The Dollar Dance-- It's so 1990!
To some, the dollar dance is such an engrained wedding tradition that they can’t imagine a reception without it. You know the dance, right? The one where the bride and groom take turns dancing with family and friends while their bridal party gathers dollar bills. To others, though, it’s become more traditional than enjoyable, and many are seeking an alternative to the decades-old wedding staple. We’ve scoured Pinterest and wedding blogs to present you with ten ideas to bring in a little spending money for that honeymoon, while assuring you and your guests a great time!
1. Photo booth song
The concept here is simple— charge a couple bucks for guests to jump in the photo booth with the happy couple. Couple this with props and a bunch of people in a tight space and you’re sure to get plenty of laughs!
2. Musical chairs scavenger hunt
We found this idea on a Facebook post and had to investigate further. It’s one we’ve never heard of, but it sure looks like a blast! We all the know the basics of musical chairs— but add the scavenger hunt AND the option to buy back your chair and you’ll really kick this one up a notch. You definitely need your deejay to lead this and come up with a plan beforehand for the buy-back of chairs! Check out this YouTube video to see how it works.
3. Cash to cake
Take up a collection to determine who will get cake to the face! This one isn’t nearly as exciting for the audience, but it’s quick and easy if you don’t like being the center of attention.
4. Team rivalry bucket
This one shouldn’t be too hard to pull off here in the QCA— grab two buckets and label them as opposing teams. Think Packers/ Bears, Cubs/ Cards, Hawkeyes/ Cyclones, etc. Take a collection and the team whose bucket has the most money gets to have their fight song played! (Be sure to inform your deejay of the this activity so that he/she can have both fight songs ready to go!)
5. Ball and chain
Attach a prop ball and chain to the groom’s ankle. Have the groomsmen and bridesmaids take up separate collections. The side with the most money collected gets to decide if the ball and chain stays on or gets removed.
6. Buffet line auction
No one likes to be sitting at the table that gets to go through the buffet line last. Why not make a game of it? Auction off the chance to be the first table to eat. And, if the crowd is super into it, maybe the second and third tables, too? Rumor has it this has been known to raise $500-ish dollars for the couple!
7. Bartending
Have a party crowd? Cash in by bartending for half and hour. The bride and groom hop behind the bar and they get to keep the tips! (This is, of course, limited by local laws and venue policies, but most venues will allow you to symbolically “serve” the drinks.)
8. Kidnapping the bride
This used to happen a lot and is common tradition in Germany. Here, the best man or groomsmen “kidnap” the bride and hold her for ransom. Actually identifying the ransom dollar amount is considered tacky, but the bridal party can totally play it up by pretending to count the money they’ve gathered before bringing her back.
9. Dollar dash
Designate 60-90 seconds during the reception for the bride and groom to race through the tables while guests hold up cash for the couple. We recommend the bride ditch her heels for this one!
10. Selfie dance
This one won’t raise money but it definitely gives the couple a fun moment with every table. In this dance, the deejay plays an (ideally lengthy) song and the couple races to get a selfie with the guests at each table. While one-on-one selfies aren’t likely, cramming the group together for one big picture will make for some surefire laughs!
11. “Buy a Song” request
Turn up the fun and raise a little cash with a "pay-to-play" song request station at your wedding reception! Guests can contribute a small amount to request their favorite songs for the DJ to play, creating a customized playlist that reflects the crowd’s energy and ensures everyone has a blast. Whether it’s a nostalgic hit or a dance-floor anthem, this interactive idea encourages participation, adds a personal touch to your music lineup, and provides an easy, entertaining way to generate some extra funds during your celebration.
12. Pay-to-Play games
Add some excitement to your wedding reception with a mini-casino featuring fun games and a playful twist! Set up tables for roulette, blackjack, or dice games, and invite guests to join in for a small entry fee. Add an unforgettable reward: a winning spin at roulette earns a dance with the bride or groom!
