No Dancing

SeptemberLadie

Hi guys,

So the venue we picked for both the ceremony & reception is a Bible College, that does not allow dancing. Is there anything else we could do to substitute dancing or is just mingling fine? 

Summer2011Bride

Just mingling is fine. I wouldn't force any games or group activities; people like to just socialize with others at a wedding. If music is allowed, you might have some background music playing.

QueerFemme

I think mingling is fine.  Just a head's up though, most of the receptions I have been to that don't have dancing are usually over in an hour if there isn't a full meal and less than 2 hours either way.
 
Either way, I would see if they will allow you to play some background music, so the room doesn't seem so silent with just the clinking of silverware, etc.

DramaGeek

Just mingling is fine.  I'm a fan of having activities available but not forced/organized activities, so if there were trivia cards on the tables or something that could be fun.

martind1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_no-dancing-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:7715f7a8-a200-4f0b-a8e1-48c30f5f6649Post:061cb6cb-0d49-4307-adaa-e0e63e831a96">Re: No Dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]Just mingling is fine.  I'm a fan of having activities available but not forced/organized activities, so if there were trivia cards on the tables or something that could be fun.
Posted by DramaGeek[/QUOTE]

<div>Just a word of advice, if you play dance music, people will dance. So be sure ot avoid that!</div><div>
</div><div>It's good to have background music, though not too loud so people have to shout, so that there is something to fill the lulls in conversation.</div><div>
</div><div>I love the idea about some trivia cards, or other fun conversation starters. A fun game you could play is to give each guest a "Scavanger hunt" card with clues about other guests at the wedding and people are supposed to meet people to find out the answers. Maybe first complete card wins a little prize or something. Just an idea to promot people talking to each other!</div>

Summer2011Bride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_no-dancing-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:7715f7a8-a200-4f0b-a8e1-48c30f5f6649Post:62e010e2-4901-46a4-a1e4-4ffc3ba3bade">Re: No Dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: No Dancing : Just a word of advice, if you play dance music, people will dance. So be sure ot avoid that! It's good to have background music, though not too loud so people have to shout, so that there is something to fill the lulls in conversation. I love the idea about some trivia cards, or other fun conversation starters.<strong> A fun game you could play is to give each guest a "Scavanger hunt" card with clues about other guests at the wedding and people are supposed to meet people to find out the answers. Maybe first complete card wins a little prize or something. Just an idea to promot people talking to each other!</strong>
Posted by martind1[/QUOTE]

This screams work team-building activity to me, not wedding. Adults don't NEED games to keep themselves occupied. Like Drama said, having them available is different than forcing it on them. If everyone was given a card and encouraged to go around and meet people, and I had guests coming up to me, I would feel obligated to participate, which I would hate and leave. People can talk to others just fine without a team-building activity.

martind1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_no-dancing-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:7715f7a8-a200-4f0b-a8e1-48c30f5f6649Post:34df79c3-6131-47c5-96a5-22dd1b512a3a">Re: No Dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: No Dancing : This screams work team-building activity to me, not wedding. Adults don't NEED games to keep themselves occupied. Like Drama said, having them available is different than forcing it on them. If everyone was given a card and encouraged to go around and meet people, and I had guests coming up to me, I would feel obligated to participate, which I would hate and leave. People can talk to others just fine without a team-building activity.
Posted by Summer2011Bride[/QUOTE]

<div>Sorry, but I've seen your other posts on here and find you to be quite arrogant and often very rude, so I do not value your opinion very highly. I'm sorry you didn't like my suggestion but the OP was in fact ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS for other activites. I'm sorry that you didn't like my suggest and that is fine. I don't think your condescending tone is very helpful on these boards and I know your negativity is not. Again I was responding to the OP question, not demanding that they follow some sort of rules or guidelines.</div><div>
</div><div>Nowhere did I imply that people would have these FORCED on them. They would simply be available at the tables if they so choosed. Heck, you could even provide the answers on the card as well, thus negating the need to talk to actual people.</div><div>
</div><div>Crossword style about the couple was what one couple did at a wedding I attended it was a fun activity while we had down time between courses at the meal and sparked some good conversation around the table.</div><div>
</div><div>Please remember that not everyone is such a social butterfly as you imply yourself to be. Some people appreciate these types of conversation starters to help them break the ice. I know I would.</div>

jesslynn1012

I personally LOVE dancing at weddings, but if it is not allowed at the venue I think just mingling would be fine.  I would stick around longer if there were activities, though.  I actually saw this cute thing on pinterest with a bride and groom cornhole set (bean bag toss).  I don't know if people do that indoors though (but I don't see why you couldn't).  

Summer2011Bride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_no-dancing-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:7715f7a8-a200-4f0b-a8e1-48c30f5f6649Post:54bf99cf-e830-40a3-8e9a-3fd4e3ff85d5">Re: No Dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to  Re: No Dancing : Sorry, but I've seen your other posts on here and find you to be quite arrogant and often very rude, so I do not value your opinion very highly. I'm sorry you didn't like my suggestion but the OP was in fact ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS for other activites. I'm sorry that you didn't like my suggest and that is fine. I don't think your condescending tone is very helpful on these boards and I know your negativity is not. Again I was responding to the OP question, not demanding that they follow some sort of rules or guidelines. Nowhere did I imply that people would have these FORCED on them. They would simply be available at the tables if they so choosed. Heck, you could even provide the answers on the card as well, thus negating the need to talk to actual people. Crossword style about the couple was what one couple did at a wedding I attended it was a fun activity while we had down time between courses at the meal and sparked some good conversation around the table. Please remember that not everyone is such a social butterfly as you imply yourself to be. Some people appreciate these types of conversation starters to help them break the ice. I know I would.
Posted by martind1[/QUOTE]

You gave her your opinion on what to do, I gave my opinion on that suggestion. It's a free country, a free board, and we may post however we want. I have also seen your posts on these boards and you routinely suggest that posters break etiquette rules, disregard their guests' feelings or comfort, and give bad advice. So I also don't take much stock in anything you suggest. I guess we're even then in that regard. Regardless, you can't tell me (or anyone) how or what to post on here, so if you get this riled over a difference in opinion, perhaps these boards aren't for you.

I'm still unsure why you feel people at weddings need to go out and talk to a bunch of people they don't know. At weddings, I mingle amongst my friends and family members and I'm fine with chatting with somebody I don't know, but why is that even necessary? THAT is my point on what you suggested. You ARE putting people in an awkward spot if other guests come up to them with these cards wanting to talk about whatever is on the cards and the guest in question chose to not participate. Because your suggestion involves going up to other people, you are sort of requiring others to participate, which is different than just having a bags set or crossword puzzles lying around that you can do on your own or not.

ETA: Annnnd now you've been outed as trolling the boards to rile people up by purposely giving advice opposite to the majority of posters. Seeing as how in this thread <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_80-seats-for-150-guests-is-it-ok-not-to-have-seating-for-everyone">(LINK)</a> you said it would be absolutely awful to not have food for everyone, whereas in this thread <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_reception-to-eat-or-not-to-eat">(LINK)</a> you had a fit going on and on about how no one HAS to provide food. You weren't very careful in your trolling, since it happened right on the same board.

Now I definitely do not take any stock in anything you say, nor should anyone else. Have you had your fun yet?

LiLe422

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_no-dancing-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:7715f7a8-a200-4f0b-a8e1-48c30f5f6649Post:62e010e2-4901-46a4-a1e4-4ffc3ba3bade">Re: No Dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: No Dancing : <strong>Just a word of advice, if you play dance music, people will dance.</strong> So be sure ot avoid that! It's good to have background music, though not too loud so people have to shout, so that there is something to fill the lulls in conversation. I love the idea about some trivia cards, or other fun conversation starters. A fun game you could play is to give each guest a "Scavanger hunt" card with clues about other guests at the wedding and people are supposed to meet people to find out the answers. Maybe first complete card wins a little prize or something. Just an idea to promot people talking to each other!
Posted by martind1[/QUOTE]

This is exactly what I was thinking.  So if your venue does allow music, keep it very low.

DramaGeek

You could stick to a classical or instrumnetal play list - it will be great background music but not encourage dancing.

ETA - and ditto Summer on the scavenger hunt.  That would have me crawling under the table.  It's one thing to have silly stuff on the table that can be done, it's another to have something that forces people to get up and interact with others at other tables.

ariddle22

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_no-dancing-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:7715f7a8-a200-4f0b-a8e1-48c30f5f6649Post:83d19439-a0f9-4d9d-9209-f1125453b7b1">Re: No Dancing</a>:
[QUOTE]You could stick to a classical or instrumnetal play list - it will be great background music but not encourage dancing. ETA - and ditto Summer on the scavenger hunt.  That would have me crawling under the table.  It's one thing to have silly stuff on the table that can be done, it's another to have something that forces people to get up and interact with others at other tables.
Posted by DramaGeek[/QUOTE]

Agreed.  I would be annoyed.