After Party

from Coastal Wedding Magazine Spring/Summer 2022

Central Coast Wedding Venues

Your reception was a blast; the music has come to an end… but why stop now? There are always partiers who refuse to let the good times come to a close, so an after-hours party should definitely be part of the plan. It isn’t just a way to prolong your wedding day, it’s another chance to spend time with your guests.

There are several options to choose from for your post wedding party. Let’s just meet at a bar and everyone pay their own way is a good one but chancy. If the bar is crowded, you don’t want to end up wandering around town in your wedding dress and tuxedos looking for a place to settle. You can call ahead and reserve a room at a popular spot so they will be ready for you when you show up. Lots of places have private rooms, sometimes with pool tables, or even a DJ. You can have food and drink ready and waiting for your guests. Make sure and call ahead of time to reserve your spot. Some reception venues make it simple. They will set it all up in another room off the main room and all you and your guests have to do it walk there and continue the party. If you are in a hotel, a suite can also be a good location for your party. The hotel will have it all set up and ready for you when you arrive. Sometimes if the reception is in a venue that is do it yourself, such as a field or meadow, a backyard, or a county park, you can have the party come to you. Buy extra beverages to put out, call a food truck ahead of time to reserve, and you are all set! Most after parties are more casual than the reception, serve something different than the reception. Guests don’t want sushi when they had fish for dinner. One of the more common choices is a simple buffet with comfort food such as hamburgers, sliders, fries, etc.

Choosing to do an open bar at an after party is your choice. It usually depends on the venue. Obviously, if it’s at a hotel or reception venue, an open bar is the norm. But if you’ve done the open bar for the reception, you can choose not to for the after party. You can also change the beverage choices at an after party. If you had a full open bar at the reception, you can switch it down to wine, beer, nonalcoholic beverages, and coffee for the after party.

Deciding who to invite is up to you. You can invite the whole group, or if you have a select group of friends that you go out with regularly, you can go to a favorite lounge for your after party. If your wedding list was at 200 people you might want to pare it down for the after party and just invite close friends and family.

By the time your reception is over, at least a few of your guests will probably have had a bit too much to drink. Transportation to the after-party should be one of your main concerns -- if the venue is not within walking distance, consider booking a shuttle to get guests around safely, or hire a few cabs to wait outside your reception space when it’s finished.

Who’s paying? Chances are there will be many a guest offering to slap down their credit cards at the bar. Because the after-party is a relatively new wedding trend, there’s no set etiquette for who traditionally pays. The bride’s parents may consider it part of the reception and pay for the after-party, especially if it’s taking place in the same hotel or resort, since it can be easily added to the final bill. On the other hand, many couples choose to pay for the after-party themselves, regardless of who pays for the wedding, since the attendees will generally be the couple’s younger friends. If you’re uncertain on who’s planning on paying, consider offering to split the bill with your parents.

After parties are a fun way to extend your special day. But if you have something early to do the next day, like a family brunch, or a flight to catch for your honeymoon, remember –Pace yourself!