Your wedding day is coming to a close, Your ceremony and reception went off perfectly, making your wedding one of the happiest days of your life. And of course you don’t want all of that fun to end! The Good News is You Don’t Have To – there’s a way to extend the celebration—that’s where the After-Party comes in. This event takes place after the reception and usually lasts until the early hours of the morning.
For the newlywed couple, an After-Party is a way to celebrate with guests that they may not have seen much during the reception like family members or friends who have traveled from out of state, especially given the fact that this celebration is typically more intimate. One of the best parts about the after-party? When it comes to the post-reception get-together, there are no set rules when it comes to the location, the décor, or the food. In fact, most after-parties are relatively laid-back and can take place at a pub, bar, hotel or right at your wedding venue.
Plan it—even just a little bit
Even if the thought of planning another full-blown party after you just finished planning a wedding makes your head want to explode, there are a few logistics you need to lock down to ensure your wedding after-party is the fun, stress-free get-tog ether you want it to be. So, do some legwork ahead of time to make sure you can slide into your post-reception celebration drama-free, either by planning it with your coordinator. Call a local desired bar or club to see if you can book a back room, or simply informing asking the hotel where you or some of your guests are staying that you would like to reserve a few tables. You definitely don’t have to make your after-party a huge production, but even the littlest bit of prep will get it started on the right foot.
Provide safe transportation to and from
If you’re hosting the after-party anywhere other than your wedding venue, you must have a transportation plan for your (likely inebriated) guests to get there, and get home or hotel safely when the party finally ends. They are still your guests, which means they’re still your responsibility—and adding more cocktails means absolutely no one should be behind the wheel. You should either extend your wedding transportation rental, or check to see if the city where you’ll be partying has cabs, Uber, Lyft, or any other on-demand car service.
Change up your look 
You have had the most beautiful wedding and it all went perfectly! You have said your “I do’s”, listened to the toasts, and have danced the night away. The night is winding down and it feels like the end of your special day is (sadly) coming to a close. But not so fast—it’s time to change into a wedding after-party outfit and keep the celebration going for a little while longer. Take it from us when we say that after parties are always a good idea, especially if you’ve got a killer outfit to change into. Trade your wedding gown in for a little white dress that will keep all eyes on you for the rest of the night (and make it much easier to move around in.
Don’t forget the after-after-party
We’re talking about the post-wedding brunch. While it may seem extra to have both an after-party and a next-day brunch, remember that these two events serve different purposes. The wedding after-party is to continue the celebration, while the post-wedding brunch is to help your guests recover from the previous night (hello, hangover!) and to say farewell to guests who may be heading home. This is particularly important if you’re hosting a destination wedding, but it’s also a good idea to throw a brunch for a hometown wedding as well.
Most of All – Be you and have fun!
Yes, you have followed a few formalities at your wedding (not to drink too much, and be sure to chat with every guest), but at your wedding after-party, you should feel free to relax, let go and decompress. Enjoy your first night “out” as newlyweds, and don’t get caught up in making sure everything is perfect, or everyone is having the best time—just let the pressure melt away and focus on soaking in those last few hours of your wedding day. If you feel like hosting an after-party is just too stressful for you, consider asking your bridesmaids and groomsmen to plan it for you, or, if you’d rather simply celebrate your evening alone with your spouse in your honeymoon suite, you shouldn’t even feel pressured to throw an after-party at all—the guests who wish to continue the party will find a way with or without you, trust me. However you choose to close out your night, make sure it’s something that makes you happy and won’t cause anxiety, because that’s not the point! And One more thing? Feel free to leave your after-party whenever you like—there’s no need to be the last people there.
