Traditions - Money Dance History

The "Money Dance" is alive and well, and it's a very popular custom at many wedding receptions all over the world.

The money dance is traditional in several different cultures. In most cases, it is a dance where the male guests pay for the privilege of dancing with the bride, although in today's weddings, the female guests also pay for the privilege of dancing with the groom. Each person who dances with the bride (or groom) gets just a few seconds before another guest cuts in. The money is for spending money for their honeymoon.

At Ukrainian weddings, the father of the bride usually leads, pinning money on her dress, followed by the best man and groomsmen, and then other male guests. At Yugoslavian weddings, male guests hand the dance money to the best man. At Hungarian weddings, the bride removes her shoes, placing them in the middle of the dance floor for each money partner to deposit the money. At Portuguese weddings, the bride's shoe is passed around for the collection. The custom began in America earlier this century by European immigrants who wanted to assure that the young couple had a few extra dollars to face the future with. It has endured in certain areas of the United States, while it is virtually non-existent in others. The custom also has its direct roots in both the Italian and Cajun heritages.

Some couples hesitate because they feel that it isn't done very often. It is estimated that the Money Dance is done at well over half of all the wedding receptions throughout the United States. You can decide in which manner your dancing partner can deposit his/her offering . . . in a purse carried by either you on your wrist or held by the hostess, or, as is done most often, they can pin the money on the Bride's veil or the Groom's tuxedo. Pins are offered to guests by the hostess who stands on the edge of the dancing area by the waiting line.

The purse comes from Italian tradition, a variation of the "Communion Purse" that young girls years ago carried on their First Communion Day, and relatives and friends would put money in it as a gift on her special day. The fun-loving Cajuns brought out the pins instead.

In some places their "Dollar Dance" donation buys a complete dance. In other area’s the hostess shuffles your dancing partners in and out every twenty seconds or so. You can expect to dance with 15-30 partners before it's over. The minimum donation is, of course, one dollar, although several larger denominations are routinely donated.

Timing is vital if you plan to have a Money Dance at your reception. You want it to be part of the natural flow of your reception. The trick is not to have it too early (you don't want to appear TOO eager), or too late (many guests may have departed, either physically or mentally). The most natural time is right after the garter and bouquet have been tossed, and as the last "event" for the photographer. This point should be no later than one hour before the end of your reception. By that time the guests are usually "relaxed" and ready to participate in the Money Dance.

How long the Money Dance should last? The answer is until all of your guests who wish to participate have been given the chance to have a dance. Your hostess will see how many people you have in line and should escort your guests through quickly and efficiently. She will notify the band or DJ when it is the last Money Dance song, and it will come to a conclusion naturally.

What songs should be played for the Money Dance? The Money Dance does not call for "message" songs, which are the songs whose lyrics reflect personal sentiments. For example, the formal dance for the Bride and Groom might be "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You," the dance with the parents might be "Daddy's Little Girl," and the Bridal Party dance might be done to "That's What Friends Are For," all three of which carry a message relevant to the person being danced with. For the Money Dance, any slow music will do.

Another consideration is that the Money Dance gives you the opportunity to dance with those guests that you would not have the time or availability to dance with otherwise. Those who join the Money Dance are just happy to be able to share a dance with you on your wedding day.

©	Copyright 2005