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Original poster

Non-dance for wedding reception?

42 replies

SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 13/05/2020 17:34

We were supposed to be getting married in March, now postponed until the end of September. Our band emailed today and said they’re pulling out as they don’t see wedding dances happening until there’s a vaccine. Assuming our wedding does go ahead in September, what should we do for the evening reception? We have 30-ish people, range of ages from newborn up to 85 with 7 children. About half the guests don’t drink. We’re in a stately home hotel. Ideas I had:

  • cocktail/mocktail making
  • lounge singer and a table magician while people mingle and play board games
  • murder mystery evening. That’s not very wedding-y though!
  • get a slide in the hotel pool and have a pool party
  • hit the hotel spa
  • archery/similar
OP posts:
OhCaptain · 13/05/2020 17:36

Um...is it too obvious to say DJ?

LittleCabbage · 13/05/2020 17:37

Or even just play your own pre-made playlist?

Original poster
SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 13/05/2020 17:39

Neither of us actually like dancing and there aren’t really enough people to keep a DJ-type dance going for 3 hours.

OP posts:
Hadalifeonce · 13/05/2020 17:41

Casino? I had one and all the non dancers loved it, pretend money and a prize for the winner.

Original poster
SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 13/05/2020 17:44

That would be fun and I even know a croupier but the half of the guests that don’t drink also don’t gamble and wouldn’t be comfortable even if it was pretend money.

I suggested Bollywood dancing to DP but that’s been vetoed!

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 13/05/2020 17:50

I think a tabletop magician is a great idea. This with the Cocktail/mocktail making sounds a perfect evening. I would be realistic about the timings so don't expect everyone to still be there at midnight,

Can you get a tour of the rest of the stately home - that would be interesting if not very weddingy.

GetawayfromthatWelshtart · 13/05/2020 17:52

Can I come?! Your ideas sound AMAZEBALLS!! :)

merryhouse · 13/05/2020 17:55

If you're not having a dance, is there any need for an evening reception?

Ceremony, photographs, meal - you make sure you get round the tables for a quick chat - speeches, cut the cake, cup of tea/coffee and a bit of mingling, you do the Formal Departure, everyone goes home.

00100001 · 13/05/2020 17:58

Yeah, just have an informal Meal. If there's so few if you. You can have a chat and natter with people.

Maybe get some balloons for the kids to play with, or ask them to bring a toy or game with them.

00100001 · 13/05/2020 17:58

I'm not entirely sure why you had a band in the first place with 30 people tbh 🤷

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 17:59

You could make your own playlist. Some of your favourites mingled I with some dongs for the oldies.

We had a balloon modeller who kept everyone happy for a couple of hours.

OhCaptain · 13/05/2020 18:01

But you were having a band with that amount were you not?

The magician might be great but only for a couple of hours. Then what?

I’d have some sort of playlist anyway just so there’s not silence!

Eachpeachtree · 13/05/2020 18:07

I absolutely love all your ideas! To be honest wedding disco music is usually really loud which means that people can’t talk to each other, lots of people don’t dance and it makes the time drag.
Your ideas are absolutely brilliant, I would love to do most of these at a wedding for a change!
If I’d got all dressed up and done my makeup I probably wouldn’t fancy getting my bikini on for a pool party, but everything else would work. Magicians are great, mock tails awesome. Maybe have a playlist for some background ambience.

feelingfragile · 13/05/2020 18:13

I hate table top magicians, makes me cringe

Auntgiraffe · 13/05/2020 18:14

I had a wedding without a band/disco and in all honesty it just didn't work for it guests. I did have some classical musicians play for the evening but no dancefloor. It's one of the things I regret. People were bored and a bit Hmm. No one was really a party animal and were well known for never dancing so I thought it would be a good solution to avoid a depressingly empty dancefloor all evening. In your shoes I'd based it around something musical so maybe the lounge singer, magician, casino, board games type idea. Basically as many things as possible to get a party vibe going and everyone entertained/having a good time.

Auntgiraffe · 13/05/2020 18:15

*our guests, not it guests!

Ouchjuststoodonlego · 13/05/2020 18:17

You could make your own playlist. Some of your favourites mingled I with some dongs for the oldies.

Yes. Don't forget the dongs for the oldies. This is my fave typo ever. Smile

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 18:19

Ceremony, photographs, meal - you make sure you get round the tables for a quick chat - speeches, cut the cake, cup of tea/coffee and a bit of mingling, you do the Formal Departure, everyone goes home.

This also sounds ideal, especially as there aren't many of you and of the ones that are going, none of them really sound like party people. You and DH could enjoy a nice dinner together or start your Honeymoon?

You don't have to have an evening do and I've been to some great ones that didn't and some truly awful ones that did Smile

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 18:21

OMG! BlushGrinGrinGrin

Well dongs for the oldies would certainly be a form of entertainment and one that the guests aren't likely to forget Grin

OhCaptain · 13/05/2020 18:33

If you have a room full of dongs for the elderly that may be entertainment enough you know.

Auntgiraffe · 13/05/2020 20:13

Mine might have been improved with a room full of dongs!

Original poster
SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 13/05/2020 20:26

Grin no dongs! We were having a ceilidh so that amount of people was fine, but too much hand-holding for a CV wedding.

OP posts:
Myimaginarycathasfleas · 13/05/2020 20:35

If you're set on an evening do, could you have line dancing or similar with a caller giving out instructions? Tell them beforehand it needs to be no contact dancing.

Personally I would take advantage of the opportunity to cancel the evening reception. Everybody will thank you!

MrsMoastyToasty · 13/05/2020 20:37

Barn dance?

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 13/05/2020 20:58

Barn dance

That's what I was thinking of! Very retro too.