Hi,
My fiance and I are having a small afternoon luncheon in the summer as our wedding reception. Both of us are baptists and are not allowing dancing at our wedding, because of this we are finding it difficult to find activities for our guests. We are opening a candy station as our favours, but still need some ideas to keep our guests happy. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Re: No dancing dilemma.
You don't need dancing at a wedding, but it does give a very different dynamic for a reception. I wouldn't expect a very long reception without that, and the weddings I've been to without dancing had a couple speeches, a good meal, just two games and a slideshow. Other than that, it was solely socialization which I enjoyed. But it was a short reception too, in the afternoon.
Maybe you could have a slide show playing during the reception to give your guests something to watch while they are eating. Also if you make it a point to greet your guests they won't feel quite so bored.
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[QUOTE]Wow, I am not only Baptist, but having the ceremony AND reception in the SANCTUARY of my Baptist church, and I am having dancing. Seriously. DJ and all.
Posted by sessionswedding[/QUOTE]
My church explicitly said "no dancing, no alcohol, and all music must be approved" (the music part isn't a huge deal though.
we had a lunch reception with no dancing. folks were able to "entertain" themselves by socializing with us and their tablemates.
I am of the firm opinion that a wedding shouldn't stress you out. It's a joyous occasion, not a stressful one! So if you are driving yourself crazy trying to think of something to "do" at the reception, just leave it be.
[QUOTE]Wow, I am not only Baptist, but having the ceremony AND reception in the SANCTUARY of my Baptist church, and I am having dancing. Seriously. DJ and all.
Posted by sessionswedding[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>This rings true for me too. My church is also a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. We JUST finished putting on a broadway-style show (Christmas Pageant) complete with lots of choreography, drama, music, etc.... I guess some congregations are different. </div><div>
</div><div>My Brother and SIL didn't have dancing, and they also had a fairly short reception. There were hors d'oeuvres, cake, grooms' cake, punch, garter toss, bouquet toss, etc... just no dancing. There was special music, introduction of the wedding party, etc. I think the reception was somewhere around an hour and a half long. </div><div>
</div><div>If you do dinner, you can have a longer reception since a full-on dinner (whether served or buffet-style) will take longer than hors d'oeuvres. </div><div>
</div><div>ETA: My SIL's church didn't mind dancing, but she and my brother just weren't that "into" it. They refrained from the dancing thing purely on personal preference. </div><div>
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Ecclesiastes 3:4


a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Jeremiah 31:4
I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.
Jeremiah 31:13
Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Psalm 150:4
Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!
I love to dance!
If you absolutely can't dance-
Photobooths are sooo fun! I can't wait to see all the pics from ours
Karaoke,
musical chairs
auction off your centerpieces as an alternative to the dollar dance,
a live band,
a contest to see how well your guests know you by filling out questionaires - highest score wins a prize
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0UJVALQEd0
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[QUOTE]My congregation is the kind that does this at the Christmas program: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0UJVALQEd0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0UJVALQEd0</a>
Posted by sessionswedding[/QUOTE]
That was cool...and so totally different from my church. My university also does not allow couple or "club" style dancing on or off campus, although dancing during worship is not prohibited. The Conservative Southern Baptist church that runs the school also produces a Broadway style Christmas program each year, and the University produces a talent show each semester that does stuff like this: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMB10wwmWrU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMB10wwmWrU</a>
|Our Story|Planning Bio|Ezra's Birth Story
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My Blog
100/100 books read in 2012
17/100 books read in 2013
[QUOTE]Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance , Jeremiah 31:4 I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful. Jeremiah 31:13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Psalm 150:4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance ; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes! I love to dance! :) If you absolutely can't dance- Photobooths are sooo fun! I can't wait to see all the pics from ours :) Karaoke, musical chairs auction off your centerpieces as an alternative to the dollar dance, a live band, a contest to see how well your guests know you by filling out questionaires - highest score wins a prize
Posted by MrsTucker2011[/QUOTE]
this post, with the bible quotes, reminded me of the scene in Footloose where Kevin Bacon takes on the town counsel over the issue of "no dancing in town" and he reads passages from Lori Singer's bible.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: No dancing dilemma. : this post, with the bible quotes, reminded me of the scene in Footloose where Kevin Bacon takes on the town counsel over the issue of "no dancing in town" and he reads passages from Lori Singer's bible.
Posted by Calypso1977[/QUOTE]
Footloose? Never seen it. What's it about?
That said, if you're not going to have dancing, I think it is good to have other activities, like icebreakers, games and such, to entertain the guests, although you still might want to count on a short reception anyway if there is no dancing. On one hand, sure, the guests can socialize, but what about guests that come alone or don't know anyone at the reception? You and your FI may not be the only people at the reception who are shy, and it may not be easy for those who come without knowing a lot of people to socialize, so it would be good to make accommodations so that it can be enjoyable for those guests who may not know a lot of people at the reception.
MrsTucker: Go rent footloose this weekend!
Its an old 80's movie starring Kevin Bacon. he and his mom move to a small town in hicksville USA from i think Chicago.
he's really into music and dancing. the town they move too is basically under the control of the town preacher (John Lithgow) and they have ordinances on dnacing and other stuff. the preacher's daugher is Lori Singer and she's a wild child who of course seeks out the new kid Kevin Bacon.
Its cheesey and great all at the same time. Sarah Jessica Parker is also in it - i think maybe her first movie role.
once you see it, you'll konew exactly the scene i'm referencing.
we did have dancing, but we also had Santa come to our December wedding. it was a blast, everyone was taking pictures with him. So much fun.
I also live in the south where people love tailgating and lawn games. Depending on the time/venue, you could have some outdoor games (think croquet, lawn bowling, bocci ball, sidewalk chalk for the kiddos).