A rising trend among newlywed millennials is the afterhours party. A post-reception soirée where the friends and family of the couple can celebrate in the more casual atmosphere. While wedding receptions are great fun, I can understand why the couple would feel the need to get away and unwind. Receptions are tied in ritual like the cutting of the cake and traditional dances. At times it can feel like the couple is also tied to the Bride and Groom table. So if you and your partner feel an afterhours party is right for you. Here are some tips that will make the planning and implementation easier for you.
- Decide if it’s Right
While it can be easy to love the idea of the afterhours party, there are specifics to consider if you are committed to having one. First and foremost: who is it for? You’ll want to decide early on if the afterhours party will be family or not. Some families welcome laid back environs and will be right at home at the dive bar or playing bowling after the reception, yet while couples may rejoice in specific cultural traditions of their wedding, they may want to break away from that afterwards to change up the pace.
Timing is also important, If you’re already having an evening wedding, and thus the reception will already be going into the late hours, then you’ll want to consider just how late is right for you and your guests (remember, some may have an early morning drive or flight). Make a specific afterhours party Facebook group, and discuss ideas and logistics ahead of time.
- So You’re Having One, What to Do?
This may seem like an easy option. The popular choice is the dive bar or a night out on the city. Those are great choices, but if you’re going the dive bar route, make it a place that knows the couple, if possible. If you are looking for a relaxed time where everyone can unwind, it helps to choose a place where you have roots. Also schedule ahead of time with the owners. One, they usually prepare some banners or decorations that really personalize the experience and two, they can make sure they are staffed correctly. While everyone welcome’s business, they may not be appreciative to have a surprise wedding party drop-in when they staffed for a graveyard shift.
Also, don’t be afraid to think outside the box, while I’ve enjoyed going to bars for an afterhours party, my fondest memories involve fun and unexpected activities (bowling, miniature golf, laser tag, yes, laser tag). Set the groups to family-vs-family or Bridal Party-vs-Groomsmen –hilarity ensures quickly after. Oh, and as a final piece of advice, make arrangements for a change of clothes. The longer people are in rentals, the more chances there are for something to be spilled or torn –it should be added as a subscript of Murphy’s Law.
