Post # 1

Member
144 posts
Blushing bee
We’re trying to decide if we want to go straight from our first dance to the parent dances, or if instead we’ll go from our first dance to toasts, then dinner, then have the parent dances after dinner. What’s everyone doing/did you do?
Post # 2

Member
5283 posts
Bee Keeper
sept2017 :
We are going right from our entrance to our first dance, then doing the other dances after dinner.
In my experience, as a guest, I paid more attention to the dances when they weren’t one right after the other.
Post # 3

Member
3440 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2017 - Poppy Ridge Golf Course
Honestly I don’t pay attention either way but as a guest if it could be over and done with all at once that would be preferable. Not doing any of this.
Post # 4

Member
1386 posts
Bumble bee
In the only wedding I have been to, they did the first dance after dinner (dinner space was also the dance floor space so it had to be cleared), had some open dances, then abour 45min into the dancing, did the parents dances.
I would not do the parent dances before dinner because everyone will be thinking about food! As long as they’re early on the dancing part of reception, you’ll be fine. 🙂
Post # 5

Member
144 posts
Blushing bee
jayquellen : I get what you mean about guests thinking about food! Plus, in doing them after dinner, it’s probably a good way to start leading people onto the dance floor.
Post # 6

Member
144 posts
Blushing bee
heavenlyflower : Trust me, I’d be happy not doing the dances either, but it’s too important to my dad to skip.
Post # 7

Member
3440 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2017 - Poppy Ridge Golf Course
sept2017 : I get it. Same reason I won’t be walking down the aisle alone. 😋 Gotta love parents.
Post # 8

Member
18 posts
Newbee
I did all the dances after dinner and toasts. Actually, we did all the dances one after another right after cutting the cake. We had a cupcake bar for our guests, and there was easy access for everyone to the cupcakes without crossing the dance floor, so we danced while people got their cupcakes. That way, there was something to do and people didn’t get bored, and they had something to munch on while we were dancing.
The dances were more for the people dancing than the ones watching anyways. The dance I did with my father and the dance DH did with his mom were for us, not as much for the guests. I sat down next to some friends while DH was dancing after my dance with my father, and they liked that they didn’t feel like they had to just sit there and watch if they were getting bored. They still did, but encouraging people to move around while we were dancing let them know that they didn’t just have to sit and watch if back-to-back dances bored them.
Post # 9

Member
26 posts
Newbee
We did our entrance and first dance and then had dinnner, toasts right as dinner wrapped up and then parent dances after that. I’ve seen it done a few different ways, but wanted to break up the dances because, as a guest, I get bored watching three in a row.
Post # 10

Member
469 posts
Helper bee
We did our entrance, toasts, dinner, first dance, then parent dances. People surprisngly paid attention and were really into the dances haha.
Post # 11

Member
999 posts
Busy bee
We did the patents dances after our first dance, which was right after dinner. That way people are fed and no one is sitting there hungry waiting for them to end. After the parents dance, the dance floor opened up.
Post # 12

Member
164 posts
Blushing bee
sept2017 : If you do it after the first dance at least have one or two other songs in between each special dance.
Like first dance song
unforgettable
father daughter dance
lets stay together
at last
mother son dance
Post # 13

Member
1349 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: July 2017 - The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek
Since our reception started a little late (7:30), we didn’t want to delay dinner too much. We did wedding party entrance, first dance song, dinner, toasts, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, open dance floor (until cake cutting half an hour into dancing). I thought this worked really nicely, and guests didn’t have to sit and wait for dinner too long.