Polish Dollar Dance

We are Polish and I won't be doing this. My FH is not Polish. We never used an apron. The Groom would collect the money. All the men who paid to dance surround the bride. The groom pays the Father of the Bride to ransom her out. I hated hated hated it.

Mrs C. - so the money actually goes to the father of the bride?

Nicole - If it's family tradition then FH's family will probably come prepared. For those who don't I wouldn't worry about it. Even if only 3 people dance with you, at least you made the family happy by keeping the tradition.

As far as explaining it to the guests, just have the DJ announce it along the lines of "In keeping with a long time Polish family tradition..." Maybe have him give some background on the tradition? I really don't think your guests will be offended.

Every Wedding I have gone to that had a dance, has had the dollar dance. I would not be offended

Just searching "dollar dance" on any wedding forum brings up lots of negative comments. I don't want anyone to think we're trying to make money off our guests, it's just a fun family tradition!

I think it's fun, but then I have a lot of Polish in me.

Your DJ can announce that it's a family tradition, and just roll with it. We've all been to weddings, I'm sure, where you don't understand ALL the traditions. No one HAS to participate if they don't want to.

I know there is a lot of negTivity online about the dollar dance. Although that is true, it is very traditional in my area to have one. Normally the bridesmaid collects the money here and they get to dance with the bride and the groom and then they get cake or an alcoholic shot. I don't see it as tacky at all, but that is because every wedding i've ever gone to has had one. We will def. have one to!

This is a tradition that I wish would just die. Both my fiance and I are polish and there won't be anything even sort of resembling a dollar dance at our wedding. I vote no, but it's your wedding, not mine.

Never seen it. Wouldn't do it.

I'm glad to see not everyone here thinks it is tacky! And you're right, if people don't want to participate, they don't have to!

I'm hoping we can convince FMIL to let us keep it slightly less traditional since I'm not Polish. I like the idea of dancing with the bride and groom instead of just the bride. Or maybe we can find a fun song instead of traditional polka music (although his grandparents would definitely enjoy some polka!!)

You don't need to explain it at all. Let your DJ do the selling and promoting of the dollar dance (polish or otherwise) and enjoy the moment. Er.,. you did hire a DJ, right?

We actually don't like the "dollar dance" title, so we renamed it the "Honeymoon dance" and we have a routine that breaks the ice and gets more people involved early, so it doesn't drag on forever.

Nicole mYbe compromise and do the polka music, but dance with bride and groom and have someone collect the money instead of pinning it.

Never seen it, but if it's tradition, have your emcee explain the tradition so people don't think you are begging for money. google it find out what it is why the tradition was started and explain that before the dance, then have fun. Some people might think it's weird, but people think things they arn't used to are weird.

I wouldn't do it but thats cause it's not our background and I've never seen it. I also didn't do a midnight seafood buffet cause I'm not Portuguese. I do like keeping tradition, I threw my bouquet cause it's a tradition I like. DH didn't do the garter cause it's a tradition he doesn't like. Have fun with it, and especailly if it's one of the only polish traditions.

We are chek and we are doing it. its an old family tradition