My fiance and I are not into dancing. We are planning a small, intimate affair. I'm not sure that a dance floor is really right for us. Even though I do kind of like the idea of a first dance, it's not the end of the world if we don't have one.
I'm wondering, does anyone have any ideas on non-dancing entertainment? I don't want people to be stuck in their chairs. I want them to get up and mingle. Maybe food stations or the dessert buffet will get people to wander? Is that enough? Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Even if we did have a dance floor, is 50 people, not all of whom will dance, enough to make it a party?
I'm in your shoes: I don't like dancing. However, our wedding is going to be a bit larger (150 people) and I feel that as the bride, I'm obligated to lead by example and boogie on the dance floor. But those are my guests. I know that they'll be disappointed if they don't dance, and I also know that they'll feel uncomfortable shaking a leg if I'm not participating (even though I wouldn't mind!).
So I think that you should consider the people you're inviting. Will they expect to dance? If so, maybe have a small dance floor so that you can have your first dance and cut a rug a little later on of the spirit moves you. If not, consider hiring a DJ who will lead some fun wedding games (the "Hi Honey, I'm home!" game is always a hit). Maybe you could have a karaoke competition or something seasonal and fun (for example, if you were getting married in October, you could have a pumpkin carving contest; in April, you could have an Easter Egg decorating contest/hunt; etc.) Either way, though, you'll probably need some open space to provide room for any speeches and/or entertainment you decide to provide.
I dunno, this is a tricky one...what have other people told you to do?
I think we are going to have a presentation about wine from a friend who is in the wine business, but that will be during the cocktail hour, most likely. I suppose we could do it after dinner instead, but I figure people will learn at the cocktail hour about the wine, then they will have a better idea of what they would like to drink during dinner.
I'm in the same boat. Neither of us mind dancing, but I dread an empty dance floor. I've seen too many weddings where 3-5 people hang out for most of the night, and everyone else just comes up for the slow dances. It's awkward and I'm looking for a way around it.
I like the idea of the wine presentation during the cocktail hour! And having food stations will be a great way to keep the room moving.
Honestly, if you're having 50 guests, I think the evening will feel intimate enough that you won't NEED dancing to keep people having fun. But I stand by my opinion that you might want a small, open area so that you can share your first dance and have the option of dancing if you suddenly feel like it.
Silhouettes or charicatures might be really fun! Or you could have your photographer set up a photobooth somewhere near the bar and have fun photoshoots for your friends (those are fantastic pictures to hang together on a wall, too, because the background is uniform). You can also incorporate a slideshow with dessert, or some other type of presentation.
I come from a strict Protestant Russian family, so most wedding I've been to don't have dancing. For entertainment we have a band and an MC, and between songs there are people who come up to the microphone and say a wish or a blessing to the couple. Also, sometimes there are games, but they're mostly very corny...In the end, its mostly about the food
At our wedding this past August we didn't have dancing either, and it worked out just fine. We aren't dancers, and had a very small wedding (25 people total). To ensure fun, we set up candle light croquet, which everyone seemed to really enjoy. It also looked really beautiful, as we had a sparkly hanging chandlier and dozens and dozens of votives all around the croquet pitch.
We also had a lounge area, made up of mostly patio furniture. In fact, we used the cushioned wicker furniture provided by our venue. I was a little concerned about it at first, as I wasn't crazy about the way it looked. But at night with all of the candles it really looked fine, and it was well used by our guests. The lounge area really facilitated mingling, especially since it was set up near the bar.
We were expected the night to end fairly early since we didn't have dancing, and we had a small guest list. This is what we wanted, because we were leaving for our honeymoon the next day. I think we were heading to our hotel at about 11pm (our ceremony was at 5pm).
We rented blackjack, craps and roulette tables complete with the dealer for our 50 people wedding. It was very successful. We were worried that nobody will want to play, but the tables were packed all night. Nobody left early. We gave prizes to the top 3 guests with the most chips at the end of the night.
I even wish that some people would stop playing for a little bit to enjoy our lounge area with firepit, smores station and hot chocolate.
i was also going to suggest ideas like meena482's and indy's. what about also having karoke as well? do your guests sing? i think also some companies are renting out rock band and maybe the wii. the dessert buffet also sounds like it would get people to mingle, especially if it's interactive, meaning a chocolate fountain, fondue, or smore's.
For my wedding abroad we had an intimate wedding as well with no dancing. It was also during the day, but nevertheless, we had a great spanish guitar player, great food, an espresso bar, a lounge area, and everyone had an amazing time. I also know of a wedding that was set up cocktail style, with lots of different stations that got people up and mingling.
My fiance and I are not into dancing. We are planning a small, intimate affair. I'm not sure that a dance floor is really right for us. Even though I do kind of like the idea of a first dance, it's not the end of the world if we don't have one.
I'm wondering, does anyone have any ideas on non-dancing entertainment? I don't want people to be stuck in their chairs. I want them to get up and mingle. Maybe food stations or the dessert buffet will get people to wander? Is that enough? Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Even if we did have a dance floor, is 50 people, not all of whom will dance, enough to make it a party?
posted by Soon2BeMrsC Worker bee: 74 posts 2 months agoI'm in your shoes: I don't like dancing. However, our wedding is going to be a bit larger (150 people) and I feel that as the bride, I'm obligated to lead by example and boogie on the dance floor. But those are my guests. I know that they'll be disappointed if they don't dance, and I also know that they'll feel uncomfortable shaking a leg if I'm not participating (even though I wouldn't mind!).
So I think that you should consider the people you're inviting. Will they expect to dance? If so, maybe have a small dance floor so that you can have your first dance and cut a rug a little later on of the spirit moves you. If not, consider hiring a DJ who will lead some fun wedding games (the "Hi Honey, I'm home!" game is always a hit). Maybe you could have a karaoke competition or something seasonal and fun (for example, if you were getting married in October, you could have a pumpkin carving contest; in April, you could have an Easter Egg decorating contest/hunt; etc.) Either way, though, you'll probably need some open space to provide room for any speeches and/or entertainment you decide to provide.
I dunno, this is a tricky one...what have other people told you to do?
posted by Wiglet Worker bee: 109 posts 2 months agoI think we are going to have a presentation about wine from a friend who is in the wine business, but that will be during the cocktail hour, most likely. I suppose we could do it after dinner instead, but I figure people will learn at the cocktail hour about the wine, then they will have a better idea of what they would like to drink during dinner.
posted by Soon2BeMrsC Worker bee: 74 posts 2 months agoHave you considered having a silhouette artist? My husband Karl does silhouettes at weddings. www.cutarts.com
posted by cutarts Newbee: 6 posts 2 months agoI'm in the same boat. Neither of us mind dancing, but I dread an empty dance floor. I've seen too many weddings where 3-5 people hang out for most of the night, and everyone else just comes up for the slow dances. It's awkward and I'm looking for a way around it.
posted by HistoryBride Worker bee: 138 posts 2 months ago@ Cutarts: By the way, those silhouettes are pretty impressive. Too bad you're in CA and not MI :)
posted by HistoryBride Worker bee: 138 posts 2 months agoI like the idea of the wine presentation during the cocktail hour! And having food stations will be a great way to keep the room moving.
Honestly, if you're having 50 guests, I think the evening will feel intimate enough that you won't NEED dancing to keep people having fun. But I stand by my opinion that you might want a small, open area so that you can share your first dance and have the option of dancing if you suddenly feel like it.
Silhouettes or charicatures might be really fun! Or you could have your photographer set up a photobooth somewhere near the bar and have fun photoshoots for your friends (those are fantastic pictures to hang together on a wall, too, because the background is uniform). You can also incorporate a slideshow with dessert, or some other type of presentation.
posted by Wiglet Worker bee: 109 posts 2 months agoI come from a strict Protestant Russian family, so most wedding I've been to don't have dancing. For entertainment we have a band and an MC, and between songs there are people who come up to the microphone and say a wish or a blessing to the couple. Also, sometimes there are games, but they're mostly very corny...In the end, its mostly about the food
posted by yelena628 Wannabee: 3 posts 2 months agoAt our wedding this past August we didn't have dancing either, and it worked out just fine. We aren't dancers, and had a very small wedding (25 people total). To ensure fun, we set up candle light croquet, which everyone seemed to really enjoy. It also looked really beautiful, as we had a sparkly hanging chandlier and dozens and dozens of votives all around the croquet pitch.
We also had a lounge area, made up of mostly patio furniture. In fact, we used the cushioned wicker furniture provided by our venue. I was a little concerned about it at first, as I wasn't crazy about the way it looked. But at night with all of the candles it really looked fine, and it was well used by our guests. The lounge area really facilitated mingling, especially since it was set up near the bar.
We were expected the night to end fairly early since we didn't have dancing, and we had a small guest list. This is what we wanted, because we were leaving for our honeymoon the next day. I think we were heading to our hotel at about 11pm (our ceremony was at 5pm).
posted by meena482 Newbee: 6 posts 2 months agoWe rented blackjack, craps and roulette tables complete with the dealer for our 50 people wedding. It was very successful. We were worried that nobody will want to play, but the tables were packed all night. Nobody left early. We gave prizes to the top 3 guests with the most chips at the end of the night.
I even wish that some people would stop playing for a little bit to enjoy our lounge area with firepit, smores station and hot chocolate.
posted by indy Worker bee: 91 posts 2 months agoi was also going to suggest ideas like meena482's and indy's. what about also having karoke as well? do your guests sing? i think also some companies are renting out rock band and maybe the wii. the dessert buffet also sounds like it would get people to mingle, especially if it's interactive, meaning a chocolate fountain, fondue, or smore's.
posted by browneyes Newbee: 20 posts 2 months ago50 peopl is definitely enough for a party, whether you dance or not. Have a wonderful time!
posted by NearlyMsSubrosa Helper bee: 290 posts 2 months agoFor my wedding abroad we had an intimate wedding as well with no dancing. It was also during the day, but nevertheless, we had a great spanish guitar player, great food, an espresso bar, a lounge area, and everyone had an amazing time. I also know of a wedding that was set up cocktail style, with lots of different stations that got people up and mingling.
posted by Teeners Worker bee: 62 posts 2 months ago