In some cultures it is a tradition to have a money dance. I love the money dance, and it is culturally expected in Mr Butterscotch’s family. But we decided early on were not planning on doing a money dance. Personally I felt our guests had “spent” more than enough on us. Just having them at the wedding was really the best gift we could have asked for.
But we ended up having one, and I am so glad we did!
As we finished up our first dance, one of our groomsmen and his wife (who happens to be from the same culture as Mr Butterscotch) made an announcement that the money dance was next. At that point we were up for anything, so it sounded like fun!
Check out the money in my dress!
I started to run out of places to put the money, so I got my sister to hold it while I danced some more.
Whoa!!! One at a time please!
I loved having a money dance because of a few reasons:
1. I got to chat with some guests that I may not otherwise have gotten a chance to.
2. Mr B is totally shy so it was so funny seeing him dance with everyone.
3. We both laughed so hard because it was so unexpected.
4. Okay I cannot lie - the extra cash was nice to have!
So this is one of those things that I was originally opposed to but ended up doing, and was so happy we did.
Are there any traditions for your family or culture that you’re opposed to doing? Did you end up doing them or not doing them, and what was the outcome?
Oh, I’ve been meaning to post about my bouquet toss - thanks for reminding me! Just like you I had made the decision not to, and everyone was good with that, but then during the reception a (mainly one person) movement started to do one, and in the end I’m so glad we did! Everything just seems like so much more fun in the moment, and certainly no one can accuse you of being greedy for having a money dance since you didn’t even plan it! Win-win! 
My guy’s family had money dances at their weddings, but my family didn’t. I was totally cool with it (agreed…the cash is nice, but what a great opportunity to be a ham!). But nothing ever came of it. It turns out that some of his family was ready for a money dance and ended up pressing money into our hands throughout the night.
I didn’t want to do the garter/bouquet toss and I had my mom walk me down the aisle instead of a ‘dad’. I don’t know that there were any major cultural traditions that we felt obligated to observe though.
My family does the money dance. As much as I am looking forward to the money, I’m really looking forward the photos of the cash ON my dress (it is considered good luck to have the money attached to your dress instead of stuffed in a bag).
Also, I’m really looking foward to dancing with everyone I won’t usually dance with!
My guy is part Filipino, and (at least here) their money dance involves the other half of the pair “retrieving” the $ off the other one’s body, where ever the guests have tucked it…with their mouth. Ew. (The $ + mouth part…tho’ having your guy fishing for something in your cleavage is also not really something the grandparents need to see either.) So we did not have one, which the family knew. A few of them still came up and put $ in our clothes, tho’, during our first dance. I was a little sad b/c I wanted our first dance to be just us, but I got over it — they meant well.
I’m Japanese, so we did a “banzai” toast, which is fun b/c everyone really seems to love shouting “banzai!” I did not, however, fold any freakin’ cranes. (You’re s’posed to fold 100 +1, and it is supposed to be for good luck, plus teach you patience, humility, blah blah…yeah, no thanks!) A lot of people here do it and have them framed in a design (or do other interesting craftsy things w/ ‘em) but it just didn’t appeal to me.
I am not planning on doing the $ dance but my family wants me to. So, It’s still up in the air.
my guy thinks Im going to do the Polish Babushka dance (guests pay for a partial polka dance with the bride, then the guests get a “prize” of a shot at the end, then all the guests form a tight circle around the bride + the groom has to break the bride out of the circle. (”it’s polish tradition! you have to!”) I’m not even Polish, but since he’s part Polish, I told him he can do the dance instead & wear the “babushka”
a good percentage of weddings I’ve been to in the last 10 years have had money dances but we aren’t doing one. we’re also not doing the bouquet or garter toss — we’ll have about 3 single people total at our wedding. But I am wearing a garter anyway — it’s my something old and blue; it was my grandmother’s on her wedding day
What a joyful photo that is Mrs. Butterscotch! You’re so beautiful. I didn’t want the garter toss but it turned out to be a lot of fun. I wasn’t sure what would happen with the tea ceremony but it actually turned out to be really beautiful as well.
Mrs. Butterscotch, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 29, Advertising Sales Assistant
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, City Worker
Engagement Date: September 24, 2006
Wedding Date: August 11, 2007
Blogging Since: June 19, 2007
Venue: church ceremony and private club reception
About Me: I am marrying my high school sweetheart 11 years after high school ended! I am a self professed shoe fanatic with a closet full of shoes and only two feet. Planning a wedding has been my fun project since he surprised me with a proposal in Paris. We are spending our last few months preparing for our big day by wrapping up all the small things, buying a house and best of all preparing to live together for the first time.
I’m half Nigerian and we do the money dance too. Initially, I had planned on not doing it but my fiance’s family (who is Hispanic) does the money dance as well so we figured what the hell. It’s pretty cool actually.