Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> I never did understand the money tree thing. There is another custom I
> don't understand either. The dollar dance. It looks like the bride is being
> pimped out for cash. I've seen both of them at different weddings. Both in
> the midwest. Maybe it's a midwestern thang except I've only seen it a
> couple of times and it's not common at every midwestern wedding I've
> attended. People that are too busy or lazy to shop for a gift <pointing at
> myself...lazy>, they write a check. I don't see why I have to flip the
> bride a $20 bill for a dance on top of it or tack a bill on the tree.
>
> Michael

I think it comes from lower socio-economic groups who tried to help
poorer couples set up house, not unlike a mutual aid society. Not the
same thing as these days where people should be working and self
sufficient before marriage. It was survival then, now it is greed. Tacky
as hell too.