Viral Internet wedding dance videos inspire couples’ unorthodox ceremonies

Published 8:51 pm Saturday, July 31, 2010

Almost 12 million folks have viewed “JK Wedding Entrance Dance” on YouTube.

It was gobbled up around the world as fast as a fudge bar on a hot day. Viewers chuckle when they see it, or even shed a joyful tear.

The well-watched video shows a huge wedding party dancing down a Minnesota aisle to “Forever” by Chris Brown.

The bride and groom seem giddy with glee.

Beverly Pitner is getting married to George Kruchinin Aug. 8 in their Bothell home. Friends recommended she view the YouTube video a week or so ago and she said it cracked her up — and inspired her.

“Then I thought of the man I have loved for more than 20 years and know in my heart he would never tap a step or dance a jig,” Pitner said. “The video was hilarious. It will just never happen to me.”

There will be a fun dance at Jeff Westphal’s wedding on Camano Island. The psychotherapist and counselor in Everett is marrying Kim O’Keefe Aug. 22 at a secluded park.

Knowing he was planning nuptials, friends told him he had to watch the wedding dance, Westphal said.

“A lot of people e-mailed it to me,” he said. “Part of the YouTube and Internet culture is it’s a quick fix for entertainment.”

The Marysville couple are designing an upbeat, nontraditional wedding, he said. A popcorn dance is planned, where the wedding couple dances, then break off and dance with a new partner, then everyone grabs someone else, until every wallflower is on their feet.

There is going to be a pinata for the kids and folk music.

As a therapist, Westphal understands the popularity of the YouTube video.

“One of the draws: We love to be entertained,” he said. “The wedding dance was semi-new, semi-novel, so it was a big draw.”

For instance, if you tell someone not to look at the sky, he said, they immediately look at the sky.

“People are drawn to things they think might be entertaining. Even in this age where we work and work, we still want to be entertained.”

People love to see other people happy, he said.

Seattle wedding photographer Dani Weiss said the dancing video reminded her of a wedding she photographed.

“They did not dance in the aisle, but friends put a dance together they performed at the reception,” Weiss said. “There were 10 or 12 people dancing.”

She said it was fun to photograph.

“I hope to see more of it because it adds a nice flair to the event,” she said. “I want to work with fun clients.”

Her fun clients were married at Woodland Park Zoo eight years ago Tuesday. Lorie Bettelyoun and Tony Van Zeyl, who live in Seattle, introduced their wedding party at the reception.

“Everyone did a dance to ‘Ape Like Me’ from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy,” Van Zeyl said. “We like to think we were ahead of the times, though at the time we were just trying to create something unique.”

The were inspired by “The Drew Carey Show” they loved, he said, which often featured choreographed dance numbers.

In Snohomish, Dana Perrault said she loves to see upbeat videos online.

Her own daughter, Bridgette Leigh Erdahl Mullineux, 18, is on YouTube singing a Carrie Underwood hit (find her at http:// tinyurl.com/nbja3j).

Perrault came across the wedding dance while surfing on MSNBC.

“I couldn’t stop watching it,” Perrault said.

She said it was such a refreshing way to approach a ceremony.

“They look like they are having so much fun with their dark sunglasses and exceptional beat. I loved the fact that it wasn’t at all traditional. It was completely refreshing, well choreographed by broad instructions from the bride, fun and it just made you feel good.”

Perrault suggested folks also peek at “Belgium Dancing” on YouTube.

“It’s playful, delightful and surprising,” Perrault said. “Joy is a good word.”

Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.