Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?

Beachy730

I personally think both are tacky, but like I said I get that it's a regional thing, and sometimes based on your nationality too.  H's family is Polish and assumed we would do a dollar dance and I said hell no.  But I get it that people expect it.

I don't see anyway though that a garter auction isn't tacky though.  With the dollar dance I at least get it that people are paying to dance with you and can give any amount they want.  But they idea of auctioning off a garter is just super tacky to me.  It seems like you might as well auction off everything you have no use for after your wedding then, like centerpieces, cake topper, etc. 

Mrs.B6302007

If you dance on the bar, you usually leave your bra hanging on the bar when you leave.

I did do the dancing but I came home with my bra.  I was OOT...kinda needed the bra.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

The garter auction is really dumb - basically instead of one person actually paying for whatever the garter "goes for," people just keep adding money to a pot, usually ones or fives.  The last person to throw in wins.  And of course participation isn't mandatory, but like I said earlier - people up here love them.  We got close to five hundred bucks for my garter (still makes me cringe). 

I've actually been to a reception where a guy threw a hundred bucks into the pot.  That's just fucking stupid, though.  I can see tossing a dollar or two in the hat for fun, but never more than that.

squirrly

I hate the idea of closing the dance floor almost as much as the whole money aspect of both of these. 

I didn't even have a garter, though, and I didn't toss my bouquet.  Oops. 

crfische

Most garter auctions I've seen is really just an excuse for the fathers to give money to the bride and groom. Almost every time, the father of the bride wins.

Garter raffles are common, too. Everyone buys a ticket for a dollar (but everyone gives more than a dollar or buy strings and strings of tickets) and then a winner is chosen.

A lot of people I know have had their garters sent back to them on their one year anniversary. I KNOW ITS WEIRD, OK? I KNOW.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:7a0700b7-3eee-4c0f-aafa-7c3996666a4f">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I hate the idea of closing the dance floor</strong> almost as much as the whole money aspect of both of these.  I didn't even have a garter, though, and I didn't toss my bouquet.  Oops. 
Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]


Yeah, me too.  At least with the dollar dance though, there's activity going on.  Mine lasted maybe 20 minutes, probably a little less.  The garter auction didn't take as long, but they make the bride sit in a chair in the middle of the dance floor - alone.  :(  So I got to sit there while one of our groomsmen ran around collecting the money, everyone staring at me.  Ugh even remembering it now makes me queezy.

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:2dd35c53-f74b-426a-8950-7b061a3c7e25">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]I get that it's a regional thing.  Stag parties where you sell tickets are all anyone in my hometown area does for bachelor parties, and its what the guys start talking about as soon as you get engaged.  Seriously, H's friends were talking about his 10 minutes after they found out we got engaged. 
Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]

This sounds like my hometown too. They call it a "benefit party."

Beachy730

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:655750eb-47cc-440f-951b-27f125c3c24c">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance? : This sounds like my hometown too. They call it a "benefit party."
Posted by zitiqueen[/QUOTE]

Where are you from?

doctabroccoli

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:236670e4-54a6-4894-94a3-db98001f6057">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]The garter auction is really dumb - basically instead of one person actually paying for whatever the garter "goes for," people just keep adding money to a pot, usually ones or fives.  The last person to throw in wins.  And of course participation isn't mandatory, but like I said earlier - people up here love them.  We got close to five hundred bucks for my garter (still makes me cringe).  I've actually been to a reception where a guy threw a hundred bucks into the pot.  That's just fucking stupid, though.  I can see tossing a dollar or two in the hat for fun, but never more than that.
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

That's just.............. creepy.

Birdie1483

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:7a0700b7-3eee-4c0f-aafa-7c3996666a4f">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I hate the idea of closing the dance floor</strong> almost as much as the whole money aspect of both of these.  I didn't even have a garter, though, and I didn't toss my bouquet.  Oops. 
Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]

This is really the only problem I have with dollar dances. I usually start to transition from buzzed to drunk at this point, because there isn't anything else to do.

GoBucksOH

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:f394d4ec-24d3-4d02-808a-2614385e2612">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]And I know you all won't believe me, but you look stuck up and pretentious around here if you don't do a dollar dance. People get mad. I get that it's tacky, but yeah. <strong><em>People get really excited about dollar dances</em></strong>, myself included.
Posted by crfische[/QUOTE]

I never knew dollar dances were tacky until coming to TK. Its honestly just a part of every wedding I have been to. Now, if I had never seen it done before, then I would agree that it is tacky. But since it is a normal part of wedding receptions in this area, I dont even think twice about it.

After reading these boards and seeing how many people consider them tacky, I started to second guess myself and think it may be a bad idea to do at our reception. The mere mention of not doing one and my friends were up in arms. It sounds crazy, but people DO get excited over it.

2012JulyBride

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:b60df2f6-dc25-43c3-bbb7-1b5b2bbbdfc6">Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]To do or not to do?!  What are your thoughts on auctioning the garter and the dollar dance?  Should we do them at the wedding dance or are these both out of date and tacky?  My finance and I are trying to decide if this is acceptable now days since our guests have already brought a gift to the wedding.  Please help us out!
Posted by hgessele[/QUOTE]

Since it sounds like a regional thing, if you're okay with those traditions then go for it. If you're a little uncomfortable with one or the other, or both, then don't do it. Here in TX, I've never heard of a garter auction or raffle but I have heard of, and witnessed, the dollar dance. At a friend's wedding 8/9 years ago she had quite a few takers (mostly family). 4 months ago at another friend's wedding the DJ decided to announce a dollar dance, it wasn't planned. Her dad danced with her and then loaned her brother money...and that was it. No one was expecting it so they didn't have money/small bills.

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:5e9fca23-bda5-4221-82a1-e4fe9f3fbc27">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance? : Where are you from?
Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]

Michigan.

emilyinchile

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:236670e4-54a6-4894-94a3-db98001f6057">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]The garter auction is really dumb - basically instead of one person actually paying for whatever the garter "goes for," people just keep adding money to a pot, usually ones or fives.  The last person to throw in wins.  And of course participation isn't mandatory, but like I said earlier - people up here love them.  <strong>We got close to five hundred bucks for my garter</strong> (still makes me cringe).  I've actually been to a reception where a guy threw a hundred bucks into the pot.  That's just fucking stupid, though.  I can see tossing a dollar or two in the hat for fun, but never more than that.
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

Holy crap! I should've gotten married in North Dakota, clearly.

klasnd22

I f you are going to get grief  over it, The Dollar Dance is not too bad. But I think the garter thing is getting out of control. (not yours, just what I've witnessed in general lately) I think the worst of them was this year one of my class mates married a woman 13 years his senior with 4 kids- the oldest was a sophomore in high school. No problem with that at all but during the dance, they blindfolded the groom and tied his hands behind his back and he had to root under her dress to pull off her garter with his mouth. There were a lot of side glances there. Where's the respect and dignity gone,.

NOLAbridealmost

Dollar dances are popular where I'm from, but I don't think we're going to do one because I don't like touching people.

LOL!

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_garter-autcioningdollar-dance?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:ed2b7502-601d-4c64-92fb-c528e8eed67ePost:fce16824-8c15-4bdc-a9c9-ba737a249820">Re: Garter Autcioning/Dollar Dance?</a>:
[QUOTE]...I'll back you up, Fishy - as ridic as it sounds, people DO think you're an idiot if you don't want a dollar dance or garter auction. <strong> I think the cold weather freezes that part of our brains up here that tells you what is and isn't tacky</strong>.
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

I don't think it's the cold weather.  I'm from Louisiana and it's very common and expected to do a money dance.  The garter auction is new to me, but the DJ usually has to add on songs to accommodate all the people lining up to dace.  I think it's just a regional thing.  If it's customary in your circle, then go for it.