Different traditions in different areas. (Dollar dance, garter toss etc)

I agree. And I think it's funny how strong some people's reactions to the different things are! I have been to two weddings where the garter has been put on the woman's leg...I would have been mortified if that had been me lol. Luckily I had never caught a bouquet and I don't have to participate in it anymore

I'm from Cali. I've seen the dollar dance at almost every wedding I've been to. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. FH's mom wants us to do one and they're all from PA. What's crazy is a lot of people we've invited are saying they can't wait to do the Dollar Dance. I've never heard of "jumping the broom" or anything like that.

FH recently told me about that garter thing too ... I had no idea about that and I've never seen it done.

Dollar dance sounds odd.. Not interested in that or even having a garter. Might do a bouquet toss, but that would mean I need another bouquet.

I agree - I've never heard of a Dollar Dance or an Anniversary Dance until I came to this site. Its really quite interesting.

I've been looking for an alternative to the bouquet toss - I have about 7 single girls and 3 single men total coming to the wedding. It would be so strange to have my future brother in law put the garter on my 18 year old cousin. So I'm searching for something else!

Where I'm from (Canada) it is very common to have large gaps of time between the ceremony and reception. Most people get married early in the afternoon, usually between noon and 2 p.m. and then don't have a reception starting until 5-6 p.m. The gap is for guests to go get lunch, rest, do whatever they want. The wedding party gets all their photos done during this time.

Also receptions tend to go until at least midnight, some later then that. Ours went until 2 a.m.

Also have never seen who ever catches the garter have to put it on whoever catches the bouquet. Sometimes those two people have to dance together, but most of the time you just get some pictures and it's done.

FH caught the garter at his bro's wedding in Maine. I was not in the least amused by him having to put it on the chick who caught the bouquet's leg. :-/

I've seen lots of Dollar Dances.... And Anniversary Dances... But I have NEVER seen the garter be put on anyone else's leg... Normally our guys just put it on their arm or in a pocket...

I think because things have become so modernized/Americanized and commercialized these traditions seem to have no depth or meaning behind them anymore, so they then come off as "tacky" or tabboo.

The money dance is part of my culture on my mother's side, but I don't plan to do that at all, not because I think it's "tacky" but because it's just not for me and I find it a bit silly and would be pretty awkward for me.

I don't really want to do a garter/bouquet toss. I feel like I would be irritated to have a garter on my leg all night. heh...

Well that's why they say Single ladies!!! lol .....

@mizangi I would be pissed too..Id tell my FH if he knows whats good for him hell give it to someone else lol

I had never heard of the thing about putting the garter on the girls leg before. That seems so embarrassing, but if it's expected I am sure the girl is a good sport about it.

I never knew the dollar dance was so controversial before because I've never been to a wedding without one.

See & to me that's weird because I have never seen the garter done any OTHER way then that! until I started planning a wedding then I heard they just do the throw, or they two ppl will share a dance or whatever,

It is amazing at the various takes on the traditions. I live in SW Penna and the dollar dance, bouquet toss, garter toss and garter on girls leg has ALWAYS happened. In fact, I caught the bouquet at my cousins wedding a few years ago and had the garter put on. It was hilarious! We will be doing all three at our wedding.

I think it's more about family than location. I've seen posters comment on how something is the norm in the Midwest and I've been like ummm I've never seen that.

The dollar dance is a big one like that I think. I've been to weddings around the country and never seen it!

I had never heard of the dollar dance before. another one that gets heated...where i am from cash bars are the norm. i've never been to a wedding with an open bar. we are having open beer and wine and cash for liquor, and some of my family member were shocked that we were spending the money for that.

I had only seen a dollar dance one time and I personally won't do it. My future in laws are horrified that I am not doing it. I personally would feel bad if I did a dollar dance and expected people to pay to dance with the bride or groom when they already gave us a gift! However your right different areas do different things and some people swear by their traditions and that's okay to each their own. We are doing the garter toss and bouquet toss.

I'm from SW PA like Chelsea, but my cousin's wedding last year was the only one I've been to where the guy with the garter was expected to put it on the gal who caught the bouquet...and with his teeth, no less! I have stronger words than "awkward" for that. For example, assault.

That was also the first/only time I saw the anniversary dance. I don't know what the dollar dance is.

Definitely planning a cookie table, since that's a Pittsburgh thing, and my family's all from there.

I'm from Southwest Pennsylvania, and I've seen the dollar dance and the bouquet/garter toss (including putting the garter on the girl's leg afterwards) at every wedding I've ever been to. It never seems awkward because everyone knows what happens if you catch the bouquet, so only the super-adventurous girls tend to line up to catch it.

I'm from South Jersey and I've heard of all of these traditions even jumping the broom. I am not having a garter or bouquet toss since there will be no single people at my reception. I like the idea of jumping the broom. I believe It is an old African American tradition of where the bride and groom jump over the broom which represents sweeping away the bad and only the good will prevail in your marriage.

I had never seen, let alone heard of 'jumping the broom', till me uncle, from the North East married a nice woman from the South-- bam! Now I know what it means to 'jump the broom', and I bet she's never been to a wedding where they *didn't*. I also had never heard of putting the garter on-- around here the groom takes it off and tosses it to the bachelors and the guy who catches it is the next one to get married. Note: we have a great picture of my older brother leaning over my baby brother to snag the garter out of his hand at my wedding.

I'm from California and have never seen anyone do a dollar dance. Half my family is from DK and they have a kissing thing. I'm sure someone will do it. Whenever the bride leaves (example: to use the restroom), the girls will run to give the groom a kiss. When the groom leaves, the guys will run to give the bride a kiss. There is also one, but I don't remember which is which. You stamp your feet and the bride and groom stand on their chairs and kiss, then you pound the table and they get under the table and kiss. This happens randomly throughout the night.