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Paige
Devoted August 2020

Dollar dance

Paige, on September 26, 2019 at 2:41 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 1 22
We have a house divided y’all. What are your thoughts on the dollar dance? A good tradition or greedy? One of us thinks it’s a little greedy to ask someone to bring a gift and then make them pay to dance with you. The other person thinks people love to dance with the bride and groom and it’s a good chance to mingle with the guests

22 Comments

Latest activity by Deborah, on October 7, 2019 at 2:22 PM
  • Ivy ORP
    VIP October 2019
    Ivy ORP ·
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    100 years ago when my sister got married the first time they did this. It was kind of a tradition in the families and no one turned their noses up at it. Now, I wouldn't be caught dead doing it, but that's me. My FW and I discussed this and felt that if people already planned to give us a little extra for the dance then they might just throw cash in the card box anyway. And that's just it, I don't remember card boxes back when my sister got married. Everyone bought actual gifts because they were building a life together and an extra bit of cash sounded like a nice bonus. Now most people get cash anyway because they have been living together for a year or more.

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  • M
    VIP January 2019
    Maggie ·
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    You will also receive divided responses here. It's not part of my culture so I don't really get it. On the surface it does appear greedy, but I get it (I guess) if it's a long standing tradition in one's family.

    When I see it at weddings, it feels like it really kills the dance floor vibe (because only people willing to contribute cash are allowed). I don't carry cash on me and have already brought my gift, so I can just go to the bar or the bathroom, or whatever.

    Also, if the only reason to do it is because "people love to dance with the bride and groom and it’s a good chance to mingle with the guests" there are definitely many other ways to dance and mingle with guests that don't include hitting them up for money.

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  • Amber
    Master February 2020
    Amber ·
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    To me it seems greedy/awkward. Not to mention hardly anyone carries cash anymore. Then it would be super awkward if you started the dollar dance and people wanted to participate but didn't have a dollar lol

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  • earias
    Champion December 2017
    earias ·
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    I know certain cultures do it, and if that is the case here, then it is tolerated. If not, then no, do not do it. Guest should never have to open their wallets at your wedding. They will have already bought you a gift and/or given you cash in a card. Most guests won't even have cash on them, especially not dollar bills, unless this is their culture and they are expecting this.

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  • Alyssa
    Super December 2021
    Alyssa ·
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    To me, dancing for money is something you do in your underwear, not an expensive bridal gown. So....I will not be doing a money dance.

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  • Kelsey
    VIP September 2020
    Kelsey ·
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    Same here, house divided. My FH wants to do one and he wants to do it as well. To me it's not even about the money. First I am a bit of a germaphobe so I don't like the idea of people touching my hands or whatever when I don't know how clean they are. Second, I have a hard time understanding why I should let anyone pin money on my dress that is all lace and delicate. I am considering a compromise on the second part and have people pin the money to my veil. But I don't care for that idea either. We have a card box for a reason.

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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    I think it's kind of fun but I also see how it's not tasteful
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  • Cher Horowitz
    Master December 2019
    Cher Horowitz ·
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    I'm weak! This is hilarious but I feel the same way Smiley laugh

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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    I think it’s outdated & tacky, unless a tradition in your culture or city.
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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    I think they're super tacky. You can mingle with guests without making them pay you first.

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  • Cyndy
    Master May 2019
    Cyndy ·
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    I think it’s a bit outdated and most people won’t have cash in them.
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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    Agree that unless it is a cultural thing for the couple, it's definitely a no-go in our circle. It is cringe-worthy -- as soon as it starts, we typically decide that's a great time to go to the restrooms or do anything else possible to avoid that awkwardness. I also agree it KILLS any dance floor momentum; especially, if it goes on for very long, I've seen people use it as a cue to leave the wedding. Daughter and SIL (accompanied by the photographers) briefly visited each table toward the end of dinner. It gave them an opportunity to greet and thank each guest personally for coming, and the photographer got lots of cute one-on-one candid shots AND they took a picture with all the guests at each table. They did the whole thing in about 15-20 minutes while guests were finishing dinner.

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  • Rose
    Devoted August 2020
    Rose ·
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    It’s mandatory at my families weddings. People actually get upset if someone skips it. I am from a very polish family and the dollar dance is a chance for the bride to dance with her guests. At my sisters wedding not one person passed up the chance to participate, that darn polka was played for 20 minutes straight. My poor sister wanted to puke from spinning so much. I’m marrying an Irish family so I’m not sure if his side is familiar with it as much. We are from a heavily concentrated polish area tho so a majority of the weddings around here will have them. Where I’m from it’s as much a traditional part of the wedding as the cake.
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  • Cassi
    Super October 2019
    Cassi ·
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    I just laughed way to hard at this response! lol Smiley xd I never even heard of a dollar dance till I got on here a year ago when I started planning my wedding... I was like what is this lol

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  • Alyssa
    Super December 2021
    Alyssa ·
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    Hahaha, thanks. The worst part I found out
    is that some people safety pin money to the gown! I would be so petrified it would get ripped! Besides, cash is FILTHY.
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  • Cassi
    Super October 2019
    Cassi ·
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    I bartend so I handle cash daily and I am terrible in the sense sometimes I just shove it in my bra so I don't think much about the filthiness of it (I should lol) but I would definitely be worried about my dress ripping or something! My dress was too dang expensive to have people sticking it with pins lol

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  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah Online ·
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    I had never even heard of it until coming on here, and I've been to Polish weddings! Lol. As others have said, if it is traditionally done in your culture, then it's just part of your culture. If, however, it isn't, then it is tacky. As others have said, there are way better ways to mingle with guests. The easiest is to just dance without dollar bills involved. Also, I don't even understand it as a very good money grab. If you've got 100 guests that dance with you, that's $100. Sure, a hundred is a hundred, but is it worth offending guests?
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  • Cathy
    Devoted October 2019
    Cathy ·
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    I did t realize it was a Polish tradition, and I’m half Polish, LOL! Well, that would explain why my sister did it 35 years ago.
    Im going to pass on this one, but I’m channeling my Asian side and having the guests give money. (In Asian cultures money is usually the only acceptable gift).
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  • KandiKrix
    Dedicated August 2020
    KandiKrix ·
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    If it's a tradition, I'd say go for it! I haven't ever seen a dollar dance in person though. I don't really know what the purpose or end goal of it is so I'm not sure if it's just to get a vip dance experience with the bride or to gather some cash for the bride and groom or such. It sounds like a cute idea but I don't think it's for me. I'll most likely be dancing the whole night away with everyone! Smiley smile


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  • C
    Super January 2020
    Cassie ·
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    I’m not a fan. Growing up the weddings I went to always did the dollar dance and I never thought anything of it until I started planning my own wedding. I’ve never seen money actually being pinned on the dress though (no thanks).
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