What is your opinion of doing the "dollar dance" at weddings? Trashy, or spending money for the honeymoon?

Question

I'm getting married in June and most of the weddings I've been to have done the dollar dance. My future sister in law said that she wishes she did it at their wedding for honeymoon spending money, but my future mother in law thinks its trashy. I just want to know what the general public thought!

Answer 1

I don't think it's trashy. It will give you a chance to talk to some of your guests. I am doing it but i also asked the dj to request that all guests that aren't participating in the dollar dance to get up and dance also. This way the guests don't get bored and have to stop and watch us dance. i'll admit that would be BORRIIINNGG.
BTW---- what is with all of the Thumbs down??

I marry my sweetie October 20 07

Answer 2

It depends on the culture, and perhaps more importantly the age of the newlyweds. For a very young couple, I think that it is more than acceptable.

I have been to many Italian and hispanic weddings where the "money dance" is expected, and everyone comes prepared. I have also been to some WASPy receptions where a money dance would cause the parents to faint, because it would be a reflection that somehow that they were not able to provide for their own children.

Don't call it a "dollar dance," or you'll get dollars. Call it a "money dance," and mention the honeymoon. Even at reception where I knew the couple casually, I would at least slip the bride a $20. If I knew them well, I'd go with a $50 or $100 bill.

Answer 3

I was at a wedding last weekend where the dollar dance was done. I don't have really strong feeling about it one way or the other, to be honest, because I live in an ethnic region of the country and they're pretty common here. Since I've grown up with them, they're pretty much accepted here. I also know that in this part of the country, it literally IS a dollar dance, people mostly give $1, and no one forces guests to participate.

However, please know that I DO see how these can get out of hand, and appear awfully tacky.

What I WILL say about the wedding I was just at was this - everyone was dancing and having a great time. All of a sudden, dancing stopped and they started the dollar dance. It killed the atmosphere, seemed to last for FOREVER, and about half the guests left. When it was all said and done, the party just didn't feel the same afterwords.

Answer 4

It really depends on your family and your heritage. Its not something you should just do for the heck of it or for the money. If it is a family tradition that everyone in your family does and it will be expected, then it would be okay. If no one in your family or the groom's family does it, then its not a good idea. Then, its just money grubbing and tacky. Keeping with tradition is one thing but adding something like that to your wedding just to get extra spending money for the honeymoon is a bit rude to your guests who won't be expecting such a thing. The fact that your future MIL thinks its tacky is a big indicator of what the rest of the groom's family will think. I wouldn't do it if I were you. We decided against having one for the very same reason. I had friends who kept trying to convince me to do one, but I decided that I didn't have a good enough reason for doing it being that it isn't a tradition in either of our families. I'd rather not offend my guests who are coming from all over the country to be at our wedding. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 5

I think it's tacky, tacky, tacky. People are already giving you a gift, and most of them will probably give money. The only time I think it's OK is if it's a FIRMLY entrenched part of your culture, and EVERYONE has done it for generations and would think you'd dropped an important part of the wedding. That's clearly not the case in your situation.

Personally, I'm embarrassed for any couple that does a money dance. Any time that I've been at a wedding where it was done, all that people commented on later was the money dance. And, the comments weren't along the lines of "how cute", but of "can you believe how tacky and greedy they were?!!". Nobody remembers anything nice about those weddings, just the money-grubbing part. For the sake of a couple hundred dollars, keep your reputations in tact. If you need a couple of hundred dollars that badly, then cut back on other wedding expenses.

Answer 6

I am Mexican and in our culture it is part of the wedding. It's tradition. I think alot of cultures are the same thing. I think my family would think I wasn't honoring tradition if we didn't. You can't go into it having high expectations of paying for your honeymoon as most people will only give a dollar some more. For example in my family this is when those family members who chose to give cash gifts give it when they are dancing with the bride and groom. It is a more personal gesture in which they an give it to you on a face to face basis. Also it gives you a chance to mingle with your guests. I don't see anything wrong with them.

Answer 7

Yes, trashy AND in poor taste. I do live in a part of the country where this is done, but my daughter/son-in-law and my son/daughter-in-law chose not to do this at their receptions and I was very thankful :) I don't think people have to spend money to dance with the bride or groom. If they want to dance with them, they should. It shouldn't cost them. To me it's just another way for the bride and groom to squeeze more money out of their guests. And how much do you really get? Besides being trashy it seems that all of the good slow songs are played during that set "the dollar dance" and, then, of course, they are not played again for the night, so no dancing to popular slow songs. Don't do it -- it will be classier.

Answer 8

Honestly, if you open the cards before the honeymoon, you will probably have some spending money right there. I think you should do what you and your groom want to do.

Answer 9

It is tradition and I in no way think it is trashy. Its FUN, and your guests have a little bit of time to say congrats and give best wishes while dancing as well as giving $1! Heck, people give ANY dollar amount they want for a dollar dance.

If that happens at my wedding (I'm still on the fence about it) I'd use it to tip our site/dj/caterer/etc.

Answer 10

I think that is great idea the bride and groom get 15 seconds with just one guest at a time, its a good time to ask what is going on in their life anything new and vice versa....