A wedding without dancing

I was at a wedding that had zero dancing and had about 50 people in attendance last year. It was a really nice night but it's going to be a short night...maybe 2-3 hours at the most.

I think one thing you want to avoid is falling into the pit of "let's entertain everyone for 2 hours!" The wedding I went to, it felt like the bride and groom were running around doing little bits (she sang a song...he did a ballroom dance with his daughter) and a lot of the guests felt like it was too showy. At least that's what I heard from other people at my table.

Having some nice low key music for dinner and cocktails is always nice. Having a wedding band to play and sing is also nice and special..but it's not necessary. Light music is necessary in my opinion.

I think having the traditional cutting of the cake and some well thought out speeches would be enough, personally.

You do whatever the heck you want to do. All these people bad talking no dancing weddings can just go somewhere else. This is your dang day. It’s not about freaking entertaining people. I’m not having dancing at my wedding either. Don’t listen to other people, you do you!

The best wedding I ever went to had entertaining things that kept me busy (I hate dancing). The reception began with dinner. Just before dessert, the bridesmaids gave their moving speeches detailing how the bride fell in love with groom and viceversa, followed by the groomsmen who used hilarious slideshows to tease the couple with funny pictures and embarrassing anecdotes... it gave everyone a real sense of understanding the couple... Then the fathers of the bride and groom gave their speeches which were also great, giving a history of their family trees now united etc... after dinner the bridesmaids put the the bride and groom through a series of trivia questions to see how well they know eachother, it was super cute. Then the men from the brides' side kidnapped the bride (literally) and would only return her when the groom (with help from his brothers and new brother in law) solved a puzzle and "proved his worth"... after all of that was done, the dancing commenced outdoors but only the traditional dances ( like father/daughter, etc) the cake was cut soon after and then anyone who wanted to keep dancing proceeded to another area. The rest could remain outside or where dinner was held to socialize... once it got late, the old people left and the "after party" began for the young people which was held in a basement.... I thought it was gunna get crazy but when I arrived, it was cookies and monopoly! (among other games...) couches and comfy chairs to rest my feet and keep socializing and munching and playing. Then it was over. Best wedding ever.

View Quoted Comment I came across your response on this forum as I am currently planning a dinner party reception at a restaurant. My question to you is how was the transition between courses? Did you have the event coordinator at the restaurant help facilitate this? Also did your guests get up and move around on their own after dinner was over? Lastly did you have anything else in terms of entertainment games or photo booth?

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Reading this 8 years later. What did you end up doing for your 'reception/entertainment' We are thinking an early ceremony, meal / drinks mid day and let people leave early if they want to, or stay and hang out if they don't. Everything will be in a home setting ( we're renting an estate ) and there are three balcony's with fire pits, pool/poker table, an in door pool. We are always hosting BBQ and Christmas parties at our house and that is our style. We are really wanting it to be another one of our parties, just to celebrate us getting married. Music will be playing, but dancing will not be the main event. I can see our friends and family having a great time, but some of these comments have me doubting, do people really go to weddings for the dancing part? I always assumed, aside from supporting the new union, it was for the food and drinks.