Reception That's Not a Dance Party?

We also don't do a lot of dancing. We are planning to just have our main dances.... 1st... And focus in celebrating with good food and family. Keep us post it on how all turn out.

We're having a movie screening right after our wedding, since we're getting married on a sunday. We'll have dinner and the obligatory dances, but then we're just gonna sit back and watch UP and Wall-E in our back yard using a projector and the garage Hope that helps a little

There's nothing wrong with not having a dance party - and it's not hard to accomplish, either.

Hire a small band - like a nice jazz trio with a vocalist, and sit down with them and talk about what you want. Have them play background cocktail hour music after the ceremony, while you're having your photographs made. Then, they can play your entrance music, your first dances, and then go back to background cocktail hour type music.

A professional band knows what songs to play to create a lovely ambiance but discourage dancing.

Also, the way your room is set up can discourage dancing. Have your first dances immediately after your entrance, and then have the caterer set up food stations or the dessert stations in front of the band, so that the dance floor "disappears".

It's YOUR wedding, and by working with professionals who can help you make your dreams come true, you can have exactly what YOU want, what YOU are comfortable with, and your guests will not miss a thing!

I dance he does not. Our guests will dance or watch music videos. Play games outdoors or just watch everyone dance and have fun. It should give you plenty of time to visit with your guests if your not dancing.

We didn't have a big dance party reception. We chose to have an afternoon wedding, still with a full meal reception. Our entire event was from 12-4.

Our wedding took place at an historic mansion with a very split up floorplan. Our reception seating was outside on the terrace and side porticos. Cake cutting took place inside. DJ was set up in a room inside by a window so there was a room for the dancing and music could also be lightly heard around the rest of the mansion, including outside on the terrace.

It worked really well for us. We did our special dances and while some of our guests who liked to dance, stayed in the dance room, we mingled throughout the rest of the mansion socializing with our guests. We had a good mix of people who preferred to dance and others who found a quiet place to talk or enjoy the natural beauty of our venue. While we chose an afternoon wedding, I think this set-up could have easily worked for us in the evening as well.

A friend of mine is getting married at a curling club, and instead of having a dance reception, they'll be curling. She told everyone on her invites to bring clothes to change into if they planned on staying to play. It was an interesting idea, and her FH loves it! Personally, I love a good dance party and I can't wait to dance the night away But, I love to hear about different kinds of weddings/receptions We're having a bags game and smores outside of the barn we're having the reception in on their patio where there's two fire pits. It'll be something for those who need a break for dancing, or who don't feel like dancing.

Our reception is extremely different. We are having our ceremony obviously and then afterwards we are feeding our 35 guests at Olive Garden, then we are going out and doing go-kart racing, mini golf, laser tag, bowling, arcade, etc. It's perfect for us and yes I know, not the typical wedding but I honestly cannot stand the 'typical' wedding which is exactly why I don't go to any. also, could you imagine the pictures? awesome.

Desire, that sounds amazing! I'd love to do something like that, but we're having over 100 guests, including some older relatives who would not be comfortable with that, so I don't think it would work.

Thanks for the ideas, everyone! I'm glad to hear that there are a lot of great alternatives to dance parties! What I'm wondering now is, do the receptions that are focused on dinner and then just mingling, chatting, etc. usually last as long as the dance receptions? I don't want to have a short reception because I don't get many opportunities to have all my friends and my whole family celebrating with me, but I don't want everyone to just be sitting around bored either...

@Amy -- I can't answer the length question, but you should choose something that fits you and your FH! I've seen pictures online of weddings with board games, outdoor games (like cornhole), etc. One of the venues we looked at had a little loft that overlooked the main area and the manager said the last wedding had it set up as a gambling hall and guests played poker. A wedding I saw online had a scotch station set up, where the guys tasted fancy scotch and smoked cigars.

It won't fill the whole reception, but photobooths are really fun too!

We are having the option of no dancing, and games instead. Each table, will have a card game on it in a burlap bag (to match the theme). So non-dancers (and our families are big game players) can enjoy themselves too!

Here is our inspiration/where our idea came from.

We had a dinner reception in a private dinning room at a Brazilion Steak House, it was fun and intimate, no one missed the dancing or party thing at all.

Are you set on having a later wedding? I think it could last longer if you had an afternoon/lunch reception, and had the ceremony... your special dances.. lunch.. the bouquet/garter toss if you're going to do it.. keep the music mellow, allow for some slow dancing if your guests want. Maybe think of doing some games to keep them entertained? Like, google "the shoe game".. I think that one is pretty cute.

What are you and your FH all about? Pick something that goes with that. Youguys like video games, set up a big screen and do some challenges.

Youguys like art, set up some tables and ask guests to contribute to an wedding art book you are putting together.

don't invite people that will be borred. Family wont be borred they will all be chatting with relatives that they havn't seen in forever.

Maybe you can think about getting some sort of entertainment, if you have an ethnic background or are just fond of a certain one, dancers, or drummers would be fun and exciting. And then you can have games to follow...all these ladies have great ideas!

I actually really like the board games and card games ideas... My fiance and I absolutely love board games, card games, and video games. We're both huge nerds! But my family also really likes card games and some board games, so I think they might enjoy that too. Thanks for the ideas!

Oh, and I should have specified: our wedding is going to be on a Saturday afternoon, not in the evening.

I can tell you from what I have experianced no music is normally much shorter. People chat and while after eating and then leave.

For most people it is the only time they go out dancing, or should I say the only time their spouse will dance.

We're not having dancing either. We hired a solo guitar player to play, but I told him that I hate when people are "forced" to dance at weddings with the DJ yelling, "come one everybody!!! It's time for a CONGA LINE!!"

Our whole day, ceremony and reception, will be from 2-5. I figure we'll do the ceremony, some pictures, eat, my husband and I will have our first dance and then we'll cut the cake and do toasts. By then, time should be up.

Amy these ladies all have great ideas! Don't be afraid to go "outside the box!" Your wedding day should reflect YOU!

To keep your wedding reception the "normal" length of 4 hours or so, some form of entertainment should be presented. Games are a great idea! You could set up a "casino" night theme and hire dealers to man the tables. If you have an outdoor space, set up game stations for things like croquet or ring toss. If it's indoors: board games would be a lot of fun.

Consider hiring entertainers like dancers or a musicians. Hire a band or a DJ who will get your guests involved. Have fun with it and good luck!

Ooh Amy N, you could so make the game thing work! You could put cards or other games on the guests tables and then set up little "game stations" through out the room.

You might want to consider having at least a small dance floor too just to give people that option. All 100 of your guests might not be as in to games as you & FH are

Im not a big dancer either, but weddings tend to bring out the party girl in me. Some people look forward to dancing at weddings.

Sorry, slow typer. I kinda just repeated what Events by jackie said! lol

See it's a double good idea