Looking for alternatives....

munekitalinda711 · October 2010

for a no dancing reception. The only dancing we will be having is first dance, father/daughter, mother/son dance. We are having a DJ who will be playing music at the reception, but FI and I are not really into dancing and most of our guest do not dance. I don't want it to be boring, so I'm looking for a few ideas to keep guest entertained. The DJ has gone to plenty of weddings with no dancing (this is one of the reasons we booked him) and he has suggested a few ideas.

Did you have a reception with no dancing? what did you do to keep guest entertained?

iamjoesgurl · October 2010

I've been to lots of weddings without dancing. I think the only activity that was ever planned was that my sister had a "Get to know John & Rebecca" quiz with facts about each of them. I can't remember the details, but it was nice for those of us that didn't know one of them as well.

If you have great food and good music, your guests will enjoy chatting with each other and just spending time together. This is a great opportunity for your family members to see each other and catch up. Also, you might be inviting friends who haven't seen each other in a while so it will be nice for them to do the same. Don't feel like to have to offer activities in lieu of dancing.

rachelea · October 2010

My cousin did. I don't know if I necessarily missed the dancing, but I was pretty sidetracked by talking with all my family members that, because of living in Florida and them in PA, I hadn't seen in close to 2 years. As MOH, me and the best man attacked their getaway car too, so that took some time as well.

I might suggest a trivia game...we may have one during our cocktail hour. We'd make a slideshow with all this trivia about FI and I and then people would have answer sheets, whoever gets the most would win some kind of prize. I saw the "newlywed game" on Four Weddings, where they sat back to back on the dance floor and the DJ asked questions about their relationship, each had a Barbie and Ken bridal doll and held up the correct doll to answer the question. You could do a "scavenger hunt", or some kind of version where the DJ says whoever can be the first to bring me chapstick wins. and everyoen scrambles to find whatever it is first.

belgirl · October 2010

We didn't have dancing and trust me, your guests can entertain themselves. The reception just flew by. We did have a "How well do you know the bride and groom?" quiz that guests could do during the reception and then we gave a prize at the end for whomever had the most correct answers. The guests LOVED it.

katanne9 · October 2010

I wouldn't worry about having to "entertain" them. I'm sure they will be happy to mingle and eat. : )

We had personalized Mad Libs and a photobooth. More info in bio. People seemed to enjoy those.

heyimbren · October 2010

My cousin did a slideshow at his wedding, and his family put together a little video. It was cute and really funny. Other than that, they played the one newlywed game and had a buffet set up. So people just socialized! It was a beautiful reception, and lots of fun for the guests. I was actually able to talk to the bride and groom instead of just watching them play reception games up at the front.

JoyMatt424 · October 2010

If your wedding is outside you can have yard games. My friend had a vintage style wedding where she had no dancing and there was croquet and old-school horshoes and cornhole. Just a thought - it was really fun.

munekitalinda711 · October 2010

Thanks ladies!
I did see that episode from four weddings with the barbie doll and ken doll.
I really like the idea of having the trivia or newlywed game. It sounds really fun and it will definitely keep the guest involved. We are definitely having a slide show and maybe a short video at the reception. I feel better now knowing that other people have had a wedding that didn't involve dancing and it was still fun.

LeahVB2011 · October 2010

3years ago my sister had her wedding with no dancing and no alternatives and reception flew by. It was a 2pm wedding so the reception had a lot of finger foods and it was like a slightly fancier church potluck with a lot of fun and fellowship. But I do like the idea of the mad libs or a trivia game.

EJCart · October 2010

Sounds like you have it pretty well in hand. We're also not having dancing and I think things will be great

kellya01 · October 2010

My brother and sis-in-law did a no-dancing reception. The reception had the usual items -- cutting cake, toast, reception music, lots of heavy hors d'oeuvres (sp?), announcing the entrance of the wedding party members, etc -- There was NO dancing, and that included a father/daughter dance. It was a social time, a time to greet the couple, etc. Many members of the family who came from far away would rather spend the time talking to the family members they don't get to see that often, and when it is structured with dancing, it takes away some of that opportunity. I think you could totally do a no-dancing reception, either by doing NONE at all, or including the father-daughter dance. I wouldn't go overboard with the "traditional" dances though -- because the guests may want to join, and then you end up with a dancing reception. Just a thought! Good luck with your plans!!

KikoLoveAndi · October 2010

My brother and sis in law also had no dancing. They had a mixed cd playing in the back ground, the guests and wedding party just interacted with eachother. Plus the cake cutting and speaches it flew by fast.

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