Sometimes the mothers of the bride and groom are also included in the money dance. In Nigeria, the first dance and general opening of the dance floor invites guests to take turns approaching the bride and groom and “spray” them with small denominations of bills as they dance.

Her shoes are then passed around the guests who each put money into her shoes as a contribution. In Hungarian and Portuguese weddings, the bride removes her shoes and puts them in the middle of the dance floor. In the Yugoslavian wedding money dance, the male guests give the money to the best man for safe keeping instead of pinning the money on the bride. The best man, the remaining groomsmen, and then the male guests follow him. In a more modern version of this Polish custom, the dance includes bridesmaids and other ladies who dance.Īt Ukrainian weddings, the bride’s father typically begins the money dance by pinning money on the bride’s dress. Customarily, the best man begins dancing with the bride by pinning money onto her wedding gown or putting it into her designated money dance purse. In Poland, the money dance takes place sometime after the first dance and is announced by the best man or the MC. The custom is popularly believed to have originated in Poland in the early 1900s, but the money dance has been performed as a wedding ritual in a variety of cultures around the world ranging from Europe to South America to the United States. Sometimes guests are told that the money will be used for the married couples honeymoon or to set them up for a little extra cash in their new married life. Other times, it is done as the last dance of the night. Generally, the money dance will take place toward the end of the formal festivities before most of the guest leaves. American brides from Louisiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas, Ohio, and Wisconsin typically consider the money dance to be an important part of reception rituals. Depending on the culture, money may be attached to the bride and groom’s clothes or money may be thrown over the married couple. During the wedding money dance, guests pay to briefly dance with the bride and groom. The money dance is a wedding tradition found in a variety of cultures that is done during the wedding reception.

Moneydance 2015