after-party

The Meteoric Rise of the Wedding After-Party

It goes without saying that 2020 and 2021 was a year unlike any the human race has experienced in recent history. One of the biggest changes caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, for example, was the complete halt of the wedding industry. Though plenty of couples found creative alternatives like hosting their nuptials over Zoom, it seems that 2022 is looking much brighter for those planning to get married. One of the biggest trends experts are noticing so far is the rise of the wedding after-party. Though far from a new concept, the after-party has recently taken off.

The Reason for A After-Party

The main purpose of the after-party is to keep the festivities of the wedding reception going after the guests have to leave the venue. Since so many people were physically kept away from each other by the restrictions of 2020 and 2021, it makes total sense that the after-party has become so popular. People want to linger and get as much time in with loved ones as possible, and a party after the reception is an ideal way to accomplish this. If you think this might be a good idea for your own event, there are plenty of options to consider.

Plan From the Start

Though it takes place when the reception has concluded, you absolutely don’t want the after-party to be an afterthought. What this means is that you should factor the party into the budget from the very beginning. Being fun and spontaneous about keeping the party going might seem nice in theory, but you’ll need money to make it happen. Whether you go out somewhere or have the crowd come back to your house, cash will be needed for drinks, food, and whatever else your crew requires. 

Consider the Etiquette 

Depending on the size of the guest list for your event, you likely won’t be able to invite everyone to come to the after-party. While you don’t want to be rude and not invite everyone, you also have to be practical. A good rule of thumb would be to invite the people closest to you, like the members of the wedding party, direct family members, and friends you have known for a long while. Try not to be too strict, however, as it is likely someone who wasn’t invited will hear about the party and tag along.

Don’t include any information about the after-party in your formal invitation. Instead, create a separate list of guests you want to invite and send a text or email about the details. 

Look at the Easiest Transitions

The arrangement of your after-party doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, you’d be better off planning around the easiest transition for your guests. If you have a hotel block reserved for guests, then an easy way to keep the party going is by hosting it in the hotel bar. As a precautionary measure, ask the management staff what time the bar closes and if it will be possible to keep it open a bit later for your guests. The less of a struggle it is to get guests from the reception to the next party, the better. 

Get Ready For The After-Party

Jumping from the ceremony to the reception to the after-party can be a lot for some couples. If you want to have the most fun possible during the last leg of your wedding, factor in a small window to get ready. Give yourself an additional 20 or 30 minutes to change your outfit and freshen up in whatever way you need to. There will definitely be pictures at the after-party, so you don’t want to be caught by surprise in a state of disarray. 

After a year like 2020, spending as much time as possible with loved ones can be a true joy. If you want to encourage this for your upcoming wedding, be sure to think about the exciting option of the after-party and how it lends itself to good times.

Putting Together Your Wedding After-Party

Many couples opt for an after-party to keep the party going after the reception, and give themselves more time to celebrate in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Many couples opt for an after-party to keep the party going after the reception, and give themselves more time to celebrate in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Though there are many facets to a wedding, most people will agree that it is pretty much one big party. Still, when it is your own wedding, you may feel like you don’t have enough time to really get down and enjoy yourself in the way you’d like. Brides and grooms often get caught up in the flow of the night, rushing around to various guests to say hello and take care of activities like cutting the cake, tossing the bouquet, and listening to speeches. To really enjoy your own wedding, you may want to consider an after-party.

The idea of the after-party is nothing new. The purpose of this type of event is to keep the energy and revelry of the wedding going after guests need to leave the venue. Follow these suggestions and see how you can put together an after-party you will truly love.

Pick the Space

The first and most important decision you’re going to have to make for an after-party is choosing the location. You are going to be somewhat limited in where you can go, but you can use this to your advantage. Guests will most likely have spent the night drinking and dancing, meaning you do not want to select a location that is far away from the reception venue. Instead, try and search for local bars or clubs that might be able to accommodate your group when everyone is ready to shift to the next part of the night.

In many cases, you might be able to work with the hotel where you and your guests will be staying the night of the wedding. Hotel bars can be a wonderful place to throw your after-party because most of the guests will already be planning on heading to the hotel at the end of the night. Throwing your after-event here allows everyone the opportunity to run to their rooms, change into more comfortable clothes, and get back down to the lobby for a bit more carousing before bed.

Create the Scene

Another important aspect of throwing the after-party is making sure that it still feels like a celebration, rather than a bunch of people grabbing drinks at a bar. To achieve this, try and plan ahead with some ideas for décor. Sprucing up the place where you throw your after-party and giving it a bit of pizazz can help to invigorate the space and remind your guests that they are still in “wedding celebration mode.” Of course, you’ll want to keep the décor as simple as possible because you won’t have a lot of time for setting things up.

One surefire solution for décor is to use what you already have purchased for your wedding reception. The centerpieces and decorations lining your venue can come in handy when the time for the after-party arrives. Simply assign a few members of your wedding party the task of gathering certain key pieces of décor from the venue before the night ends. Have these individuals head to the after-party location a little earlier than the other guests to set things up. This can make a big difference when it comes to keeping the excitement going.

Don’t Forget Munchies

Finally, your friends and relatives are probably going to be hungry after a night of revelry. The easiest way to make sure everyone has a snack is by ordering some pizzas and having them arrive at the after-party at the same time as your guests. You can also consider more advanced ideas like hiring a food truck to come to the venue parking lot. As long as guests have something to eat, you can be as simple or creative as you’d like.

Your wedding might speed by you so fast that you don’t have a chance to enjoy yourself. Remedy this by planning an after-party where you can have a great time and keep the party going for your guests all night.