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Dry Wedding

chuttengachuttenga
in Alaska
I am trying to come up with some good ideas for a dry wedding. We still plan on having dancing, because I love to dance, but we would like to maybe have some cute games or something included, without making the wedding too casual. We want to make the evening something that all the guests will remember, instead of thinking that is was really boring because there was no alcohol involved.

Any ideas?

And also has anyone had or been to a wedding where they thought there shouldnt have been dancing because it was dry? Did anyone actually dance or did everyone leave right after they left? Should we do an earlier wedding because it is going to be dry? I still want to include the first dance, the father-daughter dance, and so on, so should be just include those dances and then not have any fast dancing? Please help!  
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Re: Dry Wedding

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    samantha.isgphotographysamantha.isgphotography
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I have been to several dry weddings and they varied. I think it depends on your crowd a lot. Are your friends/family big into drinking and partying? If so then they will probably not enjoy it but that isn't necessarily a loss. You can plan to have a smaller more intimate reception dinner maybe. If you will have a full meal then people will sit down, eat, and have a nice time. If you are only having apps then I would suggest moving it up a bit earlier. Sad but true some people do leave earlier when it is a dry reception......but would you want them to stay just so they can drink on your dime. :) I think people who want to stay and celebrate with you will certainly dance and I have been to several dry weddings where people danced like crazy. I would be honest to yourself about your crowd. Are you having a dry wedding because you just don't enjoy drinking and have friends that are the same? Or are you having a dry wedding because your family drinks too much and you want to make them behave. LOL. If it is the later then I would just plan on them being party poopers with dancing etc. and maybe have an earlier wedding with a band? A good dj helps a LOT in getting people going. ;) But honestly I went to a wedding where the family were heavy drinkers and they went for a dry wedding to make them all behave and it was not fun. The family was ticked they couldn't drink and wouldn't have had a good time no matter what. The bride and groom tried to have other things, some people danced, but overall I think they wasted their money trying to please a few. KWIM? But if your friends and family don't have issues and you are just choosing to be dry for personal reasons I would just plan as normal. People will stay to see you cut the cake, dance, and celebrate and not worry about if they can drink. Just my humble opinion of course.
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    lrowe70lrowe70
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I can't imagine having a dry reception, but do like your idea to have games and stuff. My fiance's friends and family doen't drink, so I too would be interested in ideas that don't involve alcohol and dancing.
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    snowangelsarahsnowangelsarah
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I think doing your reception a bit earlier is a good idea. I've been to a couple weddings that were dry and it was really hard for me to get Peter out on the dance floor. Others have fewer reservations about that so it does really depend on your guests.
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    lomoladylomolady
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I have been to dry weddings that were more fun then wet ones. Make sure to have a good DJ to keep people moving.
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    srussesrusse member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We are having a dry wedding also, and planning on having dancing, and it will be an evening wedding.  I definitely think it can still be a great time we aren't planning any games but are depending lots on the DJ to keep things moving.  I have been to weddings before where they played variations of bingo, using questions about the bride and groom, incorporating fun pictures of each ones lives and childhoods to through in some laughs. 
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    sethandmaiasethandmaia member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    You need a great DJ/MC -- someone who will engage with your guests and get them up and dancing. At a lot of the East Coast weddings and bar mitzvahs I've been to, the DJ comes with dancers who get people out on the floor, lead dances/games, etc. I don't know if anyone here does that, but it really helps to loosen people up and get them to relax and have fun.
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    Ken&CassKen&Cass member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I agree that having a good DJ is important for you, but there are also other options for entertainment aside from just putting all the responsibility on your DJ.
    You could have food stations where the food is cooked/prepared in front of the guests. You could have stations where people build their own stuff. You could also do something like a photo booth or hire dancers to put on a show. You could also have dancers teach your guests a dance or something.
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    lalalinnylalalinny
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My thoughts are this: If you're having a dry wedding, there are just going to be some people who are going to leave early. Some people just can't "party" without getting liquored up.

    Keep it interesting with great food and non-alc drinks. I've seen a "Ice Tea Bar" where there are several types of teas (black, green, red, herbal infusions) with lots of "dressings" for the teas- lemon, lime, raspberries, strawberries, flavored syrup, honey, agave nectar, anything you could think of. Jalapenoss even! Crazy. The food at that reception were served the same way- there was a baked potato bar and a hot sandwhich bar.

    As for games, they are really going to be hit or miss, in my opinion. Not everyone likes to participate in things like that, but some do. Make sure there are cool prizes to be won by guests. Cool slideshow, great dj, lights, and you should have a decent party.

    Good Luck!
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