Best wedding processional. Ever. Now, the backstory...

Deacon's Bench ^ | July 25, 2009 | DEACON GREG KANDRA

[NYer]

Well, the couple who launched this terrific wedding video are speaking out about their exuberant nuptial boogie.

They popped up a couple days ago on TODAY:

Most couples wait until the reception before breaking out into the Funky Chicken on their wedding day, but Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson figured, why wait to unleash their unbridled joy?

The 28-year-olds floored their wedding guests by having their whole bridal party — including seven bridesmaids, five groomsmen and four ushers — boogie down the aisle in a choreographed dance more at home in a Broadway musical than in a somber church.

Groomsmen split into sides as Heinz did a somersault in front of the wowed crowd — and the gown-clad Peterson quickly followed, shaking her hips to Chris Brown’s “Forever” while pumping her bridal bouquet into the air during the June 20 ceremony in St. Paul, Minn.

Of course, some things are too good to keep to yourself. And when Kevin posted the wedding dance routine on YouTube, it quickly became a viral hit — some 700,000 people have already shared in the couple’s novel way of showing their matrimonial joy.

Heinz and Peterson (she’s keeping her maiden name) appeared live on TODAY Friday to tell their story of how their artistic self-expression on the biggest day of their lives captured America’s imagination and made them Internet stars.

After watching the video, TODAY’s Matt Lauer told the couple, “If that was a ceremony, I don’t know how you survived the honeymoon!” He then asked the couple who came up with the idea.

“It was mine,” Jill told Lauer. “I danced growing up and was a dancer through college and loved dance as a way to express yourself and share joy. So it was something I always thought about doing.”

The dance was bride Jill Peterson's idea.

It didn’t take her fun-loving husband Kevin long to agree to the idea, saying the decision to dance was “the first thing we really decided about the wedding that he wanted to do.”

They then broke the news to the parents that their wedding processional wasn’t going to take on the more reserved joy of a typical wedding. Jill admitted that her mom “was maybe a little nervous,” and Kevin said his parents were “definitely apprehensive,” but didn’t try to talk the two crazy kids out of their plan. They swore them to secrecy so other wedding guests wouldn’t know what they were up to.

Next up was a dance rehearsal for the wedding party. Anyone seeing the YouTube video might think the whole party was composed of dance professionals — the bridesmaids alone, with their waving-hands routine at the altar, are worth the price of admission. But Jill said it was actually more seat-of-the-tux than the final result would indicate.

“We [practiced for] an hour and a half,” Jill told Lauer. “A lot of that, people were sort of making up as they went, people just got really into it and went for it. We just gave them a general layout.”

The wedding party rehearsed the dance for just 90 minutes.

While guests were clearly overjoyed at getting a floor show even before the champagne flowed at the reception, Kevin and Jill are adamant they weren’t seeking a quick kiss of fame by posting their dancing high jinks on YouTube. Like many other viral video sensations, it was originally intended for friends and family.

“I put it up because her dad had been really harassing me to get it out to some of his other family members, and it exploded,” Kevin said.

TODAY’s Meredith Vieira noted that fans of the video are in for a special treat — the whole wedding party will appear on TODAY Saturday to do an encore of their now-legendary aisle dance.

Lauer was clearly amused by the couple and their video.

“If you can have that much fun at the wedding, that much fun will carry over also into your marriage,” he told them. “What a great sign and what a great gift.”

UPDATE: Mike Hayes, the venerable God Googler, has his own take on this controversial conga-among-the-congregants. Check it out here.

And if you just can't get enough of the "Forever" dance, check out the live perf the wedding party recreated for the TODAY show (personally, I like the original a lot more, and I'm starting to think their 15 minutes are just about up...):

[NYer]

It’s been the hot topic of discussion in the blogosphere. In case you missed “the dancing bridal party”, you should click on the link at the top of this thread. It did not take place in a Catholic Church, nor would it be appropriate. Perhaps I’m too far along the dinosaur trail to appreciate all the excitement; you can draw your own opinions.

[brytlea]

Saw it a couple of days ago. It was fun to watch, especially when you noticed that the guests were completely taken by surprise.

[Lurker]

It did not take place in a Catholic Church, nor would it be appropriate.

Yea, a Catholic Church is the last place on the planet one would encounter an example of pure unbridled joy. Now if you're looking for guilt, and an extra helping of that ridiculous concept 'original sin', a Catholic Church is the perfect place to go.

[minnesota4life]

It was pretty funny. I don’t find it disrespectful or anything like that.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Each to their own but “Best ever”? No.

[Ready4Freddy]

LOL, I was grinning all the way though! And started clapping as the bride entered, just about the same time she got the standing O from the guests.

A wedding that no one will ever forget.

[BenLurkin]

Saw it.

It was fun.

But I suspect the wedding party was made up of show business wannabes.

[AnAmericanMother]

It's pretty funny. Some are better dancers than others . . . . the guy who does the handstand is pretty cool.

It's not a Catholic church and not a Nuptial Mass, so it's o.k. as far as I'm concerned.

If it were a Catholic wedding, you could do this at the reception and it would be a lead pipe hoot!

[Desdemona]

Yea, a Catholic Church is the last place on the planet one would encounter an example of pure unbridled joy. Now if you're looking for guilt, and an extra helping of that ridiculous concept 'original sin', a Catholic Church is the perfect place to go.

Please, give it a rest. Joy can be found in any number of ways other than dance. This wouldn't fly because it's really more suited for the reception (and really should be encouraged as so many receptions are dreadfully dead). There, it would be no problem as would the bridesmaids dresses with exposed shoulders. Silly us, we expect people to dress with respect for God. I actually liked the shades.

The first time, it was sort of funny, but you have to wonder....

[Pharmboy]

I assumed the Church was Episcopal...am I wrong?

And I loved the video, BTW...

[gussiefinknottle]

I thought it was fun and it was the wedding the bride and groom
wanted. Believe me, much better than an “interpretive dance.”

[AnAmericanMother]

There's plenty of holy joy at the Mass. It's just a different kind than boogying down the aisle.

Go quietly sometime and see for yourself. Better yet, go to Adoration and spend an hour with Our Lord.

[Freedom56v2]

LOL, I was grinning all the way though! And started clapping as the bride entered, just about the same time she got the standing O from the guests.

A wedding that no one will ever forget.

---

Me. too.

Traditionalist that I am, I was suprised to find myself really liking it.

I guess it was because they were truly enjoying it all; guests, and the wedding party—no jitters, etc that I had for my very traditional wedding/cathedral length train, etc. Not that I did not enjoy my wedding, but I sure did not have as much fun.

I hope the joy stays with them for many years to come.

[AnAmericanMother]

Doesn't look Episcopal to me . . . and I used to be one.

Let me take another look and I'll opine.

[RebelTXRose]

when my aunt & uncle saw that we were using “The Lord of the Dance” for our processional, they thought I’d be tap-dancing down the aisle... It was the HYMN not the dance!
This was fun - I hope I don’t have any surprises at my daughter’s wedding in 5 weeks! That’ll BE in a Catholic church!

[NYer]

Yea, a Catholic Church is the last place on the planet one would encounter an example of pure unbridled joy.

On the contrary, we experience unbridled joy each week in the Holy Eucharist, for God is the source of all joy!

[Jo Nuvark]

There was a time when Mozart and Handel were the
boogie artists of their age. How awesome to let
your joy be magnified in the presence of “these
witnesses” to the equivalent of our modern Mozarts.

Great Post!

[brytlea]

That’s exactly right, it was very joyous, and after all, that’s what weddings are supposed to be. :)

[NYer]

If it were a Catholic wedding, you could do this at the reception and it would be a lead pipe hoot!

Absolutely! This is best done at the wedding reception.