Soooo I'm going to have professional dancers at my reception

SBmini

My fiance is Armenian and sometimes and some weddings they have professional dancers entertain guests. I've never been to a wedding with them, but my FI's cousin had them recently at his engagement party. The EP was WAY over the top- basically a wedding reception and while I really enjoyed the dancers, I thought they to were over the top. 

Well, I guess my fiance liked them.... so now my FMIL is surprising him with dancers at the reception. She told me today to ask me if it was OK. She's already hired them. They are six professional dancers who will do two traditional Armenian dances and then four standard dances (pop, swing, etc). She also thinks it will be a great way to show my family real Armenian culture. 

I was sort of at a loss when she told me. I never pictured having professional dancers at my wedding! But at the same time... if my fiance wants them, I don't want to ruin that for him. But I don't even know if he really wants them because I'm supposed to keep it a surprise. And besides... she's already hired them so I guess all this doesn't matter.

Anyways- I'm not looking for ways to get out of it or anything. I think it's just going to happen. I'm still just sort of shocked and needed to tell someone since I can't tell my fiance. His mom is all about doing what ever makes her children happy. She's handling a lot of the details and really just wants everything to be perfect regardless of cost. I don't think she is trying to go behind my back or anything... I think she legitimately wants to surprise my fiance.

pinkshorts27

Ugh. No offense, but I am not a huge fan of surprises at weddings, like at all. I don't know what I would do, because no one in my family or FI's family would do that. Hmmm. no advice I guess.

artbyallie

6 dances? That's an awful lot for people to sit through and watch. It'd be at least 20 minutes and maybe up to 30. Can they just do one traditional dance? People will want to get on the dance floor themselves, not sit and watch performances.

VarunaTT

I think the idea of the traditional Armenian dances is wonderful.  But 6 is really too much.  I don't think I'd be interested in seeing the traditional pop dances at all.  

How long did it last at the EP you were at?

mrsconn23

Yes, one or two 'featured' dances should be enough.  I mean, 6 dances at 5ish min a song (and a few breaks in between), you're talking 45 min-1 hour.  

SBmini

It was about half an hour at the EP we went to, they also did six dances. It was very entertaining but definitely over the top. As a note, the reception will run until 2 am, so it isn't as if we're pressed for time. 

Fran1985

If the point is to show armenian culture, why not talk to FMIL about just doing the traditional dances. I think that is a good middle ground

PirateBarbie

6 dances probably isn't unreasonable if they're performing during dinner (say 30-45 minutes max). you can choose to watch or ignore and talk with your table-mates while you eat. 

the other possibility is if they're interactive with the guests - will they be pulling up guests and dancing with them? our DJs also sang/danced (2 men, 2 women), and it was very interactive/a lot of fun. We ended up extending the reception by an hour because people were having such a good time.