Home wedding - no dancing

BetsyMore

I'm having a medium-small wedding (~65 guests) at my mother's house. She has a lovely backyard, but it slopes, and there is thus nowhere to set up a dance floor.  *I* don't care; neither I nor my fiance nor our parents really like to dance. I actually think having dancing at the wedding would be stressful for all of us!    The wedding is in the evening, with a finger food/chef station cocktail reception.  I'd pictured everyone mingling, eating and drinking just like they would at any other cocktail party.  But I'm worried that guests will be disappointed or bored that there isn't dancing. What do you all think? Would you be disappointed?  Any ideas for making it festive without dancing?  Thanks!!

Britt1406

Personally, I don't care about dancing, but when alcohol is involved, I do dance. If people really want to dance, they're likely to find somewhere, you don't have to have a dance floor. I wouldn't worry about it.

tenofcups4me

In that kind of set up with that number of people, I wouldn't expect dancing. I will dance when it's available, but definitely won't miss it when it's not. I don't think you have to add anything to make it more entertaining -- people will eat and drink and talk and have fun just as it is.

BetsyMore

Cool, thanks guys!  I am trying to stop looking for things to worry about.  I'll be glad to tick this one off the list.

Lisa8888

If the yard slopes, how will tables and chairs be on the slope?

Most guests do expect dancing at a wedding. I would think the reception will not last that long without dancing and just sitting out in your mother's back yard. I also question just serving finger food.

aerinpegadrak

Just remember that a party with no dancing is likely to be shorter, 2-3 hours instead of 4-5.

tenofcups4me

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_home-wedding-dancing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:1bbed1e3-31b5-440e-a3a1-5c03bd1806a0Post:c92cd57f-c856-480e-b3e9-3375e3448f7a">Re: Home wedding - no dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]Just remember that a party with no dancing is likely to be shorter, 2-3 hours instead of 4-5.
Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

I think that's true when you're at an off-site venue like a ballroom or restaurant. I wouldn't expect that to be the case for a wedding at home -- it would be like any other party at a home, and in my experience they last far longer than 3 hours.