Reception, dance and gifts
The first dance, the money dance, the cake, the envelopes and the long night of dancing.
Reception is when the formal part ends and the party begins. There are speeches, a first dance, the cutting of the cake, the money dance, the gift envelopes and long hours of music. It is a mix of the traditional and the new, and it usually decides how the day is remembered.
Speeches and first dance
In Britain speeches come from the father of the bride, the groom and the best man. In Ireland the father and the best man speak, and in Germany a friend performs a skit. In Greece and the Balkans, a circle dance like the kalamatianos opens the floor. The first dance may be a waltz, a pop song or a choreographed set.
Money and gifts
The money dance is performed in the Philippines, Poland and Greece, where guests pin banknotes on the couple. In Jewish and Arab weddings, guests may give cash. In China and Vietnam, red envelopes are given at the door. In Nigeria spraying cash on dancers is common, though it is regulated in some places. In the West gifts come from a registry or a honeymoon fund.
The end of the night
Weddings end with a last dance, a bouquet or garter toss, a sparkler exit or the couple's departure in a decorated car. In India the vidaai marks the bride's emotional departure from her parents' home.
About this page
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on Reception, dance and gifts (stage of the wedding). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
🇺🇦 Kolomyia, Ukraine and 2 moreKolomyikaколомийка
A fast Ukrainian folk dance with rhymed verses, celebrated at weddings in western Ukraine and Canada.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇷🇴 Romania and 4 moreCălușariCălușarii
A traditional Romanian spring dance and male society known for acrobatic leaps and ritual healing.Performance · The weeks before
🇩🇪 GermanyLandshut WeddingLandshuter Hochzeit
A four-year historical pageant in Bavaria re-enacting the 1475 royal marriage of George and Hedwig.Setting · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreHava Nagilaהָבָה נָגִילָה
A Jewish folk song sung and danced at weddings and celebrations to mark joyous occasionsPerformance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇷🇼 Rwanda and 1 moreIntore
A traditional Rwandan and Burundian war dance performed by men to celebrate heroism and historyPerformance · The wedding feast
🇷🇸 Serbia and 5 moreČočekčočек (Serbian/Macedonian), кючек (Bulgarian), çyçek/qyqek (Albanian), sistemul (Romanian), Tsifteteli (Greek)
A Balkan wedding dance with a distinctive nine-beat rhythm, kept alive by Romani musicians and village celebrations.Performance · The wedding feast
🇧🇷 Recife, BrazilFrevo
A fast, acrobatic dance and musical style from Recife that turns Carnival street parades into a display of agility.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇰🇪 Kenya and 1 moreAdumuEnkipaata or Aigus
The high-jumping warrior dance performed by the Maasai at weddings and rites of passage.Performance · The ceremony
🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreKarsilamaskarşılama (Turkish), καρσιλαμάς (Greek)
A face-to-face folk dance in 9/8 time that marks the joy of wedding gatherings across the Aegean.Performance · The wedding feast
🇮🇳 Jaipur, IndiaGhoomarघूमर
A twirling folk dance performed by women in Rajasthan to welcome a bride or celebrate auspicious occasions.Performance · The ceremony
🇬🇧 Newquay, United KingdomTroyl
A Cornish barn dance or social gathering featuring music, song, and communal dancing.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇬🇷 Crete, Greece and 1 moreSyrtosΣυρτός
A traditional Greek line dance where partners hold hands and follow a leader through slow and quick steps.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates and 1 moreNadbaالندبة
A ceremonial battle cry and dance performed by the Shihuh tribe of the Musandam Peninsula.Performance · The weeks before
🇲🇳 MongoliaBiyelgeeБиелгээ / Бий
A seated Mongolian dance that mimics herder life through upper-body movement and traditional instruments.Performance · The wedding feast
🇨🇦 Canada and 5 moreLoyal toast
A formal salute to the head of state given at official gatherings in Commonwealth realms and other nations.Vow · The wedding feast
🇭🇳 Honduras and 1 moreMatamuerte
A humorous Garifuna dance about finding a body on the beachPerformance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער
The instrumental dance music played by Ashkenazi Jewish musicians at weddings in Eastern Europe and beyondPerformance · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇬 UgandaBakisimba
A lively Baganda circle dance performed at weddings and royal ceremonies in Uganda.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreChapelloise
A circle mixer dance with partner changes kept in the European Balfolk scenePerformance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇺🇬 UgandaTamena Ibuga
A traditional Soga dance from Busoga that celebrates unity and harvest through energetic drumming.Performance · The wedding feast
🇵🇪 Trujillo, PeruMarinera
A Peruvian partner dance using handkerchiefs to enact a stylized courtship between two people.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇺🇦 Ukraine and 2 moreQaytarma
A Crimean Tatar folk dance of cyclical motion performed at weddings and holidays.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער
The instrumental wedding music of Ashkenazi Jews, blending Eastern European and Jewish ritual melodies.Performance · Engagement and betrothal
🇭🇷 CroatiaNijemo kolo
A silent Croatian folk dance where couples move in a circle without music.Performance · The ceremony
🇬🇷 Crete, GreeceSoustaΣούστα
A Greek courtship dance performed at weddings to display romance and agility.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreZwiefacher
A Bavarian couple dance that shifts between three and two beats per measure.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇬🇭 GhanaAdowa dance
A traditional Akan dance from Ghana that uses hand and foot movements to express emotions at weddings and other ceremoniPerformance · Procession and arrival
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreVirginia reel
A line dance where couples move through a series of set figures in two parallel rows.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇭🇷 Croatia and 2 moreBećarac
A humorous folk song sung at weddings and village parties in Eastern CroatiaPerformance · The wedding feast
🇿🇦 South AfricaUkusina
An energetic Zulu dance where performers kick and stamp to drums during weddings and ceremonies.Performance · The ceremony
🇸🇦 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and 2 moreMezmarمزمار
A Saudi stick dance performed at weddings with drums and bamboo canesPerformance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic and 2 moreBachata
A social couple dance from the Dominican Republic known for its eight-count step and hip movements.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇲🇽 Guadalajara, MexicoJarabe Tapatío
A courtship dance from Guadalajara that uses a hat and flirtatious steps to symbolize Mexican identity.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇲🇷 MauritaniaT'heydinnالتهيدين (al-T'haydīn)
A Mauritanian Moorish epic performance of poetry and music kept by griot families.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇺🇬 Uganda and 1 moreEkikibi
A circular dance by the Bakonzo that mimics swimming fish to celebrate marriage.Performance · The ceremony
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreLuddi
A circle dance of Punjab performed at weddings and celebrations by men and women.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Nijemo kolo: Outrageous zone, CC BY 3.0, source
- Chapelloise: Unuaiga, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Landshut Wedding: Oktobersonne, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Intore: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Qaytarma: Gottfried Heinrich Geißler, Public domain, source
- Bakisimba: Kalungi Nathan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Klezmer: Syrena Records (Warsaw), Public domain, source
- Loyal toast: Alaxander W. Galbraith, Public domain, source
- Nadba: Saeeddon1, CC0, source
- Syrtos: Muriel Pécastaing-Boissière pour Cédric Boissière, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Adumu: K15photos, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Frevo: Prefeitura de Olinda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Čoček: Модернист, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bachata: Salsauom, CC0, source
- Jarabe Tapatío: Salvador alc, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Adowa dance: Quami43, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sousta: psyberartist, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ukusina: Vulane Mthembu, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Karsilamas: Maximilian Dörrbecker ( Chumwa ), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Biyelgee: J bayarmagnai, CC0, source
- Marinera: Tomas Sobek, CC BY 2.0, source
- Klezmer: Unknown artist identified as "M.D.", Public domain, source
- Kolomyika: Teodor Axentowicz, Public domain, source
- Ghoomar: Aali Jain, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Călușari: El bes, CC BY 3.0, source