Dollar Dance?!

I have seen this done at a few weddings and plan on doing it at my wedding. I am having a formal wedding and will have the MOH and BM holding a basket (decorated to match the wedding theme) collecting the money. Or you can have your wedding purse on your wrist and just put the money in there. I would however not have anyone pin anything on your wedding dress! No way! But I don't think that the basket idea takes away from the fun of it. We are even having "If I had A Million Dollars" Bare Naked Ladies song played during it to add to the fun of it. We are doing this and leaving out the chicken dance, YMCA and other silly songs though.

My first response is that it is tacky. I mean, you are basically selling yourself on your wedding night. But, my friends did it at their wedding--which was very elegant--and they pulled it off great! Made a bit of cash! and it looked just fine. I'm debating using it so that we have another thing to entertain people during the reception. But, I'm curious about finding something other than dollars to get people to dance with me....anywho, do what you and your FH want to do!

My daughter and her husband did the "Dash for Cash" a local tradition where the DJ announces that the couple needs spending cash for the honeymoon, and will be competing to see who can move the fastest and collect the most...he then plays a very fast song while the bride and groom dash around the room collecting dollars that guests hold up in the air....it's supposed to be a contest, however as the music comes to an end, the DJ announces "just hand it over bub, you're married and it's time you learn that she gets all your money!" It's hysterically funny and entertaining to see the bride running in her gown, and the groom trying to stuff money in his pockets. On a side note....my daughter had the entire wedding party involved, and she fell smack on her face when she took off, and it was caught on video. In addition to collecting $600 TLC's Wild Weddings chose it for their new season, aired it in May and paid them $250, plus paid each in the wedding party $50 as a release fee.

We are doing a little twist on the dollar dane. We don't want to ask for dollars but want the time with each of our guests. So we will be asking guests interested in dancing to bring up or drop their place card in a vase. This way we also can add alittle note in the thank you cards for those we danced with.

Every single wedding that I have been to has had a Dollar Dance. Usually a relative holds a basket or wears an apron and takes the guests' money as they stand in line to dance with both bride and groom. It's extra spending money for the couple! I plan on having one also.

I really don't want to do a money dance for the simple reason that it takes way too long and it is boring for that people that do not want to participate. We were at a wedding recently and instead the couple did a photo line where people still gave money and got a shot but the got a photo with the couple so they could put it in their album instead of a dance that can last way too long. It was short and sweet and fun because the shy guest who would not normally dance went up and got their pics taken (I know this because that is usually me), I thought it was a great alternative!

FH's family suggested the dollar dance but my family is against it. Luckily, we've found a happy medium-

We are doing an 'apron dance' (Polish version) but we're not going to keep the money for ourselves. We're going to donate it to a local food bank because we're getting married 2 weeks before Christmas and we know the food bank will need it more than us.

It won't be a mandatory thing for guests and it is going to a good cause while we get to have some fun.

We'll also be having his niece and my cousin as the 'collectors' for each of us so that neither of us knows how much money any certain person gave. The kids are 6 and 4 so it's not like they'll actually be on track with counting every dollar they have in hand. The anonymity I think puts a little less pressure on guests.

I would say to go ahead and do it, however, don't play songs that have to do with getting money. That will make it seem like your guests are more obligated to do it. Just have a good time with it! Honestly, it's a great way for shy kids to come up and dance with one of you (if you're having kids at your event). I was that kid at my cousin's wedding. It was great, and I felt more confident after that! (I was probably 6 btw) I danced the rest of the night!