What are some alternatives to dancing at the reception?

Question

Neither my fiance's family or my family are that in to dancing, so I don't want to have a dj and a big dance if no one is going to dance. What are some alternatives to dancing after dinner that will keep everyone around for a while?

Answer 1

There's no rule that says you have to have dancing at your wedding reception. I've been to a bunch of weddings in my day and only a very select few even had music. All of the chatting and introductions will keep them busy long enough!

Good luck and congrats!

Answer 2

Unless cost is an issue, then have a traditional wedding reception of either sit down meal or buffet, cut the cake, speeches etc... and the Bride and Groom and any Pentecostal Christian's may leave before the dancing starts.

Answer 3

Some people just have cocktail weddings. Food is passed around on trays and people can meander throughout the facility. It's not a traditional sit-down dinner wedding with dancing. Maybe something like that will work - it's an elegant alternative and it's not TACKY like some of the other suggestions people gave.

Answer 4

What about a trivia game about you and your fiance, or your families? You could ask things like "where did we meet?" or "Which bride's maid has known the bride the longest?". You could also ask questions like "How many of our guests today are nurses (or teachers, or combat veterans, or whatever)?"

Ask the questions, give people 15 minutes or so to answer, (have some back ground music for this time) and collect the answer sheets. The wedding party can score the answers while everyone is eating.

You can have a small prize for the person (or even group!) who gets the most questions correct.

Answer 5

Hire some other sort of entertainment. You can have a 3 or 4 piece ensemble like a string trio or quartet to play. Hire a magician or someone like that to do some entertaining. Dancing is not always a given. You can do all the other stuff that you want and it can be just as fun!

Answer 6

I don't like dancing, either, and I would prefer not to go to a reception rather than dance! Since it's your party, our money, you should do whatever you want. I wonder about checking into the cost of either a comedien or a magician-maybe it wouldn't be much more than a D.J., I don't know. Then, everyone is entertained, they can still socialize, etc.

Answer 7

It would be helpful to know the time of year, geographical area, and how "lavish" the wedding itself will be. I have heard of people doing a scenic boat cruise or a local train tour. My sister had an low-key outdoor wedding and had it in the early afternoon then there was no expectations of a dance. She just had a nice reception.

Answer 8

If you have a band or music playing or something else to maintain a party atmosphere, and keep the bar open, people will stay. With no music and no booze you're going to have people bailing-- sorry to put it so bluntly. I would not stick around a wedding to play games or watch a musician unless the person getting married was really close to me-- I would find it really hokey.

Answer 9

If it is outdoors, you could play games...also, we don't expect too many to dance at our wedding, but we're still having a dj for background music and such. You need something to create a festive atmosphere.

Answer 10

I went to one wedding that did a talent show. it was mostly spoof acts (like the grooms side of the family played "hot cross buns" on the instuments they played in 5th grade). it was the best wedding reception i've ever been to!

At my wedding we had the reception in the park and we had frisbees and baseballs/mitts, etc. and inside we had cards and board games. it was a really fun picnic-like atmosphere.