this performance and how it turned out. People were so impressed,” Lan told People.
In a now-viral YouTube video shared by Sen Studio, the newlyweds gazed into each others’ eyes as they flawlessly danced to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life. Chris’ groomsmen even joined as backup dancers.
“My friends continue to rave about the dance. They loved it,” Chris said. “My older sister, who had a choreographed dance at her wedding, was also quite jealous, as she knew I had ‘topped hers.’ Certainly my favorite reaction!”
The idea began after Chris playfully asked Lan to try the legendary lift in their living room one day. What he didn’t know was that Dirty Dancing holds “a special place” in Lan’s heart. Like Baby, she, too, went to Mount Holyoke College. Every fall, she joined her fellow students and watched the movie in the school’s amphitheater to kick off the new semester.
“Looking back, the dance feels like a full circle from my first days in the U.S. as an international student to my special day dancing with the love of my life,” she told the publication. “I was also honored to have my maid of honor and bridesmaid, both fellow Mount Holyoke sisters, by my side that day.”
The “Dirty Dancing” Performance Felt Like A Scene Out Of Their Own Movie
Neither the bride nor groom had a background in dance. So when they decided to recreate the moves, they hired a coach and worked with her for six months. To combat stage fright, the couple also performed in public lobbies across MIT, where they eventually held their wedding.
When the big day arrived, Lan still had some nerves. But her husband knew exactly how to help.
“As soon as I walked out, I was almost shocked because of the loud cheers we received. At some point, the cheers were so overwhelming that I forgot my steps and just froze,” she shared.
“It was my first time ever freezing and forgetting my steps,” she continued. “But luckily Chris gently guided me along, and I was able to laugh it off.”
For Chris, the performance was easy because the moment the music started, he only had eyes for her.
“I was a bit nervous before because we had done a practice run which didn’t go perfectly,” he admitted. “But I forgot all about that once the music started. At that point, it was just me, her, and the music.”
This story’s featured image is by Hulton Archive / Handout via Getty Images.
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