No Dancing?? What to do?

We aren't doing a DJ (one cause its so expensive and two the venue isn't that big). We are just going to play music off my ipod and hook my fiancés amp to it. Not going to do much dancing since my fiancé can't really dance as well. So we are going to do the father-daughter dance, first dance, and dance with my future brother in law. Keeping it short and sweet. And I personally don't find it strange to not have music or just little of it. I personally think without it everyone can talk and get to know each other especially if that will be their first time meeting other people at the wedding.

We aren't doing dancing. We both find dancing boring.

We're just having a Spotify playlist for background music, and then having a photo booth and a magician doing walkaround magic tricks. We also have a giant chess set and some other games like giant dominoes. The rest will just be like a dinner party.

Our venue has a professional sound system that we are allowed to use. It's a theatre my fiance used to work at so we get a pro sound and light crew for free

I find weddings without music strange. I don't think you have to shell out money for a DJ if you don't want to though... doing playlists that you can put through their speaker system or even a good bluetooth speaker is fine. And whether or not people dance is up to them - I'd include at least a few songs people might want to dance to, maybe something 80s that could go either way. But personally, I think you need music at least for background if nothing else.

The only dancing that we are doing is a husband and wife and daddy daughter. Other than that, we didn't want guests dancing, so instead we will be playing games, like the shoe game, and things like that!

Your venue is beautiful!

I've never been to a wedding without dancing, so it seems odd to me not to have it as an option, but doesn't mean it can't be done. I went to a wedding with giant jenga, cornhole, some other games and a firepit for the evening. Most were outside during the day playing games, but once the sun went down, everyone (kids, young adults, older (I mean wiser ;-)) adults were all up dancing the night away. Since you don't have to worry about the sun going down, you may be okay with just the games.

Will the outdoors games be on the porch or completely uncovered? If uncovered, you may want backup indoor activities.

I have heard of other weddings having indoor activities like a caricature artist and of course the photo booth. Other options just after a quick search: poker station, board game station, picture scavenger hunt.

Can I just say I love this thread? Also, love your venue. I didn't want to hire a DJ but will be having a playlist created that can be played through the venue sound system. Also, wanting to do yard games like cornhole and maybe having a bonfire. I'm sure your guests will be able to enjoy themselves by mingling, etc.

I went to a wedding at a restaurant with no dancing. It was a brunch wedding and there was background music. People ate and talked (like you would at a cocktail party). While my H and I love to dance it was perfectly fine. The wedding was definitely shorter than your standard 5 - 6 hour wedding, but that was fine as well. I love dancing at a wedding but I most certainly would still enjoy a wedding without dancing. When I go to a cocktail party or house party, there's generally no dancing. I would recommend that you have music playing and it would be nice to work in some music people can dance to if they want to. I think having no music at all is strange and creates a poor vibe.

BTW, my wedding was pretty much in the same age group as yours and our dance floor was hopping!

One thing I would like to add to any folks not having a DJ - if you don't want to have a DJ for monetary reasons, religious reasons or because your venue won't allow it, that's understandable. Just don't leave out dancing just because you and/or you FS don't like to dance. Yes, it's your wedding, but the reception is for the guests.

P.S. I would be sitting in that rocking chair for sure!

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Just curious, why wouldn't you want guests to dance? Seems a little "Footloose" to me - LOL!

I've only been to one wedding where there was no music and I found it to be incredibly awkward. I would suggest what others have. If you can't afford a DJ, get an amp and put a playlist together for some background music. This was our plan B! Thankfully, I knew someone who's giving us a really great rate. Your venue is beautiful! Congrats and best wishes!

I had a restaurant dinner reception (that took three hours!) and we didn't have any music besides the restaurant background music. I liked it, and my H really liked it cause he does not do the dancing. We went to a bar afterwards with about half the people in the party which was fun, but no one mentioned anything about dances or missing them.

My FH and I both don’t really like dancing. We are having a short reception in the afternoon with food and cake so we will just have music on an iPod playing in the background. I’d say since you are doing more of a brunch that the dancing isn’t as expected as it would be with a later evening wedding and just to play music for background noise. Not worth spending a ton of money on it though.

Honestly, I would be a little upset with no dancing at a wedding, we dance at BBQ's in my circle.

I love dancing, my FH loves music and actually did some years as a DJ. dancing however he doesn't normal per se participate in but he likes to hang out and watch us. he will definitely dance a little throughout the night. dancing is my favorite thing about weddings, i can play bbq games/ yard games at bbqs and we have drunk game night about once a month.

no dancing would be disappointing to me

I've been to a few weddings without dancing- they end to have more of a social vibe where people get up and talk to each other. My friend's wedding didn't have dancing but did have a live band for background music while people talked, attacked the dessert table, photobooth and took pictures. I think SOME music is important (even if background). If the equipment is not available at your venue, then you'll have to hire the dj for equipment alone.

We are having a professional musician play guitar music in the background, no DJ. Our reception is a lunch reception, running from noon to 3pm.

At least have some background music. Make a 2-3 hour long playlist of your favorite songs, they don't have to be songs people can dance to, and play it on a device/speaker. I think your guests would appreciate it.

You may want to hide the device playing the playlist to keep anyone from adding or changing the music without permission.

FH and I haaaaaaaate dancing, but we hired a DJ because many of our guests love to dance. We have it arranged where music will be loud enough to dance to, but quiet enough that people can sit and talk as well. Then we have a fire pit, a separate area with cards and board games, DJ will incorporate some floor games, and we might do a trivia thing (big with us and our friends).

I’m not having any dancing due to religious reasons. We will have music playing in the background, but it will be soft Christian music. I’m Mexican so dancing is normally a huge hit. I know people will be disappointed, but a wedding is not just about the dancing. It’s celebrating two people coming together. Hope you have a wonderful wedding day!

The FH is also not much of a dancer, which kills me, but we are definitely having it.
You're doing a brunch, which at least in my mind, means less dancing. I actually have a friend who wants a short reception so she's doing a brunch with playlist music rather than a dj. I'm all for those ideas, just know that it will lead to a shorter reception.

I always expect dancing at an evening wedding, but I probably wouldn’t miss it at a brunch reception. I agree with PPs saying to definitely have some background music going though.

I do think a reception like what you’re describing would be on the shorter side though. You mention not wanting people to leave after 3 hours, but I think people probably will. I generally only stay at weddings until the very end to drink and dance.