No dancing at reception - bad idea?

We're not having any dancing. It's not us. We are doing a dinner at a fancy restaurant in Manhattan with a pianist, and a Broadway-style cabaret.

@A.L. - that sounds like SO much fun!

I think what you have planned is fine. People are free to get up and dance at luaus too. The performers like to get people involved and they are pretty entertaining. Maybe plan something for late night if you want to go out clubbing or dancing.

I've only been to one wedding where no dancing was successful and that's because the reception was short. They had: speeches, traditional dances, dinner, dessert &I then send off. It didn't feel rushed but also didn't feel like there was a lot of left over time.

I think having a luau/show could work out but I'd specify it in the invites. "Drink and a dinner show to follow" or something like that.

I personally love dancing at weddings but if you have an alternative entertainment as you mentioned, I'm sure it will be fun and your guests will love it.

Personally, I'd love to go to a DW in Hawaii that involved a traditional luau. But at the same time, I hate to dance. Still, sounds like a blast to me.

I think I would prefer your reception, especially since you're in Hawaii.

I get not wanting to because you and FH are not the dancing type but what about your guests? Do they party/Dance? The lack of "regular reception dancing" may be overshadowed by the luau performance. Like PP said Most times crowd participation is a part of the luau entertainment so it likely will not be boring.

I hate dancing but would love to watch a luau!!!

Dancing is just entertainment. If you don't have dancing but have another form of entertainment, it's fine.

We're not having any dancing either! We're also having a small wedding, and we're having lawn games instead. At the last few weddings I've been to, there was dancing but no one actually danced. Since my fiance and I aren't "dancey" people either, we figured it would be more fun to focus our energy and funds elsewhere!

I think your plan sounds great!

Following. I'm also planning to skip dancing at my DW. I just think it's difficult to get a good dance party vibe with so few people (30-40).

I'm the opposite of Fall Bride, I actually leave when people start dancing because there's always those "YOLOLOL" guests that don't care what a non-dancer wants to do (how dare you not enjoy this the way I think k you should enjoy this?!? *takes extra gulp of wine*) and try to goad me or even physically drag me out to the dance floor. And then when I firmly say no, they look at me like I'm some awkward social pariah

I think a luau would be great. You are still having a reception, with some form of entertainment, feeding people, giving them alcohol, and giving them the luau, so I would say you would be good to go. From what I understand, most luaus run up to 4-5 hours, and then that gives anyone who wants to time to go out to the club dancing afterwards.

I, for one, would not be disappointed if I were invited to your wedding.

eta: my typing sucks today.

@A.L., that does sound fabulous. @Jenny, I HATE, HATE when people do that to me too, but I have to admit I might have done that once or twice to someone else when I was drunk, lol

We are also not having dancing at our reception, unless someone really wants to. We are going for more of a dinner party vibe with music playing on the sound system, and a small dance floor for our first dance and that's probably it.

@ Jenny - that's exactly how I feel! But I certainly don't want to cause anyone else to not have a good time because of my personal preferences...so I'm hoping the luau would be a good compromise. Plus it's something that you don't typically see at a wedding so I thought that would make it extra special.

I love to dance, especially at weddings where there is an awesome band But if you want more of a dinner party vibe with great food and mingling that totally works as well. A luau would be really cool because it's also something local, but beyond that I wouldn't focus on filling with "alternate entertainment" - just make sure there's good mingling space and great food and drinks!

Not gonna lie, I'd be disappointed if there wasn't any dancing at a wedding. That's pretty much the only time I dance and I love when kids get out on the dance floor and have a blast. Luau would be fun too but I'm not sure if it would be able to replace the dancing.

I think that's fine in this case.