Maybe it’s a sign of the times, but the Dollar Dance is all the rage at weddings these days. Originating in Poland around the 1900s, the dance started as a way for newlyweds to get some cash to start them on the road to married life. Often, the money was used to help the couple afford a honeymoon. At the reception, the male guests would take turns dancing with the bride, and put a dollar in her purse. At some weddings, an apron would be attached to the bride’s dress, so guests could place the money inside. Bride’s sometimes had the money pinned to their veils, or even a piece of material sewn onto the dress.
Still a popular Polish custom (as well as Italian and Latin American), the Dollar Dance is extremely popular at U.S. weddings. While the basic components of the dance are the same, most couples incorporate the dance for the simple reason that it’s a lot of fun, and a great way for individual guests to take a spin around the dance floor with the bride—and, yes, inflation has upped the dollar amount to whatever anyone would like to pay. (In some cultures, the dance is still taken very seriously, and guests give checks to the bride as her wedding gift.)
The Dollar Dance is usually started after the first dances are finished, and before the cake-cutting. The D.J. or band leader announces the dance, and guests line up. (One new touch? Grooms are getting in on the act too, so the ladies can all give him some cash too.)
The dance does not have an official time limit, as it really depends on how many guests you have. As you’re going to dance with many guests, keep each dance down to a couple of spins. A good D.J. or band leader will keep the line moving, by announcing that it’s time for the next dance. You can still carry a purse, as can your groom, or you can have a bridesmaid or groomsman hold a purse or bag near the dance floor. After the dance, they should put it in a secure place.
Unlike the first dances, there’s no official “dollar dance” song that you need to pick. You can have a fast tune, or a slow ballad. While “Evergreen” would probably be inappropriate, “Material Girl” might make for a fantastic, and profitable, money-maker.
-David Toussaint
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