Wedding After-Party Guide: The 11 Biggest Tips to Throw a Legendary Bash

Let’s cover the basics and a few eccentric ideas to organize the most legendary wedding after-party ever.

A fab after-party at a NYC rooftop. Definitely on fleek.

The wedding after-party trend is steadily growing into a nuptial delight for newlyweds. Wedding rockers know that the real, wild celebration only begins at the post-wedding celebration.

Nobody wants to go home at the venue’s cut-off time, so instead of trying to sort out where to go after the reception – and we know how that usually goes – why not plan an out of this world’s wedding after-party?

What is a Wedding After-Party?

It is a basically a post-wedding get-together: an informal way of prolonging the festivities into after hours and beyond.

More of a post-wedding reception party when you don’t want the last dance to remain the last dance. Amiright?

Why Organize a Wedding After-Party

Besides being a great way to let loose the party animal in guests, a wedding after-party gifts the revelers amongst them with a memorable event. A wedding after-party provides a converging point for all-night excitement and reunion. Sure, you’d want to stretch your most memorable day to its limits with the people that matter most.

In fact, a post-wedding celebration is a lovely intimate affair. Since you were too bogged down with chatter at the reception with several guests, you barely had time for your “real ones.” Thanks to a post-wedding reception party, you can reconnect and show your gratitude with all-night fun, snacks and drinks.

After all, more and more couples are opting out of the traditional departure at the end of the reception to continue the party at the wedding after-party!

Disco wedding after-party a classic by Revelry Event Design.

Following the reception, the after-party.

How to Invite to the Post Wedding Reception Bash

Here’s how to set to the ball rolling.

Via word of mouth, a Facebook event, email or formal invitations, send invites to the selects you’d want to thrash out the night with. However way you choose, make sure to give guests heads-up before the reception. This brings us to the next question.

Hang out after the wedding reception with your framily at the beach. Perfect for the most boho of couples.

Who hasn’t dreamt of a post wedding reception at the beach? Love the decor.

Whom to Invite

Invite close friends and framily and mostly party animals you are sure would definitely want to turn up. Take into consideration that other late-night owls may want to join in, and you cannot turn them down. In all, be careful with planning your accommodations so you don’t over or undershoot your budget. Not many people have the spirit to rock into the wee hours of the morning, and that plays in your favor. 😉

Wedding after-party location ideas nobody will ever forget.

Summer or spring entertaining for a post wedding reception party. Long table garden party lunch in the vineyards.

Fairy lights will make your after-party look so magical.

Wedding After-Party Location Ideas Nobody Will Ever Forget

Location, location, location. To ensure a smashing success, choose a venue that is relatively close to your wedding reception.

Whether you opt for something intimate or elaborate, choose a unique ambiance for your wedding after-party. You can book a small hotel suite, a really cool rooftop, or a boat!

But if you have overshot your budget with the wedding, look for spots like bowling alleys, hotel bars or lounges that don’t require rental fees and are open until really late (or really early). Just make a reservation in advance and give them and approximate head count. Moreover, since it might just be a small crowd, you can all chill in the rustic glow of your backyard. The choice is yours.

If you are able to throw a post reception bash at a Manhattan rooftop, go for it! It will be memorable.

Southern couples can host their after-party blowout by a lit pool on their backyard. Swoon!

Elegant New Year’s eve wedding after-party at a private residence in Fort Myers, Florida. Photographer: Christian David Photo.

Post Wedding Celebration: Bring the Décor

Make it yours. A good rule of thumb is to shake things up with your wedding after-party. Be it swank or hardcore, remember to make the post-wedding reception party match your personality.

Decorations shouldn’t be a big deal for an intimate wedding after-party. Reuse floral décor and party lights from the reception, if necessary. That is, if the venue of the post-wedding isn’t at the reception or it’s not a place where no added decor is needed. But if you feel the need to dazzle, go for an opposite feel to the actual wedding. Get your bridesmaids and groomsmen working on that tropical, country, or Bohemian look for your wedding after-party theme.

Host a wedding after-party if you want to stretch your most memorable day to its limits with the people that matter most.

Keep the party going after the band has packed up. Grab a few of the decorations and take them to the wedding after-party!

Unique decor for a picnic after-party with Photo Booth. Let the good times roll!

Post Wedding Reception Party Fun!

Have a change of clothes handy for both of you and the wedding party! Unless you want to have a “Trash the Dress” session at your after-party, of course.

Let there be dance. What’s a party without music? If the venue doesn’t provide music, invite a DJ or have that cousin whip out the old iPod or Spotify and blast that fire playlist on speakers.

Let the fun begin. Be it a wild or a mellow affair, make your post-party celebration a fun with talks and even party games. Add a DIY Photo Booth, organize a game of “flip cup” or a scavenger hunt, hang a piñata or a game of pin the tail on the donkey. If your party is at the beach, how about a volleyball game? You can decorate the net with Christmas lights.

Musical instruments or live musicians. Make your wedding after-party legendary.

Serve some empanadas to satisfy your framily cravings!

Let’s not Forget the Food & Drinks

Let tasty midnight snack and drinks flow. From leftover cakes to burgers and fries and milkshakes, keep the munchies coming. Did somebody say food trucks? Another great idea is a pizza bar or doughnuts for breakfast time. And maybe some mojitos or wine to ease the night.

Delight your framily with a family style late late dinner. Spaghetti after midnight will be an unexpected and affordable surprise. Delish!

Everyone loves food. Treat your wedding guests to a fabulous pizza bar and they’ll walk away singing your praises.

Grilled pesto vegetable pizzas for your post-ceremony reception. A vegetarian meal with fantastic smoky flavor. Recipe: Cookin’ Canuck.

Wedding After-Party Photo Gallery Ideas: They Rock!

A bohemian table setting for an all out wedding after-party.

All good things must come to an end. Book transportation—bus shuttles or Lyft— for your guests, if necessary.

Whatever you decide, make the wedding after-party legen (wait for it) dary! Now check out some more wedding planning ideas!

Bid farewell to your guests with an After Party Pretzel. They will gobble them up!

Make sure to hand out some wedding hangover survival kit favor bags. They’ll be greatly appreciated.

Discover More Stunning Wedding Ideas

Photography Credits: smp, mydomaine, Bespoke Bride, Two for Style, Cosmopolitan UK, hollanderdesign, The Knot, Camille Styles, Brit Morin, Whim Event Design, Southernliving, Futurist Architecture, suburbansoapbox, buzzfeed, Huffpost