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By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
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A dad and daughter's inspired dance at her wedding has gone viral, captivating hearts across the internet.
Rebecca Gordon (@beccers_gordonn) shared the incredible moment she and her father, Robert Gordon, performed a lively routine at her wedding last month, where she married Carton Peterson. The video, which has since racked up 166,800 likes and 1.8 million views, showcases a heartwarming and unforgettable dance between the pair.
"What inspired the unique daddy-daughter dance is when I was young, me and my dad would always be dancing. We would put on music, as young as when I started to walk, and we would dance to songs such as 'Bye Bye Bye' by NSYNC and 'American Pie,'" Rebecca told Newsweek.
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"My dad is such a fun-spirited guy, and I felt that a dance like that would be a perfect fit. I also didn't want to do a slow dance, because I know I'd probably cry the whole time and cry off all my makeup," she laughed.
With just two nights to prepare before the Saturday wedding, Rebecca and Robert dedicated themselves to perfecting their moves. Staying up until 1 a.m. on Thursday night, they practiced a routine planned by Rebecca's aunt, a professional choreographer.
"Me and my dad aren't the best dancers, so we had to practice... many, many times," Rebecca admitted.
The routine began with their special song "American Pie"—a staple in their father-daughter history. "This is my dad and I's song. We grew up dancing to this, but we wanted to add a spin to it," she said.
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As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church), Rebecca and her father had to ensure that the songs in the mash-up were free of any inappropriate language. Their medley featured a fun blend, starting with "American Pie," then transitioning into "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston and "Yeah!" by Usher. The dance ended on a sentimental note with "Let It Be" by The Beatles.
"We wanted to end by slow dancing for about 30 seconds, and we chose 'Let It Be.' My grandma suddenly passed in 2019, and 'Let It Be' reminds me of her. It also magically played on the radio at the ice cream shop we went to after her funeral, and again at Sam's Club right after that," Rebecca shared.
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The video of the Gordon duo tearing up the dance floor and bringing their joyful spirit to the wedding reception quickly went viral, with guests cheering them on and TikTok users buzzing with admiration.
"The crowd loved it. I think people are used to a slow father-daughter dance, so I think everyone was shocked. I loved it—I had been looking forward to doing something like this before I was even engaged," Rebecca said.
For Rebecca, her father has always been her greatest inspiration and best friend. Summing up their relationship, she said: "My dad is my best friend. We are very, very similar. He is fun, outgoing, loving, and a jokester. He makes me want to become a better person in every aspect. I love that he is always willing to do silly dances with me or help me film TikToks. When he would visit me at college, everyone would be more happy to see Robb than me.
"He would even come and attend the young single adult ward (church) at [Brigham Young University], and everyone was stoked to see him."
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Father-daughter dances have long been a cherished tradition at weddings, symbolizing the special bond between a bride and her father. The dance is often an emotional highlight of the reception, offering a poignant moment of connection amid the celebration. Popular song choices for father-daughter dances vary from sentimental classics like "My Girl" by The Temptations and "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder.
Whether opting for a traditional slow dance or a more lively routine, these moments create lasting memories and are a beautiful way to honor the father-daughter relationship.
In the case of Rebecca and Robert, their choice to mix up the usual slow dance with a fun, energetic mash-up brought a refreshing twist to the custom. By incorporating songs that held special meaning for them, they transformed their dance into an unforgettable expression of their unique bond.
Their TikTok dance not only showcased their tight bond but also resonated with viewers everywhere. One TikTok user exclaimed, "Iconic." Another joked, "Rob ate and left no crumbs." Cassidy, a third viewer, added, "Dad is FEELING himself!!!! 10/10."
Rebecca and Robert's magical day took place at The Saratoga Springs Temple in Utah, with the reception in nearby Highland. Despite the short three-month engagement and some rain before the reception, Rebecca said, "Everything turned out perfectly. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."
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