And after the party... there's the after-party

 
By Kate Sullivan
CTW Features
 

When the clock strikes midnight, forget turning in -- it's time to turn it up. The hottest trend in weddings today is the after-hours, after-party.

While Hollywood takes credit for starting most trends, the after-party has more organic origins. "More than being influenced by Hollywood, this trend is a reflection of the reality that many couples don't have a chance to see their friends, particularly those who live in other cities, as often as they'd like," says Millie Martini Bratten, editor-in-chief of Brides magazine. For couples inundated by life's commitments, buddy time takes a back seat. For a couple kicking off the beginning of their adventure together, the after-party has become "a stylish but unfussy way to spend more time with those closest to them," says Bratten. Unlike most fads born from the bright lights of the young and famous, this sentimental trend appears to have real staying power.

Unfussy it may be, but the best after-party is no last-minute affair. A late-night post-reception bash takes some planning.



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Born from the idea to keep the fun flowing, the after-party caters to younger generations. It's the time after the reception for them to cut loose, and for the dancing and celebrating to continue. So keep your core group in mind and limit the guest list. Your Dad's golf partner might have made the wedding invite list, but unless he can name your favorite flavor of ice cream and recall your days as a rocking teen-ager -- he should skip the after-party. Everyone will be riding the reception high -- now the bride and groom and the old gang can let it all out. But before getting crazy, get creative.

"Most after-parties are the antithesis of the formality of the reception," says New York City event planner Lyndsey Hamilton. With no parents to please or etiquette rules to follow, the after-party takes whatever form the couple craves. From a hip lounge theme, complete with a cigar bar for the boys and a specialty martini bar for the ladies, to a late-night dance-a-thon with pizza by the slice from a favorite local joint, the after-party incorporates the personality of the couple.

For one client of event planner Sasha Souza of Napa, Calif., this meant a low-key continuation of their ranch-themed wedding. They wrote directions to a nearby bar on a chalkboard outside the reception. They hired a local taco truck to park outside the bar, and distributed coupons for food. Eighty of the couple's closest friends feasted on late-night nachos and burritos while others played pool and danced inside the bar, which was open solely to the wedding party.

Keeping the fun flowing doesn't have to mean keeping the cash flowing. Souza's southwestern soirée cost less than $600 for the bar and food. You can find ways to keep an after-party cash-conscious but you can also take it over the top. Souza recalls one after-party held in a room adjoining the reception hall. At about 1 a.m., when most of the 300 guests had left, the doors opened and the remaining 70 revelers entered a room filled with furniture bursting with blues, greens and leopard prints, complete with a 16-foot ice bar and two DJs.

Convenience counts

When it comes to the after-party, your first option is to call the bar at the hotel where most out-of-town guests are lodging. Make sure to ask how late the bar stays open and give an estimate of the time you and your entourage will arrive. Ask about the crowd at that time of night. Will you need to reserve an area? Will you have the place to yourself? You'll want to speak with a manager to cover the basic details.

No hotel bar? No problem. For smaller crowds, style up one of your friend's suites and have an in-room party. Be sure to contact the hotel manager to check about late-night noise levels.

If the hotel gives you the "Do Not Disturb" treatment, don't panic; just look to a nearby watering hole. Many bars will set deals and work with large parties. Be sure to connect with the manager of the bar and speak with someone who will be there on the night of the party so there is no confusion.

Music is a must

Guests danced the night away to your band or DJ, so just press a button for your next party. Use your iPod or MP3 player to line up your special tunes, or create a play list to set the mood.

Some sound advice from Ayom Siengo, Chicago DJ and owner of Chicago Event Makers: " '80s music never goes out of style and pop music now is cooler. It no longer means boy bands. Today's pop is hot and fun." So keep the J Timberlake loaded. Siengo warns, though, that a skilled DJ can bring an energy and flow that an iPod simply cannot provide. So if you can swing it, hiring a live person to do your musical medley is worth the investment. And if you had a DJ at the reception, you might be able to get a deal for late night.



Clothes call

Nothing says diva like an outfit change. From Britney Spears to Melania Trump, brides alter the outfit for Act Two. The dress you wore all day might have worn out its welcome. It's time for something shorter, more dance-move friendly. Think hip and easy to slip into. Keep it a shade of white, keep it lacy and keep it bridal. Steer clear of couture and aim for cocktail.

So whether you crave a larger-than-life or a low-key after-party, your memories won't be made from foie gras or flowers: they'll live on in the shared laughter and love with those who know you best.

Keep the mood light, the atmosphere right and get ready to fill another wedding album with photos from the after-party.