That's an interesting point. I've never been to a wedding without dancing. At my own wedding a few weeks ago, we had a dance floor, but the kids used it mostly for playing with toys. Instead of dancing, the rest of us decided instead to do vodka shots. So there you go.
Simple. Weddings make people think of procreation. Dancing is as close to public sex as you can get in most societies. In fact, it's too close for some. Hence, quite a few religious denominations ban it entirely, and others simply segregate the revlers by gender, but still let them dance.
What's this oy, ogged? I guess I was thinking of wakes and not the part where you stand in a wind-wracked field and toss a handful of dirt over the coffin, but wakes are parts of funerals (or so say I).
I don't normally have to spell things out for you, Ben. Oy, because, even granting that the wake is part of the funeral, not all funerals have wakes (and dancing), so your original point, about dancing and ceremonies, is just wrong. LarryB's point, about procreation and sex, however, is a good one. Though it doesn't explain why no bowling.
Actually, I understood when I wrote "some do" that I was not saying "all do" and that therefore what I had said before was not universally true. I just didn't recognize "oy" as meaning "ah, but do you not see that you have just proved yourself wrong! ho ho!".
I still think that what I said has some truth to it.
I had no dancing at my wedding. So few people know how to dance in formal clothes, and everyone just ends up looking and feeling ridiculous.
We hired a good jazz pianist, had the reception in a furnished penthouse with a view of the sunset, and basically made it a nice cocktail party. A good time was had by all.
We had no dancing at my wedding either. After the ceremony we all walked across the park to a local bar/restaurant. Had a meal, then sat in the bar's garden getting drunk. :)
I endorse bphd's remarks. Dancing made sense when everyone knew how, but those days are past.
Imagining what it would be like to go to a wedding at which your other suggestions are taken seriously is sufficient to undermine them, I think. Have you met my ol' uncle Cephalus?
Larryb nailed it. If procreation sounds too impersonal then call it a mating ritual, or courtship. Either way, it really revs up the urge to merge in the female of the species. They see one of their sisters bagging the big trophy and the hunt is on.
That's an interesting point. I've never been to a wedding without dancing. At my own wedding a few weeks ago, we had a dance floor, but the kids used it mostly for playing with toys. Instead of dancing, the rest of us decided instead to do vodka shots. So there you go.
Posted by freakgirl | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 4:41 PM
Or vodka shots!
Congratulations!
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 4:44 PM
Dancing is what people do when they convene for a ceremony.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 5:43 PM
Like at funerals?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 5:45 PM
Some, yes.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 6:01 PM
Oy.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 6:03 PM
Simple. Weddings make people think of procreation. Dancing is as close to public sex as you can get in most societies. In fact, it's too close for some. Hence, quite a few religious denominations ban it entirely, and others simply segregate the revlers by gender, but still let them dance.
And how many hook-ups are wedding-related?
It all hangs together. It's primal.
Posted by LarryB | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 7:22 PM
Oops, and I, personally, have never been to a wedding without dancing. Heck, pretty much the only time I'm willing to dance is at weddings.
Posted by LarryB | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 7:23 PM
What's this oy, ogged? I guess I was thinking of wakes and not the part where you stand in a wind-wracked field and toss a handful of dirt over the coffin, but wakes are parts of funerals (or so say I).
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 7:56 PM
I don't normally have to spell things out for you, Ben. Oy, because, even granting that the wake is part of the funeral, not all funerals have wakes (and dancing), so your original point, about dancing and ceremonies, is just wrong. LarryB's point, about procreation and sex, however, is a good one. Though it doesn't explain why no bowling.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 8:02 PM
Actually, I understood when I wrote "some do" that I was not saying "all do" and that therefore what I had said before was not universally true. I just didn't recognize "oy" as meaning "ah, but do you not see that you have just proved yourself wrong! ho ho!".
I still think that what I said has some truth to it.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 8:14 PM
I had no dancing at my wedding. So few people know how to dance in formal clothes, and everyone just ends up looking and feeling ridiculous.
We hired a good jazz pianist, had the reception in a furnished penthouse with a view of the sunset, and basically made it a nice cocktail party. A good time was had by all.
Posted by bitchphd | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 10:03 PM
Weddings are romantic events, and dancing is romantic. At least, it can be. Your other suggestions are not.
I'm available for all sorts of easy question.
Posted by Michael | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 10:31 PM
We had no dancing at my wedding either. After the ceremony we all walked across the park to a local bar/restaurant. Had a meal, then sat in the bar's garden getting drunk. :)
Posted by Matt McGrattan | Link to this comment | 09-29-04 11:57 PM
Just went to a wedding which was followed by cricket. The bride was batting (having changed out of her dress) when rain, alas, stopped play.
Posted by ajay | Link to this comment | 09-30-04 7:49 AM
Just went to a wedding which was followed by cricket.
Awesome!
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-30-04 8:41 AM
I endorse bphd's remarks. Dancing made sense when everyone knew how, but those days are past.
Imagining what it would be like to go to a wedding at which your other suggestions are taken seriously is sufficient to undermine them, I think. Have you met my ol' uncle Cephalus?
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 09-30-04 10:46 AM
Or take the old folks five miles away, spin them around, and have them race back to the reception hall, I should have added.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 09-30-04 10:48 AM
Larryb nailed it. If procreation sounds too impersonal then call it a mating ritual, or courtship. Either way, it really revs up the urge to merge in the female of the species. They see one of their sisters bagging the big trophy and the hunt is on.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 09-30-04 1:43 PM