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Savvy March 2018

Is it tacky to just do a dinner reception with no dancing?

Kimberly, on January 12, 2017 at 1:59 AM Posted in Planning 1 13

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Okay, so FH and I are having a small wedding of 50 guests (under 50 if we can cut it down). I have always envisioned a very intimate wedding. Now I am concerned about the reception, I have looked into a few traditional (dancing etc) venues, but with a $1000+ price tag, not including $1500+ minimum on food and beverages, I'm just not sure if that's even worth it for only 40-50 people. I don't particularly care for dancing (FH and I don't drink and the only way I like dancing is with a little buzz), the idea was more for our guests. I am now considering just renting a private room at a nice restaurant that won't have a room fee, or if it does it's like $300 which is fine, and then of course covering the dinner but it would mean no dancing and no music :/ I am just feeling like if I am going to spend $2500+ on a venue/catering I might as well invite more people since it won't cost extra, but that kind of negates the "intimate" vibe I'm going for. Advice?

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13 Comments

Latest activity by Audrey, on January 12, 2017 at 11:36 AM

Expert April 2017
Michelle · on January 12, 2017 at 2:13 AM
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Just following
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Expert August 2018
Danielle · on January 12, 2017 at 3:16 AM
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$2500 honey get your monies worth and invite more people..and have some dancing..you will have guest that will love to dance...you dont care for dancing thats cool..but the guest will...
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Master June 2017
Anne · on January 12, 2017 at 6:15 AM
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I have been wondering the same thing as OP but the vibe of my crowd is dinner party like. FH and I and all our friends are in our mid 40's. Family ranges from 40's to 70's. We have small children in attendance and then a couple teenagers ( his son and my daughter both 14). I don't see anyone dancing and I am looking for early in and early out (ceremony at 5 and be done by 9). We are renting a room at a restaurant and I think the good food and good alcohol and cake should lend itself to a nice classy affair without the awkwardness of a DJ trying to get old tired people to dance.
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Master October 2017
karen · on January 12, 2017 at 6:21 AM
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Not tacky at all. It is your choice.
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Expert June 2018
6-1-18 · on January 12, 2017 at 9:48 AM
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@minime, where is that? Looks familiar.
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VIP August 2017
FutureMrsMaidenName · on January 12, 2017 at 9:52 AM
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I don't think it is tacky at all! Dancing isn't required to properly host.
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Master September 2016
JoRocka · on January 12, 2017 at 9:53 AM
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If I can find my bam you can check out my reception- 30ish people- paid a pretty penny for the venue and the food/alcohol.

And it was awesome- everyone had a lovely time for the most part. (okay- that's the appearance- but plenty of food- and plenty of booze and few people complain)
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Master September 2016
JoRocka · on January 12, 2017 at 9:54 AM
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Found it
https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/bam-bishes-bam/eab6641a4ef685dd.html
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Master July 2016
Mrs.D · on January 12, 2017 at 9:55 AM
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Not tacky. We had about 65 guests. We did dinner and open bar and of course a cake cutting, but no dancing, bouquet toss, or garter toss. We did hire a string quartet and when they weren't playing we had an iPod playlist going of songs like Frank Sinatra and Sara Bareilles etc
Our evening ended around 10:30pm, which was fine by me! It was intimate and lovely, and many commented that it was one of their favorite weddings they'd been to.
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Master July 2017
Going to the chapel · on January 12, 2017 at 9:55 AM
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Not tacky at all! Some of my favorite weddings have been just like what you are thinking.
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VIP March 2017
Laura2.0 · on January 12, 2017 at 9:58 AM
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It would only be tacky if you had a venue with a dance floor and reception lasting 5 hours. What you described is fine. A nice dinner reception at a restaurant with people mingling is just fine. The restaurant will probably have some background music.
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Expert October 2017
givemetheD · on January 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM
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Not tacky at all! That's actually what we're doing. We have a guest list of 30, we're having the ceremony and then off to dinner. The restaurant we chose did just that and let us reserve a room that seats up to 60 people with no additional charge. We'll be covering dinner and drinks and the restaurant allows us to bring in a wedding cake from an outside vendor. I think the idea works for a smaller crowd that isn't going to have this "party" vibe/expectation. Also on our invitations we will be putting "Dinner and drinks to follow" or something along those lines instead of reception to follow so that our guests have a better idea of what to expect
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Expert September 2017
Audrey · on January 12, 2017 at 11:36 AM
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Not weird at all. I think the only thing that makes no dancing weird is if you have a venue with a dance floor and it feels like the type of place where there should be dancing (music, etc), but no one is dancing. If you go for a quieter, more intimate dinner party vibe, I think no one will feel like they're really missing out.
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