Post # 1
Member
16 posts
Newbee
Is the Dollar Dance Tacky?
The Dollar Dance or Money Dance
A staple of wedding receptions for ages, the appropriateness of the Dollar Dance at weddings has been questioned in recent years. The original premise of the dance was to give the newlyweds a few extra bucks to spend on their honeymoon.
There are a number of variations of the Dollar Dance here is a basic description:
During a predetermined song, the bride and her Maid/Matron of honor and the Groom and his Best Man take places on the dance floor. Male guests line up for an opportunity to dance one on one with the bride, and female guests line up for a personal dance with the groom. Each dance lasts around 30 seconds. The Maid/Matron of Honor and Best Man collect the dollars from each guest.
The Dollar Dance has the advantage of giving the bride and groom a few seconds of personal time to spend with each guest. It also can be used as the first dance of the evening in place of a receiving line.
Post # 3
Member
2111 posts
Buzzing bee
I think it is because guests already spend money coming to your wedding (if they have to travel) and then they buy you a gift… I think asking them for more money is wrong. UNLESS of course it’s your culture.
Post # 4
Member
8738 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I think it’s a cute idea for people to have personal time with the bride or groom, but I don’t think they should have to pay for it.
It’d be cute to print out “fake bride/groom” dollars and have a “dollar dance” with those.
So everyone gets a chance to dance with bride/groom but you aren’t making them pay for it.
Post # 5
Member
10851 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
*warning* This is a much debated topic here on WB. Madness will likely ensue. Welcome to the can of worms!
Post # 6
Member
393 posts
Helper bee
We did it at our wedding. It’s a big cultural thing and it’s pretty expected. I’m sure some people not of the same culture found it tacky. Oh well! You can’t please everyone.
Post # 7
Member
2821 posts
Sugar bee
I love when weddings have this. It’s not part of my husbands culture and between that and some of the language barrier we didn’t feel like explaining but we both tried to dance with everyone without the dollars but we missed a lot of people. I kinda wish we had something a bit more organized, still without the $$ involved, where we had a song or two designated as take the bride and groom for a spin.
Post # 8
Member
7296 posts
Busy Beekeeper
i think its fine if you want to do it. i have never seen it at a wedding, but it does sound fun. as a guest, i would never perceive it as tacky or a money grab.
Post # 9
Member
243 posts
Helper bee
Although I do think it’s a little untasteful, I wouldn’t say it’s tacky. It’s a tradition to some families and some guests actually do enjoy it. I mean, it’s not mandatory to go up there and pay for a dance. And usually guests don’t mind paying a dollar or whatever for a dance. It gives the couple some extra cash to take with them on their honeymoon. I actually don’t want one though (I know sounds kinda hypocritcal after I just defended it) but it’s just not my style. I’m not big on traditions anyway so I’d like to stay away from things that people are expecting. But my Fiance and family want us to do it. I’m just not sure if I’ll give in…I mean the money is tempting!
Post # 10
Member
7431 posts
Busy Beekeeper
We did the dollar dance, but only because its a Polish wedding tradition, and is expected at all Polish weddings. Now, if you do it only cuz you want to get more money out of people, and its not common among your friends/family/community, I would think it would be tacky.
Sorry, but this steams me a bit cuz its a tradition for certain cultures, but anyone thinks they can do it just to get more money from people
Post # 11
Member
6826 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I really wish people would stop over using the word “Tacky” . Honestly it is really up to you and your Fiance if you want to do or not. As for the dollar dance it is more regional thing I think. In the Midwest just about every wedding I have been to has one, we plan on having one.
Post # 12
Member
4137 posts
Honey bee
if it’s the norm in your area and everyone expects it, then i don’t think it’s necessarily tacky. if you try to force it, then it is tacky. it just depends on your circle.
Post # 13
Member
243 posts
Helper bee
I think almost every wedding I”ve been to has had one!
Post # 14
Member
381 posts
Helper bee
It defintely depends if this is a tradition that your family typically has at weddings but I do not think it’s tacky. Any wedding that I’ve been to, people have really enjoyed it. It’s called the “dollar” dance, not the “one hundred dollar” dance. So the point of it isn’t to try to get more money from people – it’s a fun way for people to participate and get a chance to dance with the bride. But if your family and friends aren’t used to seeing this, they may think its tacky because they don’t understand it.
Post # 16
Member
3525 posts
Sugar bee
@KatNYC2011: The fake money idea is cute!
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