No Dancing at a Wedding Reception?

[kadevha]

First, I originally posted in a panic about the awol caterer. Thank you guys for all of the helpful suggestions! We actually found a caterer! I sent out about 10 inquiries to various local vendors. Of the e-mails I sent, I got a few bites. We almost went with one caterer but were uncomfortable with the fact that the kitchen is not public

Comments

[calmcollapse]

I've never been to a reception without dancing. But my parents didn't have dancing at their wedding back in the 80s. They aren't dancing people, and almost all of their guests were older who liked to sit and talk. Every person that I've ever heard talk about their wedding said how nice it was to just relax for a nice dinner and they could actually hear the people at their table talking.

Why is your FH so bent on the reception being 1.5 hours? You're right, it'll likely go over that amount of time. Personally, I've never been to one shorter than three hours.

[hallwayjulie]

First, I've been to tons of weddings without dancing. No big deal AT ALL. You know your crowd. Music playing and some good space for mingling is all you really need. The only one I've been to where it was odd was where we had a seated dinner and the entire space was very closely packed tables so no one could really move around to mingle or catch up with others and we weren't really sure what to do when we were done eating.

Second, re. the 1.5 reception - where did this number come from and why is your fiance so fixated on it? In my mind, 90 minutes is absolutely not enough time to eat, drink, catch up with relatives, and celebrate the couple. I've spent twice that long in line at the DMV.

[beautifulriot]

this!

[givemethechild]

I've only been to one wedding that actually "made an effort to have dancing." All the others, mine included, managed to keep people entertained otherwise. Don't worry about it. There's no law that says you have to have dancing. If someone tries to make you feel guilty because you aren't going to, ignore them. If someone is shallow enough to think less of you for not having dancing, that's their problem, not yours. It's your wedding.

[nightangel422]

an hour and a half? is there a reason for this small amount of time?? ive never been to a reception that didnt go waaaay over that. I mean some people wont have seen each other in Forever, and prolly wont again for a really long time, and they make good points, i mean, the food, drinks, offering congratulations to the couple and then mingling? and if you're doing like the bouquet toss, stuff like that....just saying. if i went to a reception that short, i think i would feel rushed.

[amme5832]

I've been to three weddings, and two of them were no dancing

[resend_end]

Just curious, what were the reasons that they all said no to board games? My FH and I are planning on having games available at our reception, also with limited dancing (although we'll probably have a first dance, father/bride and mother/groom dance), but nobody in our crowd are huge dancers.

If people are going to object to games I want to know what in advance!

[amme5832]

They felt it wasn't classy enough for a wedding, and was the inappropriate venue for board games.

My side is predominantly family (25-ish - these are the people saying no to board games) with some friends (14 - they would play), and my fiance's side is family (4 people), friends (that don't care about board games) and coworkers (older, really don't care about board games).

I was outnumbered by our numbers...

So then I suggested putting board games in the parlour, but that was vetoed as well.

[resend_end]

Ahh, I see. Party poopers! I hope no one feels that way about our board games! We haven't really told many people what we've been planning on, since we don't even have a venue or ceremony location yet, or a date.... heh.

FH's family are big gamers, so I'm hoping it will go over well for us.