Money dance wedding, a tradition with European origins

From Europe to the world, celebrating the dance of money at weddings

Money dance wedding

Giving money to the newlywed couple while dancing may be for many something strange, but for others something normal and with a special meaning. In the world, there are a variety of traditions for marriage, being one of the most celebrated, but forgotten at this time, the money dance.

Origin wedding dance money

Economic prosperity and good wishes to the newlyweds are the main meanings of this tradition that began in Europe and eventually spread around the world, adapting to different cultures, with changes in rituals and customs. For example, in a country like the Philippines, the male guests form a line and before dancing with the bride they put money in her dress, while the women perform the same process with the groom.

How to organize wedding money dance

Some years ago the money dance was common at weddings, so there was no need to give formal notice; guests took this moment for granted and were prepared for when the spouses decided to perform this ritual. Over time, this tradition has faded away for many reasons, one of them being that it can be an awkward situation.

For this reason, nowadays, if the money dance is performed at a wedding, the best way to communicate it is through the wedding invitations, giving a brief explanation of its purpose and inviting the attendees to participate in this moment that seeks to make everyone present happy.

Wedding money dance music

This tradition usually lasts from 10 to 20 minutes and can take place at any time during the wedding. The choice of musical genre and songs are chosen by the couple; normally, they are guided by their musical tastes, as there is no strict rule in this case, although it is vital that the selected songs manage to move the guests.

A suggested playlist of songs to celebrate the money dance is:

●All you need is love – The Beatles
●La vida es un carnaval – Celia Cruz
●My wish – Rascal Flatts
●My girl – The Temptations
●Hold you down – Jennifer Lopez ft. Joe
●Happy – Pharrell Williams
●Uptown funk – Bruno Mars ft. Mark Ronson
●You’ve got a friend – James Taylor
●Perfect – Ed. Sheeran
●Make you feel my love – Adele

As in any celebration, there are also songs that should be avoided, because although the musical genre can be free, some musical tracks would not be appropriate for this type of event due to the message they convey.

Songs such as the following would not be the most appropriate to carry out this ritual:

●Billonaire – Travie McCoy
●Money – Pink Floyd
●Kiss the bride – Elton John
●Take the money and run – Steve Miller Band
●Material girl – Madonna
●Money, money, money – The O’Jays ft. ABBA

Nowadays this tradition, although it has not disappeared, is becoming less frequent. The money dance at weddings is a tradition of many cultures in the world, it is a unique, beautiful and fun moment where guests can express their support to the newly married couple, strengthening their union from the spiritual to the economic.