Square Dancing at reception?

I think it would be fun. Maybe just 1 hour though since dinner follows.

1-2 hours, nope. 15 to 20 minutes, sure. What are the guests who don't know how or don't want to square dance supposed to do for a couple of hours?

I would do dinner first, and then 30 mins of square dancing. I think if you have the right crowd, sure. If I went to a wedding though I wouldn't want dance lessons, but at the same time my fiancé and I go to dance class every few weeks to learn how to country two step. It could be fun, but as someone who does go dancing and to classes often, I wouldn't enjoy it.

This sounds so fun!!! I would DEFINITELY attend this wedding, even if I was more of an acquaintance and had to travel an hour. However, I think dinner before square dancing sounds fun! And what about substituting the square dancing instead of having a DJ as well?

I think this sounds like a neat idea. My family always plays a few polkas during wedding receptions. I think it makes a nice change from the normal dance music.

Logistically, I would either have it as part of the cocktail hour or during the normal dancing after dinner, not as a separate "event". That way guests who would rather not participate can just chat and drink with each other. And I would pare it down to 30 min.

@Duckie Yeah, that's more what I was trying to convey. Start with the cocktail hour and having the square dancing be during it, so those that wanted to dance could, those that didn't could still just drink and enjoy the food and chat and watch. Not necessarily as a separate event. It would just be over when dinner started basically.

I think it sounds great! I went to one wedding with line dancing and loved it!! All the time I go to weddings with a dance floor and the only people out there are drunk girls acting trashy IMO. I want to avoid that at my wedding and I think line dancing would be the perfect way to do it. You don't have to be a good dancer or even have any idea what you are doing to follow the callers instructions. It's really fun, everybody getting on the dance floor together just to have a good time and not trying to show out. If people don't want to dance they can just socialize during the dancing. Every wedding I've ever attended (except for the one with line dancing) more people stand to the side to talk and drink than dance anyhow. Square dancing is a great way to have everyone included. You're in rural Indiana and you know your guests best, but I would do it without hesitation!

I would not do anymore than 30 minutes you stand the chance to lose most of your guests on the dance floor if it goes any longer.

The only thing I would hesitate with only having it for 30 minutes (or less) would be paying for the band and caller to come and only allowing them 30 minutes to perform. It also doesn't give a lot of time for introducing the dances. I can't logistically see it taking less than an hour, but I also think 2 is way too long as well.

What about a few dances before dinner/ during cocktail hour (like 15 minutes worth or so), and then having the square dancing interspersed with the normal music throughout the rest of the night? Like 30 minutes one type, switch to 30 minutes the other. I can see that getting a bit hectic too though.

@Rachel- Yeah, I'm usually bored stiff (and hungry...little hor d'oeuvres just aren't filling) during cocktail hour anyway. I think having the option to learn some square dancing would be a nice way to fill the time (and distract me from being hungry lol).

And you probably know better than the rest of us how much time would be necessary to make it worthwhile. 1 hour is probably fine during cocktail hour. I was just thinking that more than 30 min during the reception dancing would make people who aren't participating bored.

FH and I both have very Polish families, so we are going to play one polka.

An hour seems excessive.

I think that sounds so fun. I would love that. But I do not like your timeline... I would rather have dinner first then all the typical wedding stuff (cake first dance blah blah) then do the line dancing

Sounds fun to me! But I agree that an hour might be a long time unless you have the right crowd. Definitely a "know your audience" thing.

I love to line dance, never square danced but I'm sure I would love it. I know a lot of people absolutely do not, so I wouldn't recommend a 2 hour block for it, 1 tops. I'd also recommend leaving the bar open (not sure if you are or aren't) during this time for people who don't feel comfortable even doing the simplest dances and would rather just drink, watch, and chat. I agree with Hannah though about the timeline. If you want to do this before dinner, I'd probably recommend keeping it to 30 minutes since the added exercise is bound to make everyone ravenous.

First of I'll start by saying I LOVE line dancing... but it's not for everyone so I'd go with 30-45 mins of it feel out the crowd maybe if they love it you could always keep going?

Thanks everybody!

Any thoughts about alternating between line dancing and regular DJ?

Seems a little too intense. I'm not a fan of line dancing.

We attempted the electric slide art my wedding as well as some other dances (macarena whip /nae nae) and I will say we all failed miserably (but had fun) but putting in a song or 2 in the mix worked

I'm shocked that so many people think this is a great idea. It is too much for me. square dancing is bleh and tacky imo. I think maybe 15 min of it would go over well, but 1 to 2 hours is way too much unless everyone is down to hoedown on the regular.

I think it would be so fun! especially if there was someone to show you how to actually do it lol If you know your crowd then go for it!