Money Dance

Tacky.

Our DJ asked if we were having one and received a firm "no thank you"

I think it's more that people do it do he offers it as a thing, and less that it's normal.

Also as a side story I was a BM in a wedding where the bride did a dollar dance and no one really wanted to participate.

Awkward..

ETA typo

In some cultures, the money dance is appropriate as there is tradition and meaning (beyond just getting money) behind the ritual. However, if you are dancing just to get extra money for your honeymoon or whatever and there is no cultural relevance it is rude and tacky. ETA: I also find this insulting to cultures that have this tradition, since you are disregarding the meaning and symbolism of a practice for your own monetary gain.....just my two cents

My mother talked to me about doing this. I think it will be fun and it gives everyone a chance to dance with you.

Yes, that is also tacky.

I'm team tacky on this one. Your guests shouldn't have to open their wallets at your wedding. Many of them probably already sent you the gift they wanted to get you.

Emily, it gives everyone a chance to dance with you if they open up their wallets

Emily - but if a guest wants to dance with you, they can come up and ask you to dance. For free. At any point in the reception, except the father-daughter and first dance. That'd cross a line.

It's awful. Skip it.

Every single wedding I've gone to has the money dance. I never liked them and find them awkward.

I agree that it looks tacky of it is not a cultural thing....I fear that my family will try and start one anyways even though I asked them not to.

Money dance is actually Filipino wedding tradition. The one I attended was symbolic only as the parents of the couple handover the dollars bills and pins. Guest just symbolically pin the money and wish them well. If this is not in your tradition, you shouldn't include that.

I've been to weddings that have had this and it's just awkward. The only time it wasn't was at my friend's Greek wedding and it seemed totally normal to everyone. There were dollar bills flying everywhere. But otherwise...awkward. It's like forcing people to give money and dance with you.

We were just at my FH's cousins wedding, it was amazingly beautiful, the venue was beyond anything I had ever seen for a wedding. I was in awe of the enter wedding and was a bit jealous of it until the money dance and I saw an actual honeymoon jar on the gift table. The money dance lasted three songs and for those of us that didn't participate it felt awkward.

Yes, a thousand times yes Ouida!!!!! So many people miss that this is actually a tradition in cultures outside of the US. So it is weird and inappropriate when people with no ties to those cultures or traditions engage in them.

Thank you all! Honestly I didn't even think about it because our DJ had it on his schedule like he did the father daughter dance, first dance etc. I am so glad i asked !

Yes, it is both tacky and rude. The only exception is when there is a cultural reason (such as pp's previously mentioned Filipino heritage, or I believe in Polish heritage?) otherwise it is incredibly rude to do anything asking guests to spend money at your wedding.

@Ali- 3 songs and a honeymoon jar?? That's excessive.. Why did they just announce it at the beginning "Give me all your money" ?

Thanks for being so receptive to opinions, @Talia!

You're going to do just fine here.

It is also common in Nigerian celebrations, and I believe other African cultures.

The last money dance I saw was at my friend's mom's wedding in 2002, it was fun but I won't be doing it at my wedding...I find it tacky...