How can we have a fun/memorable wedding without alcohol and dancing at the reception?

Question

My fiance and I aren't drinkers nor do we advocate others drinking. We also aren't going to have dancing at the reception to shorten the day. Any suggestions as to how we can make our wedding fun, memorable and exciting? Games? The last thing we want is to have a dull wedding...what do you think?

Answer 1

Dont remove the music alltogether, have soft music playing in the background just to add atmosphere. Skip the games, that is a bit on the childish side.

Have a slide show of pictures from your childhood and your years together, also incorporating pictures of you and him with the bridesmaids and groomsmen

Ask certain special people to provide speeches and toasts in your honor.

You can give the gives you plan to hand out to the wedding party during the reception.

Answer 2

Having an alcohol & dance free wedding will be just fine. Don't stress about it. Just make sure that it's not so long that people have time to get bored. A couple hours, tops. People enjoy catching up with eachother at weddings so good conversation can go a long way. Have all of the regular activities like bouquet toss, cake cutting, etc to add to the traditional wedding ambience. I've seen the idea of having an old fashioned photo booth at the reception and the guests can take as many photos as they'd like. All ages would have fun with that.

You could have some fun alcohol free cocktails that are poured through a decorative ice sculpture luge. Food action stations would make a big impact on guests. A few examples: mashed potato martini bar, sushi station, custom guacamole, or chocolate fountain.

If you tie everything together with a theme then it will all seem very pulled together. It could be ethnic, a hobby, historical, etc. If you don't already have a venue, you could find an interesting one and shape everything else around the venue. A good idea is an art museum because the artwork is entertainment in itself. A historical home filled with antiques can provide a nice backdrop for a Victorian theme.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well maybe it is because I don't like to dance or maybe it has been because I have been to a wedding where there was no alcohol or dancing but I don't see this as a huge deal. I think if possible you should have some background music. I think what makes a dance less reception better is that the guests talk to each other more and the bride and groom get the chance to talk to everyone that came. I think it would be cool if you could go around and get a picture snapped of you and your spouse with everyone that came. This gives them one on one with you and a great keepsake of them at your wedding. If you do the cake cutting and the flower bouquet toss with toasts I think it will be full enough. Congrats and I hope you have a wonderful wedding.

Answer 4

Have a luou (can't spell, so I probably didn't spell that right). Have the traditional luou foods (or party versions of them). Have fruity, non-alcoholic drinks. Have an ongoing limbo game. Have some music playing, but it doesn't have to be a professional band or dj (set up a surround sound system hooked up to a laptop with a good playlist). Having music enhances the mood, even if you don't intend to have a formal dance. You may want to consider having an area for dancing, just not having the formal "and now is the dance part of our wedding" activities.

I'm amazed by the number of women on here who have, on every other occasion, said that it's about what the bride wants. When, in this instance, the bride wants to keep alcohol and dancing out of her wedding, everyone says "you can't do that!"

Honey, there is NOTHING wrong with having a so-called "dry wedding." Your guests are there to celebrate the love you and your future husband share, and the change you two are making to form a family. If they want to get hammered on that day, they can either bring a flask or go to Chili's later. You do not have to explain your reasoning (and I wouldn't -- I know from experience, if you say "we dont' condone drinking", it can be implied that you look down on people who do occasionally enjoy a glass of wine; if you say nothing, they can assume it could be because one or the both of you are wanting to cut costs, or even that you are recovering alcoholics or otherwise wish to not be tempted by alcohol).

But you, and your guests, can definately have fun on your wedding day without conforming to include dancing and/or alcohol.

Answer 5

Listen, if you don't have music and dancing at your wedding, you might as well just elope and save money, because your guests will be totally bored after an hour. You don't have to serve liquor, such as beer, wine and hard liquor, but I would have some kind of punch with liquor in it, otherwise you are going to hear lots of complaints. You can make your wedding about 4 hours long, with a boom box, great CD's and a great overflowing punch bowl. I have never seen a wedding that did not have music and liquor that was a success. There were complaints of the bridal couple being cheap and it wasn't a nice atmosphere. So it is up to you. You do what your convictions command, but remember if you invite guests to a function, they are your guests and you should try to accomodate their likes. Good Luck on whatever you decide.

Answer 6

We are not having dancing at our reception either, I think it is fine. Only thing is we are having a destination wedding with 45 of our closest family and friends so we are getting married and all going out to a nice lunch (favors, cake and everything) for 2-3 hours. I have not seen any of my family in 2 1/2 years and our families have never met so we figured this was way was better for us.

Answer 7

I think games may be somewhat cheesy and forced...it seems more bridal shower/engagment party-ish to me.

I'd suggest a slide show of the two of you...it would entertain the guests and bring up memories which would spark conversations.

We had dancing and a slide show. Everyone was so involved in the slideshow though that the dancing didn't start til much later...which I enjoyed b/c I too am not a big dancer!

Answer 8

I am so sorry to have to say this, but you will have the most boring wedding and your guest will complain the entire time. It is a fact. I have been to a "dry wedding" and everyone was constantly saying, "Can you believe this? This is so boring. Let's split right after the food and go to....."

I am NOT a drinker at all... never have been, but it is a mistake to force your beliefs on to your guests. As long as you are not serving minors, you are not doing anything wrong.

Searching many etiquette resources, this is considered a HUGE mistake. I considered doing the same, but changed my mind. I want our guests to have fun, because in the end, what the guests will remember above anything else is whether they had fun.

And if you resort to playing party games, it will feel more like a kid's birthday party than a wedding.

*** ADDED: I like Mandy's suggestion. I hadn't thought of that. A luou could be fun. A co-worker went to one... they did it as a rehearsal party... but they did have alcohol... so I don't know how much that plays a role... peraps if you have fun smoothies and stuff like that...

And yes, even though it is "Your day", when you throw a party (AKA your reception) You DO want to also consider the guests and not throw a dull party. And that is also where the advice not to say "we don't condone drinking" comes in to play. You don't want you guests to feel judged if they do drink.

Answer 9

Nothing wrong with not having either at the "reception". A lot of people, now-a-days, just rent a nice restaurant and have a nice meal afterwards. There are many who will still play music even though you aren't dancing and most will still allow you to have a wedding cake. Personally, though, I think games should stay with the showers and not be at a reception.

Answer 10

put disposable cameras on the tables, oriental trading co. has wedding placemats for kids w/ kid activities, have guests sign a wishbook or put a wish in a "wish jar", or what we are doing, get a scrapbook & a polaroid camera and assign someone to take pics of guests & put in scrapbook & let the guests in the pic sign something special, that will take up some time. Poems, pictures, and special bible verses at each place setting is what we are doing...have fun, good luck, God bless your family!