Wedding Traditions, Activities, Dances

OK - I know about the Anniversary Dance, Dollar/Money/Honeymoon Dance, Snowball, The Shoe game.....

Can we start a thread (and perhaps make it a sticky) where we can share what we do at receptions to make it more special.

These could be variations on the traditional...something new or different..

For instance....centerpiece give-away ideas....

This is just a neat FYI bit Cap has a very interesting read on his website that is in reference to marriage traditions and folklore check it out..

Absolutely Steve great idea! Would you like to start the thread and I will make it a sticky?

Sounds good to me. I'm gettin' a bit rusty at wedding reception protocols and would appreciate a sticky with your thoughts and ideas. :)

Absolutely Steve great idea! Would you like to start the thread and I will make it a sticky?

yes please.

I'm starting the thread ................................................no w!

(can we just use this one with the header?

OK Steve, there you go the floor is yours, thanks

OK - this is goiung to be an educational thread..
I've never done a dollar dance, or anniversary dance
Please post step by step instuctions; if you have a variation (some do reverse anniversary/generation)...we want to know
Centerpiece giveaways/ Table release games.
Bride and groom/bridal party games...
unity candle/sand ceremonies and variations

Consider this ODJT University

Wedding Activities 101

Steve:

I've never done this, but Coreen swears it's done at receptions where she grew up (around Minot, ND).

Instead of tossing the garter, it's auctioned off. Either by the DJ or a member of the family/wedding party.

And of course, the highest bidder gets the garter!

(After the Groom removes it, of course.)

Kirby

I've seen that many times in southern MN

Games:

If I think the couple is "fun loving", I suggesst "Man I Feel Like A Woman".

Needed - inebriated guests, three men, nine women, the Shaniah Twain Song, and the Rob Zombie version of Brick House.

get your volunteers and break them up into three teams of three ladies and one guy. Poke a little fun by going to each guy and asking why he volunteered. Then tell them all that they are about to find out why they say in the Army, "Never volunteer".

Now tell them the rules. In the time it takes to play the Shaniah Twain song, the ladies must take their guy off and, with whatever resources they have, turn him into the best lady possible.

Do a countdown as the song is ending and then bring the teams back with Brick House.

The guests pick the winner. It is usually good to have a "strut off".

The Remote Cntrol Game:

Needed: two dowells, two rolls of TP, two chairs.

Place the chairs back to back and have the B&G sit in them. Have the MoH stand in front of the bride and the BM stand in front of the Groom. Place a roll of TP on a dowell and hand it to the MoH and the other one to the BM. Then, have the BM and MoH switch positions.

The B&G must unravel the TP off the roll. The winner gets control of the remote for the next six months.

Garter Game:

Needed - skirted chair, envelope with funny things in it.

Before the reception begins, the envelope is taped to the bottom of the chair.

When it is time for the garter removal, the skirted chair is used. The groom reaches between his beloved's legs and pulls down the envelope and opens it. He then pulls out the things in succession saying, "Nope, that's not it." I've even seen rubber chickens used.

Dances:

Dollar/Hineymoon/Apron Dance:

Have the MoH put on an apron. She'll be collecting the money. Have the B&G stand next to each other and have those guests wishing to dance with them form a line in front of the B or G.

As each person steps up, they place a dollar in the apron.

You can use music that is money related.

Gave each person 15 seconds and then have them move on.

Anniversary dance:

I use Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight as the music.

Get all of the married couples on the floor and start the music.

Ask those married one week or less to leave the floor, the one year or less, and so on till you have one couple left on the floor. That's your longest married couple.

If no bouquet/garter has taken place, these can be presented to the couple. Otherwise, a rose is acceptable. The couple then gives the newly weds advice on a long marriage.

I normally use Unforgettable (Nat & Natalie duet) for the Anniv. Dance



For the centerpiece giveawayI have them pass the camera around the table like a hot potato (if there are disposable cameras on each table), making sure at one of the music stops I instruct the camera holder to take a picture of everyone at the table, then himself/herself

If there aren't cameras on the table I use something else.

The Dollar dance here in Pittsburgh is a big tradition.
It's something done at almost every wedding I may have one a year that does not do it.
We use a 50 min song Called the Polish Wedding Polka by The Trel Tones.

The song was not always the same but it was always a polka. When I 1st started Djing my grandmother had told me about the tradition. In the old days (I'm guessing 30 and 40's) people didn't have tons of money. The generlly bought a small wedding gift or made something for the new couples home like courtains or talble cloths things that could be sewn. The dollar dance was the only way the bride and groom would get any money for their honeymoon.

The MOH will have a bag to collect money the line will form from there. On the other side of the dance floor the Best Man will have a tray of shots. Everyone does a shot after dancing with the bride.

Other variations are doing the shot before the dance with the bride, and the bride does a shot with each person she dances with, but that wouldn't work for many of the 200 to 300 guest weddings I perform.

It the job of the bridesmaids to gather and bring people to the bridal dance line.

Generally at a big hunkey wedding people will swing the bride around almost like a rag doll, and it's not uncommon for people to dance with the bride 3 or more times.

After each person dances with the bride they form a circle around the bride. The women wave their hankies or nowdays it's generally napkins.
Generally the brides father will be the last to dance with the bride.

Most of the time the crowd will trap the bride while dancing. The groom must break though the crowd and carry the bride away.

I only had this a few times: the brides mother will remove the vail and the groom carries the bride away.

Once I had a groom crowd surf to the bride by help of the grooms men.

If I can think of anything else I'll add it later. Time to go to work!

Steve:

I've never done this, but Coreen swears it's done at receptions where she grew up (around Minot, ND).

Instead of tossing the garter, it's auctioned off. Either by the DJ or a member of the family/wedding party.

And of course, the highest bidder gets the garter!

(After the Groom removes it, of course.)

Kirby

We use a variation on the garter auction. The bride is seated in the middle of the dance floor while everyone gathers around and its men vs. women...for every dollar the guys bid it goes down an inch...for everyone the ladies bid it goes back up an inch. Money piles up real fast for the bride and groom.

Ok no ones posted in a couple days so here goes. At weddings I like things to flow from events to the music so let the flow begin.

I start out the anniversary dance by, getting all married couple on the dance floor. I let the bride and groom know to never leave the floor stay in the middle. I play the song After All These Years from a Jim Brinkman cd, great song if youve never heard it. I will systematically dismiss people to the sides of the dance floor, never ask them to leave. I start out with 5 years and go up in levels of 5, 10, 15, etc. Till we have the longest married couple and the shortest married couple left on the floor


I then have the couple give some words of wisdom to the bride/groom. I then go to the dollar dance asking the longest married couple to start it out. But the reward for being married the longest is you dont have to pay a thing just share some more wisdom.

I also let everyone know that if you havent had a chance to talk to the bride/groom now is a great oppurtunity to do just that by sharing a moment with them. The best man and maid/matron of honor collect the money. I ask them to keep track of who collects the most so we can find out who the bread winner of the family will be but thats another post all together

I then go to the dollar dance asking the longest married couple to start it out. But the reward for being married the longest is you dont have to pay a thing just share some more wisdom. I usually try to have the Anniv dance just before the cake cutting, because the nature of the game clears the dance floor and it is easier to direct everyones attention to the cake.

But I like this idea.

I do several activities at weddings depending the couple.

1. dollar dance
2. anniversary dance
3. 2 reasons why .... the bride and groom make a good couple
4. love story... well done it 2 times
5. house keys turned into groom

Would love to learn more for my bag o tricks

Hmmm... those are really interesting. Here I havent seen it done that way. It is actually quite boring here! lol.. But The Bride and Groom get out on the dance floor, and a line forms for each one. When dancing with the bride you fill her purse with money, and when dancing with the groom you pin the money all over him. This makes for a really great picture!

Looks as though we all do things pretty similar. I like to see the variations.

Here are a couple variations I like to do.

The dollar dance. I will have the Maid of honor and the best man collect the money. Towards the end I will have the MOH fan the money out and the BM pose in front of the B&G dancing for a picture.
Sometimes the B&G think collecting money is tacky. I will then propose the
"Special Wishes Dance" Where guest write a special wish on a small piece of paper to the happy couple and the MOH collects the wishes instead of money.

Getting the B&G to kiss.
Sometimes B&Gs are wanting an alternative to the clinking of glasses to make them kiss.
My favorite is the "professional couples kiss" I will invite married couples to stand and demonstarte how a professional couple kiss I then have the B&G imitate the kiss.


Paul

Getting the B&G to kiss.
Sometimes B&Gs are wanting an alternative to the clinking of glasses to make them kiss.
My favorite is the "professional couples kiss" I will invite married couples to stand and demonstarte how a professional couple kiss I then have the B&G imitate the kiss.


Paul

I think I like that and might try it.. Thanks.

Center Piece Giveaway, make one person at each table take out a dollar, play Hawaii five - 0 and tell the people to pass the dollar around the table. Then stop the music and say, congratulations, who ever is holding the dollar is the proud winner of nothing. The play music again pass dollar around then stop music, say congratulations, you are now looking at the person who is $1 richer and gets to buy everyone at his/her table drinks tonight, the person who donated the dollar gets the center piece.

we used that same sort of game when I worked in Vegas in 2002. Only twist is we also made the final person hand it to there left and that was the tables Party Captain and told them they had to do whatever it takes to insure everyone at their table is having a good time. I dont certify any of these games I was working for a multi and had to follow the schedule.

Center Piece Giveaway, make one person at each table take out a dollar, play Hawaii five - 0 and tell the people to pass the dollar around the table. Then stop the music and say, congratulations, who ever is holding the dollar is the proud winner of nothing. The play music again pass dollar around then stop music, say congratulations, you are now looking at the person who is $1 richer and gets to buy everyone at his/her table drinks tonight, the person who donated the dollar gets the center piece.

I've seen a smilar game played with napkins. It sounds like a fun idea.
I had a wedding coordinator tell me that these games are disgusting & should NOT be played at a table where food will be served (passing around a dirty dollar bill or handling other's napkins)

We were going to do this & she told us "not at this event!"

What do you think?

I've seen a smilar game played with napkins. It sounds like a fun idea.
I had a wedding coordinator tell me that these games are disgusting & should NOT be played at a table where food will be served (passing around a dirty dollar bill or handling other's napkins)

We were going to do this & she told us "not at this event!"

What do you think?


If the B&G are cool with it, I'd tell the "co-ordinator" to "Bite Me"...:sqerr:

You folks are gonna think this is totally nuts, completely lazy, unimaginative, and a rip-off. In defense of this concept, I think the Dollar Dance is all of that so, to me, it feels even.

First, I build a vocal .mp3 loop of six command changes with 30 seconds of dead air between each command. For example, "Your best wishes to the Bride and Groom, change partners now please", then something like, "A warm hug to the Bride & Groom, change partners please." and so forth.

This vocal loop goes on the software player A with the "repeat" command set to on.

Then I built a 45 minute premixed set of nice slow tunes that are familiar yet not reception favorites, ever requested, nor played often. That mix goes on software player B.

Once the time comes for the Dollar Dance, and in order to give the appearance that I'm not the one doing this on my own and that the Bride & Groom aren't the greedy ones, it is announced "At the request of the bridal party, we're having a Dollar Dance from Mark & Judy". Yep, the Bridal Party gets thrown under the bus for this ditty.

As others have already mentioned, the Best Man and The Maid/Matron of Honor are positioned at opposite ends of the dance floor. All the men are asked to line up with the Maid/Matron of Honor, all the women with the Best Man. Gives them both some flirting time while working.

Player B premix slow set begins with the Bride & Groom dancing together alone until the line gets three or more persons deep. Now I know it's working properly and will proceed nicely.

I then ask for the first persons in line to join the Bride & Groom on the floor. Wait 30 seconds, then get the next persons in line to come out (as the Best Man & Maid/Matron of Honor collect the dough). When the second change works perfectly, I start the vocal loop on Player A. Every 30 seconds, a partner change is called for on the vocal loop and repeat forever until manually halted.

If there are 200 people at the event, generally that means 100 men, 100 women. Most often, about 60% will participate in the Dollar Dance meaning 60 men and 60 women. With the predefined 30 second changes giving me control of the clock, I can confidently estimate a 30 minute dollar dance.

Now, with the automatic slow song premix going on Player B, the automatic vocal loop on Player A, I can go out to the parking lot and do an oil change on my Durango (or hit on the Grandmothers).

Cap:

I like it. Consider that idea is now in my arsenal..

Cap thanks for sharing. Though here in BC we dont do many dollar dances its considered almost rude . However for those here who do them alot what an awesome way to keep it short as possible.

The garter auction is something Ive started doing just recently. Ive done it two ways. At most weddings in my area alot of people are expecting a dollar dance. If this is the case and the B/G dont want one I will auction the garter this way: I tell the crowd that we are auctioning off the garter and it works like this. Because I am not a fast talker, I just like to talk alot we are going to have everyone hold up their money. The groomsmen will then go around and collect the money from them, with the best man keeping a running total. When the total gets to an amount that I have pre selected the last person whos contribution pushes the total over the amount wins the garter.

I also do a normal auction of the garter. This works well if you are still going to have a dollar dance. An example of this is at a wedding I did back in June. I did the regular garter auction and the gentleman that won it was the dads boss. He was the pres. of a ?pharmacutical? (dont look right but you get the idea) company he paid $500 for the garter and got to wear it on his arm the rest of the night. After the reception the brides mom told me she loved it and exactly the person who needed to win it did. This way you can still have a dollar dance and it doesnt hit everyone twice.

Another thing that I like to do instead of playing music for the cake cutting is relate a litte wedding cake and wedding history to the attendees. Things like why there are teirs on a wedding cake, the world record wedding cake height and weight and where some of the traditions we practice come from.

Anyway just a couple of things that I like to do. Feel free to use them if you like them!

Mike Kershner~m-pulse mobile dj service

Center Piece Giveaway, make one person at each table take out a dollar, play Hawaii five - 0 and tell the people to pass the dollar around the table. Then stop the music and say, congratulations, who ever is holding the dollar is the proud winner of nothing. The play music again pass dollar around then stop music, say congratulations, you are now looking at the person who is $1 richer and gets to buy everyone at his/her table drinks tonight, the person who donated the dollar gets the center piece.

Thanks for the idea. I had a client that wanted to give away centerpieces some way different this past weekend and I used your idea it workd great. Thanks for sharing.

A variation on the Anniversary dance that some of my couples have decided on that don't want to do the traditional garter and bouquet tosses:

At the end with the longest married couple standing in the middle of the dance floor, have the B&G present that couple with the bouquet. At that point, I have the B&G ask that couple for some words of wisdom to staying married for so long.

It's worked rather well for me.

Nice one Sparkie I usually as my Couple to go join the elder couple in the center of the floor and get close so some of those years might rub off. The Bouquet is a nice gesture.

sparkieg : Here in this region, it's called the Specialty Dance and it is specifically used as a complete substitute for any garter & bouquet tossing, placing, removing and such. I think the universally accepted name for it is the Anniversary Dance as you've stated.

Another variation to it. I insist on BOTH a bouquet and a garter. Both longest married persons should get a "prize". It does mean I have a half dozen medium quality garters with me at all times because they are often left at home or they don't want to give up the original.

Once the last standing (longest married) couple is left, a quick face to face interview is done with the couple (names, how long married, etc) then it's stated that, "In honor of you two being the longest married couple tonight, Mike & Cindy would be pleased to present you with the garter and bouquet." Mike & Cindy walk out, she hands the woman the bouquet, Mike hands the man the garter, audience responds.

If this couple seems right for it, after the shooter gets pictures of the four of them together, set it up however it fits your style, and ask the the longest married couple to demonstrate how Mike & Cindy should kiss when the lights go on tonight, the wedding night. It can sometimes be pee-in-your-pants funny. Then have Mike & Cindy demonstrate how they think they'll kiss when they've been married as long as the winning couple has. That can be quite interesting too as well as providing the shooters with excellent unusual additional material.

The dollar or honeymoon dance doesn't seem to be a hit here in DE for some reason. When I lived in VA, it was a part of every wedding reception.

We'd get both the bride and the groom out there... and play some extended mixes. It was funny at times... I'd start with "Well, they're on the way to McDonald's" or "We're up to TGI Friday's" etc. :D

My Anniversary Dance is used at almost each of my events and yet very few DJs here seem to use it. My clients adore the idea and do not use it in place of the bouquet and Garter therefore giving them away and saying later hey might we borrow them back for a moment would be a bit awkward. Here in BC we dont do a money dance but the bouquet and Garter are done almost each and everytime.

I thought "Wow" this would be cool for a garter removal.... The Pink Panther Theme.

nice find Papa good idea. Tell us how it plays out next reception.

Never ever done any dollar dance (i would be a dead DJ) , love story or anniversary dance. I may try to add some funny twist to the anniversary dance.
Any ideas guys?

My wedding people expect a lot of fun. That's why we start right after the wedding table intro with the kissing game. We have a few balloons ready with special missions inside (one for each table). The very first table that starts to make some noise with their fork and glass will be called to the dance floor. They will pop up the balloon, read their mission and do it. The better they do it, the better kiss from the bride and groom.

That's where our fun starts. We developed about 20 missions and let the bride and groom pick up the best. Background music will be "mission impossible".

You can use some sense of humour and create your own missions.
Our most popular are vodka shoots for the whole table, everybody are doing hoolahop for one minute, the whole table is doing waves like on the hockey game, copy cat kissing, the whole table is doing moonwalk dance or twist, or rock and roll etc. GeT some high-energy music ready...

We run the game during the dinner and most of the time people walk on the dance floor without asking. Sometimes the groom say over the mike that is ready for more kissing and will call out the next table, sometimes we will ask nicely the table to participate.
The key is to make everybody relaxed and ready for the challange.

I also added some funny twists to my centerpiece giveaway, let me know if you are interested... :sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:

The centerpiece we always run just 5 minutes before the first dance. This way you don't have to worry about dinner, smokers, etc...
Around 10.00 pm is the perfect time for the group dance, some conga line, zorba dance, tequila dance, rasputin, (if requested also YMCA and lambada) will get them ready for the hot buffet and the Bouquet and Garter removal...

At this point their tolerance level is very high and we can do some crazy stuff... All i can say is that sometimes is very hard to hold my tears from laughing...

90% of my clients want a lot of games and interactivity. Along with dancing and a good tme.

Thank you anzyxx! Some really great ideas!

Reception traditions and activities vary. Much depends upon where one lives and where the B&G come from. Some guests may have traditions of their own.

We've seen this. Had a group of guests from another country do a dance that was a wedding tradition where they came from. They provided the CD. All I had to do was play it. I didn't understand a word of the lyrics but it was fascinating to watch.

Then there's the up-and-coming celebrity vocalist, usually a younger lady. She'll get some mic time to voiceover a tune.

The dollar or honeymoon dance doesn't seem to be popular here for some reason. When I lived in Virginia, it was part of every reception protocol. But we're closer to folks from NY and New Jersey, too. Wedding cultures are different. That may be why.

The garter and boquet seem to be losing steam as well. It used to be a main event. Now it seems to be more of a sideshow if the B&G want it at all. I used to do a pups' boquet and garter by giving 'em candy to throw. Not much interest in that anymore either.

Around here, one of the unspoken traditions seems to be ringing bells or tapping the glasses to get the B&G to kiss. We've seen this happen at a few weddings we've done. It's a guest thing and quite fun to watch. It can happen at any time. Someone will start and it goes 'round the room. Gets 'em smoochin' a lot. :)

The garter and boquet seem to be losing steam as well. It used to be a main event. Now it seems to be more of a sideshow if the B&G want it at all. I used to do a pups' boquet and garter by giving 'em candy to throw. Not much interest in that anymore either.

Agree witchu, Fred. I have had a number of consults this year where the couple poo-poo'd the garter and even the bouquet. Also had a number of them who did not want a grand entrance. Wondering if others are noticing the same.

--Will

Will:

I've been noticing the decline of the garter/bouquet for a while but nobody has nixed the grand entrance.

For those that don't want to do a garter an bouquet I recommend the Anniversary dance.

Not in Toronto. The grand entrance is a must as well as the g/b toss. I saw a lot of weddings here and and maybe 1 of 20 didn't have any tradition stuff.

Most people here want low key with no embarrassing stuff, they want a great MC who will facilitate the events, coordinate behind the scenes, and give direction to the individuals involved beginning in the planning sessions. I sell Tom Haibeck's book right off my site. http://www.weddingtoasts.com/

Fortunately, the clients who want this approach seem to be willing to pay for it.....or at least, pay more to be sure that they don't get the opposite.

Very little bouquet and garter the last couple of years, plenty of anniversary dances, which I try to do right after the cake, BTW, as it allows the staff to cut the cake and make it available as well as involving many of the older folks who were thinking of leaving after the cake cutting.

Grand Entrances carried off in varying degrees and with varying approaches. About 90% do introductions of the entire bridal party.

Rick

heres a little thing i do before the bride and groom get in the room i go around ( to the males only ) and hand out 10 to 15 keys telling them at a certain point during the day ill be up at the head table with the bride and groom when they hear you must return the key now men start coming from everywhere and give back the key to the bride now its the grooms turn where i say if anyone here has something that belongs to the groom you must return it now my wife comes out with a ball under her sweater which makes her look pregnant and she says to the groom Ive got something for you everyone dies in laughter

Before I respond to that idea, can you tell us who you are and what your company name is. Even your website would be nice.

well hello everyone I'm the new guy on the block my name is jack clark
i started DJing back in 1993 at a campgrounds for the summer and it took off from there my business name is RED HOT N WILD DJ SERVICE as for web site I'm still debating on that, type in red hot and wild and see were it will take you see what i mean i know this is 2008 but I'm lucky if i know how to turn the computer on let alone do a web site:sqlaugh: but i love what i do and every time out is a new adventure