Dollar Dance????????????

Question

Whats a dollar dance? Everyone keeps talking about it and im wondering if I need to do it for my wedding in 3 weeks.

Answer 1

I just posted this answer to another similar question,so I'm just copying/pasting same answer:

I don't know if there are actual "rules" but I know it's a tradition around this area (western PA). I've heard it's original to this area and other areas never heard of a "bridal dance" (curious to hear comments on this). Actually also heard it's a Polish/Slovak tradition? Not sure how accurate that is. Anyway......bride stands in middle of circle (usually made by chairs) and her bride's maids stand at entrance of circle. Usually maid/maitron of honor wears an apron to put the money paid to dance with the bride. Most people pay $1.00 for a dance with bride, but some put more money in. I've always seen it done this way: people "tie" the money (twist it up, etc) - the purpose behind this, so I've heard, is to keep the bride & groom busy untieing the money instead of, well, you know....consumating the marriage. (of course it's a joke).

Once you "pay" you advace to the bride and dance with her - usually just around in a circle, hugging her for just several seconds before the next person comes in. Groups sometimes enter together and dance in a circle around her holding hands (I've seen this done, too). After you leave from dancing with her, the groomsmen offer you either a piece of wedding cake (neatly wrapped), a cigar or a shot of wiskey.

If the bride gets tired (these bridal dances can sometimes go on for long periods of time), she signals to her brides maids and they circle around her, dancing, while she takes a drink of water and catches her breath.

You can go through the line & dance with her as many times as you'd like, until the groom comes. ((Usually the bride's mother and father are the last to dance with her before the groom comes.))

When the groom comes, usually the bridal party forms a strong circle around the bride that he has to "break" through in order to get to his bride. Once he gets to his bride he sweeps her off her feet and runs out of the reception hall with her. On their way out, someone is supposed to take her shoes off of her feet. Traditionally, they shoes are later passed around and people put money in them -- supposedly for the couple's first child.

When the bride & groom exit the reception, usually they jump in their car or limo, etc. and leave for the honeymoon. MORE OFTEN NOW, though, the bride & groom are seen returning back to the reception to continue celebrating with their guests.

I think I covered all that I know on this subject. LOL I'm a "hunkey" (Slovak & Polish) and this is a VERY strong tradition at weddings here in western PA.

OH, and often, the guests, as they are waiting in line to dance with the bride, shake handkerchiefs in the air (or napkins). There IS a traditional bridal dance song here (not sure of other places), but I do not know it's name. Not sure what the shaking/waving of handkerchiefs is supposed to signify.

OK.....now I'm REALLY done!! lol

3 minutes ago - Edit - Delete

Source(s):

Authentic "hunkey" who's been to many "hunkey" weddings (including being the bride!).

Answer 2

I think it's where the dj tells everyone there is a dollar dance going on for the bride..They come up to you and stick a dollar bill on you with a pin or tape, your choice and everyone takes turn dancing with you at the wedding and eventualy your dress should be filled with dollar bills...its kinda like a mexican tradition

Answer 3

Good lord, it's pg.

Answer 4

This link explains in detail.

http://www.billt.com/dollardance.htm

Answer 5

It is tacky and if you have to ask and your not Italian then you shouldn't do it.It amazes me how some people try to adopt every tratition there is .

Answer 6

A dollar dance is where everyone of the guests have a chance to dance with the bride and groom.

Slower music is usually the best choice, more people will participate.  

Whether or not you do this will depend on you , your fiance', and your guests.

We DJ'd a wedding recently, and I did not think it would go over good, many people think it is greedy, or they are too awkward to get up in front of a crowd.

However, it did give everyone a chance to have a one on one with the newlyweds.  No one was dancing anyway, there were too many kids there.  So, in this instance the adults loved it.

Also, keep in mind that this will take time away from party music.  So, basically it is up to you, and the type of wedding you are having.

Answer 7

Everyone who dances with you gives you a dollar.

Answer 8

a dollar dance is a tradition in many cultures (not just hispanic) and could be local tradition in some areas.  It's origin in many areas was to help the new couple out since years ago couples married at a much younger age. The guest would hand a dollar to a bridal attendant (I never heard of pinning it on the dress).  The guest would be given a piece of cake or a shot after the dance.  

Since many couples are now older than they were years ago, the tradition is starting to go away because couples are more financially set to begin their lives together and, in fact, many have already been living together before their wedding.  

The dollar dance has nothing to do with a stripper-as one answer alluded to in his/her response.

Answer 9

it's up to you.

the bride and groom dance with anyone who wants to... all the other people get in line to dance with them. They pay $1 (usually the maid of honor and best man collect the money). The cash can be given to charity, or I guess to the bride/groom, but that sounds a little greedy.

Answer 10

It is a dance where guys pay the bride a dollar to dance with her.  They form a line and you only dance a minute or so with each so that you can get through the line.  Sometimes it takes a few songs to finish.

Answer 11

A dollar dance is a dance during which guests get to dance with the bride or groom for a short time.  In order to dance with the bride or groom, they pin a dollar on the bride or groom's clothes.  After a short time, another guest is free to cut in, pin on some many, and dance for a while.  Many people see it as a nice way for the bride and groom to interact with each guest and as a nice way for the guests to give the bride and groom some spending money.

I personally find dollar dances rather tacky, and I didn't have one at my wedding.  I've seen them at slightly fewer than half the weddings I've been to.  In my opinion, the guests are already bringing gifts to the bride and groom (and are often bringing monetary gifts as well).  I would feel awkward asking for more money from my guests.

You certainly don't have to do the dollar dance if you don't want to.  Since you've said "everyone keeps talking about it," though, it would probably be perfectly acceptable among your social group and would not be viewed as tacky at all.

Answer 12

don't do it, it is so tacky! It's asking for money! People who want to give you gifts will give them to you!

Answer 13

I personally don't like the dollar dance.  It isn't really polite to ask for money, and I that's all the dollar dance is.

The dollar dance is a special song (or a few songs) where the bride and groom will dance with anyone who gives them a dollar.  Usually guests will line up and pay a dollar to the best man to dance with the groom or pay a dollar to the maid of honor to dance with the bride.  They are only allowed to dance for a set amount of time before they are pushed away, so the bride and groom can dance with someone else.  Sometimes there is a bit of a competition, if someone decides to give more dollars to dance longer.  Supposedly this money is supposed to help fund the couple's honeymoon.

Lame, huh?  Why don't guests just ask to have a (free!) dance with the bride or groom?

Answer 14

No i would not,I believe girls do this at strip clubs.

Answer 15

I didn't really want to have one, but my husband did, and our family all claimed they brought money for it, so I agreed at the last minute. Our best man and MOH stood on the dance floor with baskets and people would put the money in there for their turn to dance with us. It was actually kinda fun and we made around $400 from it since pretty much everyone gave us $10s or $20s. That was some nice extra spending money for our honeymoon!