Dollar Dance

The money dance, dollar dance, or apron dance is an event at some wedding receptions in various cultures. During a money dance, male guests pay to dance briefly with the bride, and sometimes female guests pay to dance with the groom. The custom originated in Poland in the early 1900s in immigrant neighborhoods.

Sometimes guests are told that the money will be used for the bride and groom's honeymoon or to give them a little extra cash with which to set up housekeeping.

**I never said I have to do it because it's a tradition, I said I want to do it because it's a tradition. I think what the posters who are opposed it to don't get is that it won't be considered rude at our weddings it is expected. And again if somebody doesn't want to participate they wont. We plan to play upbeat songs and will have the DJ state that while the money dance is going on the guests are welcomed to dance. )

This is a highly regional/cultural thing. That being said, we're no longer living in immigrant neighborhoods where a little extra cash will make or break the honeymoon. I think it's weird, but it's not my wedding.

FH is part polish. His parents asked if we were going to do it and we said no.

FH is Hispanic. It's done at his families weddings. We are not having a dance, hence no dollar dance. I don't have anything against it though

Hmmm.... Interesting tradition! Too bad it hasn't kept up with inflation! (Poor OP with her seven dollars!)

People look at it as a time to chit chat with the bride and groom one on one..if only it could be called something else..

Most weddings I've been to have had this, and I just thought that's what was supposed to happen at a wedding. I don't feel super strongly about it one way or another. Still undecided if we are doing it at our wedding or not. Guess I need to talk with FH and our parents and see what their opinion is. But people around here typically give more than one dollar. My only suggestion is make sure the dollar dance doesn't last too long because it can get boring for guests. But for one or two songs, I think it's fine.

The guest doesnt typically dance for a full song, like a third or so and then someone else cuts in. Like others said, it's cultural and expected to happen in some places. Not necessarily a cash grab.

Its definitely tradition in my family, I know a few of my uncles don't give a card or gift, they just give big bills for the dollar dance.

However, there's also a tradition of auctioning off the garter, rather than a garter toss. Although I might skip that one. I haven't figured out a tactful way of getting my garter off, I don't think I'm comfortable with sitting in the middle of the dance floor in front of all my family while my fiance goes up my dress.

I think every wedding I've ever been to other than my own has had a dollar dance. We still didn't have one.

I think its fine if you do if your guests are used to it, but the whole "one on one time with the B&G" argument is crap. You dance with them for like two seconds and then you are shoved away to make room for the next person.

My uncles love the dollar dance! It's the bride is from our family they take it as a opportunity to dance with the groom as a joke. All 6 of them do it and love it. It's not so much about the money for us. It's just time to be silly. The little girls in my family love having a chance to dance one on one with the bride.

Because this is me.... there are a lot of 'traditional' things that make many brides and grooms (and brides and brides and grooms and grooms) cringe. Paying to dance with the couple sends a message that the couple may not want to send. Same with the whole garter thing and throwing the bouquet. I think the key is to keep traditional things that are meaningful and bail on the ones you simply don't want. It's part of evolution, just like sending out SDT's, multi day bachelorettes and mixed sex bridal parties.

I have seen it at Hispanic/Mexican weddings I have been to.

We have something at greek weddings but it's usually the close family tossing money in the air when certain people lead the dance.

It seems like this could be less popular now that many people don't carry cash anymore. I know I don't (because if I do I spend it!). What are they going to 'pay' with to dance then, credit cards?! LOL I still think it could be fun, but I agree that if we decide against it, most probably wouldn't miss it. And it would be one less thing to schedule into the reception.

They are suuuuuper tacky!! Most people don't even carry cash on them, if they do its just enough to tip the bartender. Plus I would be absolutely mortified if no one actually gave us any money to dance with us lol!!!

They are very common in our area. I'd never heard of it being considered the T word until I came here to WW. We will have one.

I'm quite Polish, DH isn't. He was willing to do the Dollar Dance-it's been done at almost every one of the weddings in my family. Usually the MoH and BM have a test of mini shots of peach schnapps or whiskey that you take after tossing your money in a hat. Dance for 20-30 seconds and you're on your way. People are dancing while this is going on. The thing that soooo many people on here don't get is that there's no coercion to participate and no one really pays attention. It's not like you're stuck at a table watching this doing nothing. Refill on drinks, dance, talk, participate, whatever. It's accepted in some cultures and isn't considered weird by most of the guests (tend to be large family affairs) but obviously it's up to the couple to include or not. We're older and wanted to focus on other traditions so we passed.

Yup, my first husband was polish and them dare polish peoples loves to give a new YOUNG bride and groom money! They do a dollar dance (and share a shot as previously mentioned to anyone that wants one after they dance with the bride or groom), they action off the garter (previous poster who wants to do this one, but is embarrassed to have hubby up her skirt in front of everyone....just put it right below your knee when you sit down in the chair), and they passed around a ballet slipper (that was supposed to be mine, but now they use a new one thank God) for money too! All of this money is intended for your honeymoon. We had 150 guests and made $700 in 1983! And we DID use it for our honeymoon. but I was 18 and he was 24, and it was our first marriage. Ps they also through me a bridal shower with 150 guests that i didnt even know. Took 3 truck loads to get all the gifts back to our apartment. But boy we needed every washcloth we received.

We skipped it, I absolutely hate them. But I did have one guest who insisted and they gave me $20 to dance with me. It made a good memory anyway.

I refused to do one and apparently it upset my whole family. I knew it upset my mom, especially when I said it was rude and tacky, but AFTER the wedding my whole extended family said that they almost asked the DJ if he could do one for them. I was like "Guys, if you want to give me money, put it in a card or in my hand now. I was not going to ask people to pay to dance with me. Sorry." I just don't understand it.