Being the mother of the bride can be a stressful job. In addition to helping with the planning process, you’re also typically responsible for assisting with vendors, hosting pre-wedding events, and, of course, running those last-minute errands. However, one bride’s mother decided to add another task to her list of duties: coordinating a flash mob at her daughter’s reception.
In a video shared by Good Morning America, the couple, Jim Haesaerts and Katherine Martineau, head to the balcony of their Montreal reception venue for the bouquet toss. Yet as soon as the bride is about to throw her flowers, she notices her guests beginning their coordinated dance as ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” plays in the background. Once she realizes what’s happening, Martineau quickly turns to Haesaerts for a side hug and a laugh. The newlyweds continue to watch the impressive performance from their balcony, waving along with their family and friends. And while a few guests seemed to forget a couple of the moves throughout the three-minute show (it happens!), the majority completed the dance in its entirety.
Good Morning America reported that it was the bride’s mother who spearheaded the grand surprise, choreographing the flash mob, recording it, and passing it along to all of the guests before the big day. Martineau was the only one at the celebration who wasn’t aware of the planned performance.
The bride’s mother certainly picked a good song when it came time to plan the flash mob: “Dancing Queen” is not only one of the most requested wedding songs of all time, but it’s also one of our personal favorites to hear at a reception. Other popular—and classic—dance-worthy hits include Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher,” and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons’ “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night).” These beloved tracks are guaranteed to make all of your guests immediately flock to the dance floor—or at least start singing along from their seats. (We’d also argue that these would make for a great soundtrack to a coordinated dance moment—or a surprise flash mob.)
Curious about integrating a coordinated dance into your own nuptials? You can opt to do it as part of your wedding entrance—alongside your wedding party. Regina Young, the founder and lead planner of Meant2Be Events, previously told Brides that one couple she worked with pulled it off quite successfully. “The bridal party was allowed to enter just as they normally would, but they were in on what happened next,” she said. “Once the bride and groom were announced, the DJ changed the song, cuing the full ballroom of guests to come to the dance floor where the flash mob began. Everyone talked about it all night long.” We have no doubt that just like that couple, guests at this Canadian wedding excitedly chatted about their performance—both before and after they did it.