Strange Wedding Reception Traditions

[MickiMouth]

I don't know if it's a Catholic thing either. My Dad's family is Catholic/Italian. My Mom's family is German-Irish. No idea where the tradition comes from. Just know it was something I didn't want to do but did for my Mom.

 

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Not really strange, but when I went to an Italian wedding in London a few years ago, they lifted the bridegroom up when the music started and sort of threw him in the air throughout the first song!

I can't remember if they did it to the bride too!

 

[MickiMouth]

http://www.ultimatewedding.com/articles/get.php?action=getarticle&articleid=1148

 

[SillyMe]

DH wants to know if this helps marry her off?? We don't mean to be disrespectful, but have never heard of this. Of course we had never heard of the grooms cake until Steel Magnolias.

I have no idea where or why the tradition originated, but I'm guessing it might be a PA Dutch tradition. I had seen it done at quite a few weddings when I was young, but I haven't seen it done in a long time.

 

[froglady]

When I was growing up in RI, not only did you have the bouquet/garter toss, but the man who caught the garter had to put it on the woman who caught the bouquet! Usually to the tune "The Stripper" with people yelling "Higher! Higher!" Now THAT'S tacky.

 

[Hippychickali]

And so on until only my brother, his bride and the longest married couple was still dancing. Then the bride presented the bouquet to that woman. (In this case my aunt and uncle)

That sounds like a lovely tradition. When you mentioned it, I thought, gee that would work well for us because there won't be too many singles there. But then I realized it would probably exclude those who are divorced or common-law. So, I'm thinking maybe we can do something similiar but change it around a little. Hmmm...I'll have to think about that.

Ali

 

[Hippychickali]

When I was growing up in RI, not only did you have the bouquet/garter toss, but the man who caught the garter had to put it on the woman who caught the bouquet! Usually to the tune "The Stripper"

This is a pretty standard practice here in Eastern Canada where I come from. And the garter isn't tossed just to the groomsmen but to all single men.

Ali

 

[Hippychickali]

There was a really strange post-wedding tradition called "seranading." Not sure why it had that name since no singing was involved, but I have to wonder if, perhaps, it did at one time. People in the community went to where the new couple was staying and kidnapped both the bride and the groom. The groom's pants were cut off and he was ridden around on a rail. The bride's ride was in a washtub full of water (cold, I think).

I thought it was really funny that you told us about this and then said that the dollar dance was tacky. I agree that the dollar dance seems tacky (not to diss anyone who happens to enjoy it) but this is just plain strange - a perfect entry in the Strange Wedding Reception Traditions thread.

Ali

 

[MickiMouth]

This is a pretty standard practice here in Eastern Canada where I come from. And the garter isn't tossed just to the groomsmen but to all single men.

Ali

Common here in South Jersey too.

 

[becjlek]

My niece also gave her flowers to the longest married couple after a nice short speech about role models.

 

[HayGan]

The strangest tradition that I know of is also from PA but from NW PA (Erie). One of the families (usually the brides) sets up a 50/50 raffle. They sell tickets for months leading up to the wedding (at the bridal shower, to friend/neighbors, etc.) Then they hold the raffle at the wedding. As if that isn't strange enough, they expect the winner to give the winning 50% to the bride and groom as well. Just another way to get more $$$ if you ask me.

Every wedding I have ever been to (usually inthe mid-atlantic states or NC) has a had a money dance - including mine.

 

[Duchie]

DH is from PA and at our wedding he told me we would be having a dollar dance, including the shots (Kamakazies, I think, and I'm sure I spelled that wrong). I thought he was nuts, but it ended up being pretty fun. It was a GREAT way to make sure I talked to all of my guests.

 

[mrsheppo]

At my DD's wedding, they had a money dance as that is a Hispanic tradition. I had never been to a wedding where they had had one before. Also, all the guys lifted the groom up and threw him in the air. They usually do it with the bride too, but she was pregnant.

The strangest thing was that during one song, my new son-in-law was made to carry a woman's purse, hold a child in his arms and wear an apron. My DD in turn was given a belt to "spank" him in order to make sure he "obeys" her.

 

[cats7494]

DJ invited all married couples to the dance floor.

Then he said "All couples married more than one day and less then one year can sit down"

"All couples married more than one day and less than 5 years can sit down"

And so on until only my brother, his bride and the longest married couple was still dancing. Then the bride presented the bouquet to that woman. (In this case my aunt and uncle)

It was really interesting to see who had been married for how long and it was a really sweet gesture to a long and happy marriage.

We did this too and gave the "winners" a really nice set of candleholders from Pier One. It was really wonderful to see so many people who had been married for a long time!
We also had the Chicken dance, the electric slide, the Macarana, the Dollar Dance, without shots - never heard of that one....
We did not throw bouquets or garters Although, we had MANY little girls and an extra bouquet so they "pretended" to throw the bouquet. It was pretty cute to watch!

 

[Patricia]

Being from NJ with all my family in NY, I have been to weddings from many different backgrounds, italian catholic, irish catholic, generic, jewish, indian, Baptist, Halloween wedding.... etc. etc and even one a year ago that was with both the bride and the groom from the Bahamas. My husband and I were some of the only people not in traditional island attire. ( Great party, btw). I have never seen a dollar dance in my life. I don't believe it's a catholic tradition, if it is, I have missed it and being quite catholic, I don't think I did. The garter thing is, unfortunately, alive and kicking. Not fond of that one either.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I hate the "dollar dance" TACKY....


Like all those cards full of money is not enough for the B&G?

 

[MerryPoppins]

I think most wedding receptions in Oklahoma have a groom's cake. I didn't realize that some parts of the country didn't have them. Usually the bride's cake is more traditional and the groom's cake is chocolate.

We also did the garter and bouquet thing, but the "catchers" just kept them. Actually, I threw my bouquet directly to my brother's girlfriend. I just called her name and tossed it to her. When it was time to do the garter, no single guys would come forward except my brother. They got married the following year.

I've never been to a reception where they had a dollar dance, but I have heard of them. I've seen dances like the Chicken Dance, but rarely.

 

[tar heel]

Oh, Hippychickali, believe me, I wasn't suggesting that the riding on the rail/washtub thing was something people should be doing. It's way beyond tacky -- just plain weird. My dh looked at me like I had three heads when I told him about it.

 

[txSleepingBeauty]

When I was growing up in RI, not only did you have the bouquet/garter toss, but the man who caught the garter had to put it on the woman who caught the bouquet! Usually to the tune "The Stripper" with people yelling "Higher! Higher!" Now THAT'S tacky.

that happened to me at my aunts wedding. I was 13, he was pushing thirty I was terrified, needless to say someone else put that garter on!!

as for dollar dances, does anyone else tie the money into a knot before giving it? I've been to several weddings with this tradition- the reasoning being that it gives the couple something to do on their wedding night

 

[Hippychickali]

Does anyone else have any strange traditions to share? I think I might start a thread of nice wedding traditions so I can get some ideas.

Ali