We Can Dance If We Want To…

We Can Dance If We Want To…

January 8th, 2008 @ 10:53 am by Mrs. Penguin

…but we don’t.

I wouldn’t consider myself anti-dancing. I love to shake my booty (mind you, Elaine from Seinfeld style, but whatever. I like to throw in a little “raising the roof” for variety. It’s not pretty, but it’s pretty awesome.)

Mr. Penguin, on the other hand, has never been known to dance. I’ll get him out on the dance floor and pretty much dance around him (Elaine thumbs, raising roof, etc) while he does an incredibly accurate impression of a Maypole.

So, one big decision that we’re deciding on right now is whether to have a dance floor or not.

I gave in to most of the “traditional” for my wedding. Sit down dinner when I’d prefer heavy passed appetizers, white dress, white linens, bridal party, the whole bit. I was initially afraid that that a “non traditional” wedding with no dinner, lots of booze, and a “casual cocktail party” atmosphere would somehow “cheat” our out of town guests out of the whole “wedding experience.” But the closer the wedding gets, the more I feel like straying from the traditional.

There are several good reasons to, and not to, have a dance floor. Of course, if you’re inclined to dancing, why wouldn’t you have a dance floor? But I can’t find a the need for a dance floor for our wedding if:

1) One half of the the couple is completely opposed to dancing
2) Renting a dance floor costs money and introduces one more vendor into the mix
3) Our DJ is a friend, and my eliminating dancing, it eases the stress of finding a “right balance of fast and slow songs” and allows him to play all songs we love, rather than songs that get the crowd going.

Now, the only problem posed is how to fill the central space that the dance floor typically occupies. While a “sitting lounge” would be pretty nice, it would probably only allow about 10 people to comfortably “lounge” in. I’d still like to keep the space open for minglers, and it also gives us a place to have our first dance and to cut our cake. I suppose I could leave it bare, but that’s boring, right?

What would you do to fill an empty space that was intended for a dance floor?

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10 Responses to “We Can Dance If We Want To…”

Member

quirkyparsnip (message) 202 posts, Helper bee

You could put your cake table there and make it a central piece of the wedding. I always hate how cakes are shoved off into a corner. Or you could just throw in some cocktail type tables and put maybe pictures of you two or your parents weddings or something on display on them. Shoot I don’t know, that is a tough one.

1/8/08 @ 11:38 am (reply)

Member

jilian (message) 372 posts, Helper bee

I vote for cocktail tables - great for mingling and having a place to set your drink - without limiting the number of ’seats’.

You could set it up so it’s still somewhat open - but not gaping That way if a song does come on that inspires some to shake their booty - they could do so. Who needs a formal dance floor for some spontaneous shaking?

You could also adjust the table set up so that space isn’t quite as large as it would be for a dance floor???

1/8/08 @ 11:48 am (reply)

Guest

latewinterb2b

Cake table idea is a great one and I second it. You could put some kind of “bar” there, if you’re having one–lots of brides have candy bars or other “pick your own treat” type stations. Or you could put a photo booth there and lots of costume-y hats for folks to take their own goofy photos. Hmmm. Or…you could make that a kids’ area. If there are kids coming, they’ll want a place to play. Good luck!

1/8/08 @ 11:50 am (reply)

Member

rebecca (message) 1,316 posts, Bumble bee

i know you’re trying to keep costs down, but renting furniture (couches, tables, etc.) would create the lounge-look you’re going for! it’ll create some space for sitting, but if people want to dance they def can around the sofas and things (like they would at a bar). no idea how much it costs though…

1/8/08 @ 12:04 pm (reply)

Member

erika426 (message) 172 posts, Blushing bee

I think putting cocktail tables there is a good idea but also just wanted to note that I think people are going to dance anyway….I just know my friends and family and even if they aren’t amazing dancers (don’t tell them I said that) they all dance at weddings…

1/8/08 @ 1:22 pm (reply)

Guest

Joy

I think it all depends how your area is set up. We didnt want to dance either… So I decided to use bistro tables instead of traditional tables and chairs this gave our guests the ability to mingle better. It also allowed for us to see more of our guests and talk to them more etc.

It also takes away the awkwardness of who has to sit by who etc… We had a Tea Reception not a sit down dinner…

I did see a very cool seating area on a photographers website. They had soft benches for people to lounge on… unfortunately i found them a few weeks to late for our wedding.

1/8/08 @ 2:26 pm (reply)

Member

JCM9608 (message) 545 posts, Busy bee

Agree on the cake table. LOL at Elaine and Seinfeld. Love that show! Greatest show about nothing.

1/8/08 @ 3:17 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Corn (message) 1,010 posts, Bumble bee

Bear with me for a few quick questions…will your guests be confused if there is a DJ and no dance floor? What will people do for entertainment once dinner is over or are they all supposed to leave?

Hope that helps…I wouldn’t want your wedding to get cut short because people leave once dinner is over

1/8/08 @ 7:01 pm (reply)

Member

stargazerlily (message) 946 posts, Busy bee

Good questions Mrs Corn! If you’re confused, then they’ll probably be confused. So whatever we do, we’ll have to find other forms of entertainment… (Like Mrs. Gummibear did boardgames/Nintendo) we are thinking of doing wine tasting and a port/cigar bar, but we’d definitely have to find some entertainment for the non/drinkers and smokers….all great things that we’ll have to work on…hmm…

And ladies, thanks for all the great ideas! putting up cocktail tables would be a cheap and easy thing to do, and i JUST LOVE LOVE LOVE lounges so I’ll have to look into the cost effectiveness of it. Perhaps we’ll have a scaled down “dance area” without laying down specific “dance floor tiles” and maybe we’ll be able to incorporate cocktail tables surrounding, or off to the side, of it…I dont know though! Any more ideas are certainly welcome!

1/8/08 @ 7:59 pm (reply)

10.

Member

Maegan (message) 272 posts, Helper bee

We are not having a dance floor or DJ either, no dancing at all. To fill the vacant space we are bringing in comfy couches and a couple coffee tables for mingling. It helps that there is a fireplace right there (by the would be dance floor) so it will be a very cozy environment for mingling, and cake and coffee time.

1/8/08 @ 9:04 pm (reply)