Dance class at reception/cocktail

It really depends on your crowd. Some will be all for it and others won’t participate. If you do that, I would make your reception longer.

I'll be honest, I would hate this as a guest. But I do see what you're thinking and how it could be really fun! On a random Saturday or girls day, I would be all for this! But for a wedding reception, I prefer to dance like an idiot with my friends and just let loose. But it does depend on your crowd!

As a guest I wouldn't like this at a wedding, but I agree with MK that it would be more appropriate for a girls day/night out, or something to do with friends! I just wouldn't like having to stop what I'm doing and learn how to do a certain dance, or have to stop dancing to make room for the class if I plan on not joining in.

I think it’s a unique and fun idea! Especially since it’s a very short lesson. I would definitely partake if I were at a wedding that offered this. And I think it’d be a way to get older family members out on the dance floor 💃🕺 But, it is probably a “know your crowd” sorta thing. If you think your guests would be into it, go for it!

I think it could be a good idea depending on your crowd. I would prefer a different experience but I would still participate.

I think it’s a great idea to do at the cocktail hour. People won’t have to do it, but can if they want. I’ve gone to “open dance” nights at ballroom dance places and they were always fun. The instructors gave a class on a few steps - like 40 mins, and then the floor opened up. Then the seasoned dancers would ask people to dance. It was really fun!

I've been to a wedding with a swing dance lesson for part of the dancing portion of the evening. It was fine as a guest, even though I didn't want to participate. There was plenty of socializing to do and then "free dancing" before and after.

But I will give this caution: the bride and groom were REALLY looking forward to the lesson and seeing everyone participate...and not that many people participated (mostly children), so they were disappointed. If you do it, make sure it doesn't go on too long and you have zero expectations about guest participation.

Personally I would love it - my fiance and I were looking into hiring a ballroom instructor as well for our guests, since we would really prefer to have a "classy ballroom dance" feel at our reception and not the wild rave feel that most weddings have. But it seems most guests wouldn't be comfortable with participating in a lesson, some of my younger friends said they'd be up for it but the older folks just seemed embarrassed when we asked them about it.

View Quoted Comment 🤣🤣 totally understandable!

View Quoted Comment I agree! I should add that the class wont be a full on class but mini 10min interval classes when the DJ is playing the appropriate music. The class wouldnt stop the party. From what I understood, the music will be continuous and the instructor would do a few simple steps and then come back about 30min later for another 10min or 2 songs and they would do it about 4x.

I agree with MK and Shelly. Sounds fun to do but might not be the right event for a lesson. Also might be perceived as a little pretentious, but just my opinion

View Quoted Comment I never thought it would be perceived as pretentious. I thought of it like entertainment. Sort of if i were to have a master of ceremony do a conga line or the electric slide.

View Quoted Comment I totally get where you are going with it, I just dont think it's the right place and time for a dance lesson. But hey it's your wedding, if this is what you want do it!

It is your wedding so completely up to you.

I love dancing, but I think having a formal dance lesson at a wedding would be a bit out of place. Not everyone is keen for learning at a wedding, and might just want to dance freely (and badly!) instead of paying attention to an instructor.

It depends on the crowd. I took all sorts of dance lessons for 13 years and I would still really not like this as a guest at a wedding. I don’t think I would feel comfortable getting up and just silly dancing to the music afterwards. But if sounds great for a bachelorette party!

View Quoted Comment I think if you do it, it should be all at once. I wouldn’t want to get interrupted every few minutes for a dance lesson

I would hate this so much.

View Quoted Comment

Gotcha and I get what you're saying!

Idk if I'd even like being interrupted 4x a night for the class even if it's just for 10min. Guests typically like to have freedom during the reception, so I feel like it just wouldn't be the best place to have this sort of entertainment. At least from my viewpoint I wouldn't see it as entertainment, and would kinda be annoyed having to stop every so often to learn a dance.

Do people really want to take a lesson during a reception? Most people just want to dance and drink. I don't really think you'll get too many people paying attention to the instructor.