I wasn't very familiar with the Dollar Dance before dating my fiance, so had no plans to do one at my wedding. But between last summer and this summer, we've gone to about 6 weddings on his side - friends and family but mostly friends. ALL of them have had a Dollar Dance so apparently it's normal in his circles. Almost none of my friends or family have gotten married yet so I'm not sure if it's done much on my side.
I personally haven't thought it was tacky at the weddings we went to, even though it was new to me. Yeah it's asking for money but I enjoy having some activities at weddings, and a dollar is hardly anything. I don't enjoy when they last too long, but that can be controlled. Some people on here have said they're awkward because no one dances, but that's definitely not been the case at the ones I've seen. Since my fiance's friends all do it, I'm sure many people would dance at ours. Also I don't have easily offended friends or family so I don't think they will mind.
So should we do it since it's a regular thing for my fiance's side? If it's normal and kind of fun we may as well, right? Or is this still a thing where everyone hates it besides small regional communities who are used to it?
Re: Wasn't going to do a Dollar Dance...but fiance's friends all do them. Should we?
They aren't a "small regional thing." Even though @RachelLee83 says they were common at the weddings she has been to, it doesn't mean that her region as a whole approves of them-it could be just one small subset of that region.
And sorry, but they are tacky, regardless of who has seen them. It is not appropriate to hit your guests up for money in any form-registries, dollar dances, passing your own hosting expenses on to them. Like you say, not doing one is the way to go.
ETF: stuff
Whether I read it is not your business, but thanks for clarifying. Good to know you agree that dollar dances are inappropriate.
We will however, be serving Tony Packo mini dogs for the late night snack. As far as anyone in his family is concerned kolbasz > dollar dance!
My mom's side of the family is Hungarian. Dollar Dances are not Hungarian. I never even heard of a Dollar Dance until I joined TK.
Since they are so common here, and I have a lot of Polish relatives, I have been asked dozens of times already what song I will be dancing to at the wedding for this and I am very excited to do continue the tradition. Every wedding I've been to that has done one, including other family members, everyone has had a blast and I would say at least half the guests (and in one instance, EVERY guest to the point they had to play a second song) participated and everyone laughed and danced and had a great time. If people want to come up and dance with me and get a graet picture and not give a $1, they don't really have to.
I think this tradition is all in good fun and I hardly see it as so awful as some of the other posters may, and if your FI really wants this, it won't be nearly as bad as you think and you can request a short song from the DJ or for him to cut it off as soon as there is no longer anyone waiting to dance with you. If his family is expecting it and more so, if it's something he wants and he hasn't asked to do anything else at the reception, just let him have his one request.
Dollar dances are rude. No one should be expected to open their wallets at any wedding for any reason. The "fun" of it and "everyone I know does it/it's traditional in my circle" doesn't excuse the rudeness of it. It's really, really bad and suggests that you don't care about your guests' needs or feelings. If you want to dance with your guests, you can do it for free with no money changing hands.