Weddingbee Blog

I’m not having a dollar dance; it isn’t part of the culture of my family or the grooms family. However, it absolutely makes sense that you’re doing one since it is part of your families’ traditions (your specific families… I think that matters less than various aspects of your ethnic heritage in stuff like this) and you’re okay with it.

On the flip side, I have objections to shark’s fin soup, so I’m not having it at the wedding day reception my fiance and I are hosting and funding, but my mom insisted on having it at the post honeymoon reception she’s hosting, since she believes it’s essential to this kind of celebration. Couldn’t persuade her otherwise, so oh well.

Thanks for the post, Miss Kiwi!
I never would have guessed it to be a Hispanic tradition. I grew up in central Pennsylvania where it is a Polish tradition (although I have a bit of Polish in me, I will not be doing one — we are sticking with just Jewish traditions for our wedding). I think it’s very interesting that you will be pinning the dollars to your clothes — going back to the Polish roots, a bridesmaid always wears a traditional, old-fashioned apron with pockets, and stashes away the dollar bills in the pockets.
Like I said in my previous comment, the wedding I was just at was able to pull off the dollar dance without looking remotely greedy, so as long as your bridal party doesn’t harass guests, I am sure it is a tradition that everyone will enjoy! Plus, who doesn’t like those extra dollar bills to buy some last minute snacks at the airport??

I think with any of the traditional things (whether or not they make you feel ooky), it’s totally your personal call whether to do it or not, but it might be in your best interest to warn your friends who may not share your background that it’s going to happen and why. I’ve been to two weddings where all the cultural minutiae were spelled out in the program, so some traditional thing would happen, and half the guests would go flipping through the program to see what the heck it was, where it came from, and what it meant. You can certainly do that here: you say look, we’re going to do a dollar dance, not because we’re trying to bilk you for more than you’ve already put out, but because we’re paying homage to this aspect of our heritage. You could also send the collected funds to a charity, making that clear ahead of time, and if you’ve got some rich uncle or something, badger him into matching funds. Anyone who thought the dance was tacky would certainly have to grant you that you made the best of it.

I’m Cuban-American and I’ve seen the money dance at several family weddings, I’ve been to family weddings where the money dance is left out and I’ve been to weddings, where couples who aren’t Hispanic, do the money dance. I think that it’s a tradition that crosses many cultures. If it’s something that you’re willing to do for Mami, than go for it. BTW - I think it’s totally ok to only choose the traditions that you’re ok with. I’m not doing the money dance, but I’d like to incorporate the mantilla ceremony.

It’s funny you said that the internet research doesn’t seam to support the fact it’s tradition. I am Polish and my Fiance is Filipino and since I had been on the fence about doing the doallr dance i did some research too. I found that both cultures seem to say it’s tradition. Here’s a link about how it ties to Hispanic culture http://www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/10_wedding_traditions.htm

I never understood why some people consider the dollar dance to be greedy. Many of these same people have gift registries with items that cost MUCH more than $1! Seems hypocritical to me…

These days, a dollar can’t even buy you half a latte or a scoop of ice cream from a parlor. What’s the big deal?!

I think the dollar dance sounds like fun! And the fact that it’s part of your tradition just makes it even more significant. Have fun with it!

you can always pass out dollars for everyone if you feel uncomfortable asking people for money.

the money dance is also often done in korean weddings as well, but people give up to several hundred dollars! my friend made thousands!

i really have no problem with the money dance - it’s a tradition in many families and cultures and often times it ends up being a lot of fun.

Tara, I LOVE that idea!

Hi!

I’m having a “Money Dance” at our wedding in September. I’m of Filipino descent and born in Canada. My fiancé is Czech but came here as a child.

Filipino weddings have adopted the “Money Dance” from the Hispanics and it’s actually expected at Filipino weddings.

The Czech tradition has the bride carrying a small blanket like a baby. The guests come up to her and put money in the small basket as a symbol of supporting the start of the couple’s new family.

I’ve been to over 125 weddings (I perform at weddings) over the years. The most successful money dance in terms of not boring your guests to tears as well as in terms of $ is to:
1) Not forget to bring the straight pins with plastic ball tips.
2) Have the MC introduce the money dance with an explanation of the tradition as to not offend those who don’t know about the tradition.
3) Most importantly, have people dance around the bride and groom doing the Money Dance. This way, guests aren’t just sitting around watching the lineup of guests wanting to dance with the bride or groom.
This also works in collecting more money because guests will be more inclined to dance with the bride or groom if more people are on the dance floor - PLUS the Money Dance can go on for more songs as it’s not slowing down the party.

I’m african-american and we are having a money dance. We call it spraying. We have it at all african celebrations. I have no problem with it. We don’t force people to participate. Those that want to do.