How to Make a Fortune at Your Wedding

I never knew this, but it appears there are several ways to turn your wedding into a money making event. I've never heard of any of these ideas, but I'm a guy and what do I know about weddings? Anyway, Smart Money gives us the details:

The "dollar dance" or "money dance": The concept behind this Polish tradition is that male guests pay for the privilege of dancing with the bride. Guests deposit (usually monetary) gifts in a purse attached to the bride's dress or pin it directly to her gown. Nowadays, the groom participates too, and collects donations from female guests for a dance.

I hate to dance, so why would I want to pay to do it? Maybe I could pay NOT to have to dance. I'd be up for that.

Money tree: This is an actual tree with clips or bows attached so that guests can clip or tie on money for the newlyweds. The tradition started in the northern states, but has spread across the country as people moved around, says Woodham. "If this is a tradition that has not been in the bride or groom's family, I would advise against [the couple having one]," she says.

Why, because it sounds tacky? Actually, I'm thinking of putting one of these "money trees" up in our foyer so guests can contribute when they visit us. Good way to earn some extra bucks! ;-)

Birdcage: The birdcage is a more common option when it comes to handing over monetary gifts. This accessory — often ornately decorated with ribbon or flowers — is usually stationed in the reception area for guests to deposit their cards or checks.

If this means guests would simply bring in cash gifts they'd already planned to give as wedding presents, I'm ok with this since it's not trying to bilk anyone for MORE money. But if it's a "give now even though you already gave a present" sort of thing, I'd be tempted to try and sneak in a bird and really liven up that cage!

Money art: Cold hard cash doesn't have to be boring. As a creative gift option, guests can hire an origami artist to fashion dollar bills into a dozen roses or a tuxedo shirt and tie. You're giving the couple money — but in this case it's all in the presentation. "You give the impression of spending more when you put effort into your gift," says Sharon Naylor, wedding expert and author of "The Essential Guide to Wedding Etiquette."

Expect to pay a premium, though: One origami artist we found charges $10 to create a single rose out of five greenbacks. Assuming they're one dollar bills, a dozen roses will cost $180 to make, but leaves the couple with just $60.

I wasn't a math major, but that doesn't actually seem like a good return to me. If I was getting married, I'd tell people to give me the $180 and I'd fold it myself! ;-)

Anyone out there heard of any of these before? Or maybe other ways people squeeze extra cash out of guests at weddings?

Comments

[David]

We did the dollar dance at our wedding. The bride made a hell of a lot more money than I did. :)

[F. Morana]

And these, of course, are TAXABLE proceeds?

[Kevin]

Not taxable as they are gifts.

[Jo]

It is a tradition in my area to do the dollar dance. Usually, the bride and groom make a decent amount of money. But I think it is one of the those traditions that can't just be started, I have had friends who have done it and many of their guests were from out of state, and it didn't work too well.

My sister and her husband also raffled off the garter. I was a bridesmaid and had to sell raffle tickets...I hated it...please, if you are getting married don't make your wedding party do this unless they are the outgoing, life of the party type.

[Frugalicious]

Having a box for cards is not tacky. Some use a bird cage, others have a wishing well. We simply had a decorative box. It is not asking for money, it is simply a piece of decor to hold the cards in one place. Those cards can be without cash.

Personally, I do not care for the money dance. I understand those that do it based on cultural traditions. The only time I saw one was at a wedding two years ago. The money dance was dances. After the forth song, my husband and I left. We wanted to say goodbye to the bride and groom as it was getting very late, but they didn't appear to be stopping their money dances, so we said goodbye to the mother of the bride who we knew better.

The money dance just basically guarantees a chance for each guest to chat with the bride or groom, which I think is nice. I've never seen the other ones.

[artdogs]

tacky, tacky, tacky, tack.

Actually -- REVOLTING is more like it.

[louise]

yeah, very tacky!
I think it's really bad taste & manners to be trying profit from the guests, I've never heard of any of these before

[bree]

Actually, my sister inadvertently made some money at her wedding ... she had a cash bar, and set the price a little higher than cost because she wanted it to cover the rentals of glassware etc. The guests ended up drinking a lot more than she had expected, and she ended up making a small profit. The wedding itself still cost her a lot of money, but it was an interesting kernel of an idea for someone else who is already thinking of a cash bar.

[Foobarista]

In many countries, a wedding is seen as a chance to raise money for the young couple. I know that in both China and India, big weddings are very common and cash is the standard gift. The expectation is that the family will take in more money than the cost of the wedding, and will use the proceeds to start their independent lives.

The idea of NOT giving cash is regarded as odd.

[snow_drops]

When my mom got married, she got lots of wall clocks and photo albums (gift registry was not and is not common in my country).

But now, all wedding invitations are closed with three icons that tell the guests to give cash instead (no flower, no presents, red envelope only). Giving actual presents are not common anymore.

[snow_drops]

Oh, and giving something other than cash is considered impolite.

[Amanda]

As for the money folder, my mother used to give cash to her nieces and nephews, for them (7 or 8 at the time) something like 10 dollars was a big deal, so my mom would give it to them in ones. Not wanting just to tuck money in a card, she had my brother and I look up ways to fold the money into birds, bow ties, etc. She then would put the folded money into a bag or box and they would have a wonderful surprise when it was opened. There are books especially about bill folding, and if your library doesn't have one, there are always resources online. :)

[Ggrrl]

The birdcage actually sounds like a cute idea - not to make guests give you more money, but as a neat way to hold cards that the guests have brought. Oh, and as far as paying someone $$$$ to fold cash, how about writing a nice note in a pretty card - they will mean more in the long run. After all, the fancy origami will have to be unfolded/given away for the newlyweds to use it.

[FireBitch421]

My fiancee & I already have a home with all of the linens, and small kitchen apliances we need. we also have a son & a baby on the way. We decided instead of gifts, that we would have a "money tree" present & we are encouraging our guests to bring gift cards & donations for the improvement of our home & beginning of our family. I thought the concept of home improvement was basicaly the same as giving material wedding gifts, it's all about helping the couple start their home & family together.

[Julie]

I've been to one wedding in this area where there was a dollar dance, and I found it appallingly tacky. It's right up there with listing the registry locations or specifying "cash only" on the invites. It's a party, not a shakedown.

Where the heck did you people grow up? The dollar dance is no more tacky than a bride and groom making out when glasses clink or the chicken dance. As long as it is done in a spirit of fun, it is perfectly fine in my book. I've seen in many times and usually it is one song or two and it's the only way to get an extended moment to say congratulations to the couple.

And for all those complaining about "it's a party, not a shakedown" -- did you register for gifts? It's called a dollar dance for a reason. Typically you only give the couple a dollar or two. Unless you are telling me you registered at the dollar store, all of you chiding those who do this as shaking people down for money are hypocrites.

[Sister of the groom]

I was at a wedding where they did a money dance but it wasnt the bride and groom's idea. The party was starting to wind down and nobody at the wedding was dancing and the DJ was basically getting paid for nothing. The best man grabbed a microphone and asked the bride if he could buy a dance. Then bridesmaids followed suit and asked the groom and pretty soon everyone was buying dances. The bride and groom made around $200.