# How old to dance at a wedding? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378 "2008-11-18T23:17:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/21 "2008-11-19T07:08:19Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Absolutely. And that’s how kid’s learn to be nimble and quick, just like Jack! 😃 I agree completely. 'Sides, little kids can bounce pretty good 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/22 "2008-11-19T07:11:45Z")
[Maybe you’ll dance the “Funky Chicken” on your 75th wedding anniversary.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI) In other words, I don’t think there is any age limit to dancing at any weddings (even if it’s as a guest). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/23 "2008-11-19T08:44:11Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > So, dancing at the same time as the adults is okay? As opposed to running and sliding on the dance floor before the music starts, but being obligated to get out of the way when the grownups are dancing? Perhaps the adults should start running and sliding on the dance floor. You’re supposed to have fun at a wedding. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/24 "2008-11-19T09:52:03Z")
Weird. I don’t remember ever dancing at a wedding when I was a kid. I do remember being told that if the one boy my age wanted to dance with me, I could, but since he didn’t, I was SOL. I also remember one time, starting to bop to the beat (must have been during the disco era) and being warned by my mom to sit down and stop making a fool of myself. So when the subject came up, I assumed my job would be to keep the kids corralled **off** the dance floor. Good thing I didn’t say anything to that effect! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/25 "2008-11-19T10:46:37Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Weird. I don’t remember ever dancing at a wedding when I was a kid. I do remember being told that if the one boy my age wanted to dance with me, I could, but since he didn’t, I was SOL. I also remember one time, starting to bop to the beat (must have been during the disco era) and being warned by my mom to sit down and stop making a fool of myself. So when the subject came up, I assumed my job would be to keep the kids corralled **off** the dance floor. Good thing I didn’t say anything to that effect! No offence, but if your mother is going to be at the wedding, you should have someone keep an eye on _her_. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/26 "2008-11-19T13:09:32Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > As a guest, I mean. Is there a minimum age? Heck, no. Some of my favorite pictures from my wedding are of me dancing with my three-year-old cousin. Kids love to dance. Why shouldn’t they? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/27 "2008-11-19T13:13:40Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Weird. I don’t remember ever dancing at a wedding when I was a kid. I do remember being told that if the one boy my age wanted to dance with me, I could, but since he didn’t, I was SOL. I also remember one time, starting to bop to the beat (must have been during the disco era) and being warned by my mom to sit down and stop making a fool of myself. So when the subject came up, I assumed my job would be to keep the kids corralled **off** the dance floor. Good thing I didn’t say anything to that effect! Sounds like your mother came of age when couples dancing was the only Proper Dancing. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/28 "2008-11-19T13:57:59Z")
I have to admit, I’ve been at at least one wedding where 90% of the dancing was either the prescribed kind–Bride and Groom, then add members of the wedding party, etc.–or the uninhibited kids kind. The only minimum I’ve known of is that if your child is too young to behave appropriately at a wedding, maybe the child shouldn’t be at the wedding itself (and I’ve known of at least one bride who didn’t want babies at her wedding because she didn’t want them to steal her spotlight. Which was fair on the one hand, and annoying on the other–the person I heard about this from was still breastfeeding her baby, and being able to take the baby to the ceremony and reception would have made life easier. As it was, the child’s father skipped the wedding in favor of caring for his child in an unknown town–not that he minded, the wedding was family of the child’s mother). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/29 "2008-11-19T14:10:34Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > Well, my 2 month old cousin once removed was a bit too young to participate in the dancing at my wedding, but I’d still have to say there isn’t one. Wait…past tense? How did I miss that this actually happened? DID I miss that this actually happened? Or am I just having a major, major blond moment and I actually knew and congratulated you and everything and just can’t remember? (Yes, I could really do with a social secretary. Or at least a handler…) ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/30 "2008-11-19T14:15:13Z")
> [@Tamex](#): > > As soon as you can walk, you can dance. I’ve been to weddings where the little kids are the only ones who are dancing! Even walking isn’t necessary. I’ve seen plenty of babies dancing with their mothers or fathers. OH THE HORROR! ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/31 "2008-11-19T14:17:11Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > So, dancing at the same time as the adults is okay? As opposed to running and sliding on the dance floor before the music starts, but being obligated to get out of the way when the grownups are dancing? I’d think it would be difficult to dance at all with a stick up your ass. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/32 "2008-11-19T14:47:03Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > So, dancing at the same time as the adults is okay? As opposed to running and sliding on the dance floor before the music starts, but being obligated to get out of the way when the grownups are dancing? At most of my friends wedings, I’ve noticed little distinction (except that the adults are taller obviously). We started a breakdance contest at the last one and the grooms younger brother (younger as in 30 years old) ended up spliting his pants. Classic. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/33 "2008-11-19T18:41:10Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Sounds like your mother came of age when couples dancing was the only Proper Dancing. Guess so. There’s also the matter of neither of my parents liking to dance at all. I remember my mom once being dragged to her feet by her brother, and my dad ditto by his female cousin, but apart from that, nothing, so I must have been following their example. When I was ~7, I did see a younger cousin dancing with her dad, pointed this out to my mom, and was told, “Well, her father spoils her.” And I was excluded from a childfree wedding when I was **15** , but I just saw that as my being let off the hook. (For some odd reason, I didn’t want to go.) Reason I ask, I’m to be a bridesmaid in February, and the bride was lauding my kid-wrangling skills to her mother – “Oh, Rilch is so good with kids! Not only do they like her, they actually _mind_ her!” And I could see where that was going, not that it bothers me, but I wanted to know what I was up against. I have seen wee ones dancing at weddings in the '90s and 2Ks, but I assumed it was either a new development or an L.A. thing. Good to know it’s just normal. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/34 "2008-11-19T18:49:12Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Reason I ask, I’m to be a bridesmaid in February, and the bride was lauding my kid-wrangling skills to her mother – “Oh, Rilch is so good with kids! Not only do they like her, they actually _mind_ her!” And I could see where that was going, not that it bothers me, but I wanted to know what I was up against. I have seen wee ones dancing at weddings in the '90s and 2Ks, but I assumed it was either a new development or an L.A. thing. Good to know it’s just normal. It is normal now I think. But it does sound like the bride has Something In Mind for you - better find out what! It’s most important to find out what she thinks is appropriate. For what it’s worth, I think if you suggest either the tot mosh pit or the helium balloon safety flags, you’ll be golden. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/35 "2008-11-19T19:10:19Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > So, dancing at the same time as the adults is okay? As opposed to running and sliding on the dance floor before the music starts, but being obligated to get out of the way when the grownups are dancing? Kids can dance but if they’re horsing around and getting in the way then someone (parents I"m looking at you) should sort them out. ---
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/36 "2008-11-19T19:34:26Z")
I think the “kids” you have to control are the teenagers. 😉 I was at one wedding where the bride’s 15-year-old cousin was shaking her booty like a hip-hop video dancer. She was actually really good - but with her make-up and low-cut dress, she definitely didn’t look 15, and it was seriously oogy to watch the much older men ogling her. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/37 "2008-11-19T20:37:50Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Weird. I don’t remember ever dancing at a wedding when I was a kid. I do remember being told that if the one boy my age wanted to dance with me, I could, but since he didn’t, I was SOL. I also remember one time, starting to bop to the beat (must have been during the disco era) and being warned by my mom to sit down and stop making a fool of myself. So when the subject came up, I assumed my job would be to keep the kids corralled **off** the dance floor. Good thing I didn’t say anything to that effect! So you… you never danced on your daddy’s shoes at a wedding? I think I has a sad. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/38 "2008-11-19T20:41:06Z")
I remember being a child and dancing with my Grandfather at an older cousin’s wedding. It’s a very wonderful memory for me. I felt very important dancing to “Rock Around the Clock” with my Grandfather twirling me around. He’s been gone for almost 30 years and it’s my most vivid memory of him. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378/39 "2008-11-20T05:44:49Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Weird. I don’t remember ever dancing at a wedding when I was a kid. I do remember being told that if the one boy my age wanted to dance with me, I could, but since he didn’t, I was SOL. I also remember one time, starting to bop to the beat (must have been during the disco era) and being warned by my mom to sit down and stop making a fool of myself. So when the subject came up, I assumed my job would be to keep the kids corralled **off** the dance floor. Good thing I didn’t say anything to that effect! Really? That’s so not right. I’m sorry. ☹ Yeah, **Rilch** , just make sure no one is getting in anyone’s way, getting trampled, or tripped over. But other than that, let the kiddies join in! (I’m sure their parents will love it later when it’s time for bed-no problems getting them to fall asleep!) Hell, I still remember a family wedding when my ten-year-old cousin caught the garter. 😉 On the other hand, I think SOMETIMES, weddings are kids-free too simply because of financial circumstances. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-to-dance-at-a-wedding/473378.md?page=1)