... so what happens after the wedding?

While it may feel like the wedding day is the end-all-be-all
time keeps moving, so plan ahead
what will you do After your wedding festivities?
​You may decide to start with an...

Afterparty

Who's Coming

Are you inviting...
  • All guests 
  • 'Youngsters only'
  • Friends
  • Cousins / relatives

Tell Them

Have a plan to invite your guests.
  • Will it be a select few that you invite personally?
  • Will there be a point person leading the charge? ​
  • The DJ can make an announcement at the end of the reception

Location Location Location

Where is this party? 
  • In your bridal suite
  • A separate suite (letting you and your newly married spouse can have the room to yourself)
  • Hotel bar
  • Venue's afterparty space
  • Nearby club​

When

  • Often afterparties happen right after the reception ends
  • It may also make sense to start 30 minutes later if it takes time to get there
  • Another important decision is...Will you be attending? Will the fun start without you? 

Ambiance

You have probably been to an afterparty that is just 'a room' and those are rarely the fun ones 

You want yours to be 'the place to be' not just 'a place'

Have a plan for music, seating, food, drinks, lighting. 

Are you having fun yet?

Give people something to do!

Set up for drinking games
Have snacks pre-ordered and delivered
Assign someone to be your 'DIY' DJ
​(or hire a DJ)

Set Up the Fun Stuff

Music
  • If you're not hiring a professional, who can take charge of DIY music? 
  • You'll need a speaker
  • A quality playlist that is ready to go
  • A device that will connect to the speaker
    • ​I recommend using a 'second' device that can be plugged in. 
    • If you use someone's cell phone they will likely get a call or text and have to interrupt the fun. Use a secondary device so it can play uninterrupted
    • Plug in with a wire. This means you don't have to worry about 'sync' issues
Food​
  • What do you do after a fun night out? Often its time for late-night-favorites
  • Pre-plan your food, pre-order food from the venue / hotel
  • Plan to have someone go on a fast-food run
  • Order pizza
  • *note that late night dining is usually hard to get because everyone wants the same thing at the same time, so it will be important to plan ahead if you want the food to come through
  • Having the food 'ready and waiting' is a good way to get people to congregate and hang out instead of peaking in and deciding to go to bed instead
Drinks
  • This is a more work than it may seem
  • *If you are doing it in a private room, you are free to manage this on your own. If you have rented a space, there may be some rules surrounding it
  • You'll need: cups, ice, alcohol, mixers. The simpler you can make this for you, the easier it will be to execute it
Games
  • Set up some fun
  • Tables, cups, coins, shot glasses, water bottle
Ambiance
  • If you can have couches, comfortable seating that will go a long way
  • Having gentle lighting is also nice, although this can be hard to arrange