If you can’t stand the thought of your wedding ending, why not keep the fun going into the wee hours of the morning? After the formal reception concludes, more and more couples are inviting their friends to keep celebrating with them in an after-party. Take a look at these great ideas for wedding after-parties.

The after-party should reflect your taste and also the tastes of your friends. For instance, if you and your friends love nature and being outside, this could be the inspiration for your post-reception celebration. After the reception officially ends, invite your friends to join you around a bonfire for singing, dancing, and even homemade s’mores. It is a fun way to kick back and relax with your close friends, especially if a lot of them will be coming in from out of town. Just be sure to note on the invitations that a bonfire will follow the reception and let guests know to bring a casual change of clothes so they can fully enjoy the experience.

Another really fun idea for a wedding after-party is a karaoke party. Hire a d.j. and bring in the microphones and other equipment to encourage everyone to get up on stage and belt out their favorite tunes. The conclusion of a wedding is a great time for a karaoke party, because most people will already have a few shots of “liquid courage” in them to help them release their inner diva. The bride should be sure to have a sassy party dress to change into, along with big sparkly Swarovski crystal earrings to really get into the party spirit. Is is cheating to practice your karaoke songs ahead of time? Probably, but as the bride, it is your perogative!

A swanky cocktail lounge is another excellent wedding after-party. If space permits, you can set up the lounge in a separate part of your reception venue. At the conclusion of the formal reception, invite your guests to join you in the lounge for specialty cocktails. Set up lots of comfy seating areas to encourage conversation. Low sofas and cushy chairs grouped around coffee tables are perfect. It would be great to hire a smoky lounge singer to perform at your after-party, or simply use recorded music to create the perfect ambiance. How about a white paillete cocktail dress for the bride, with a sparkling pair of Swarovski crystal earrings to match the lounge theme?

If most of your out of town guests will be staying in the same hotel, that could be a convenient location for a party after the reception. It could be as informal as an announcement that the newlyweds will be heading to the bar at such and such hotel, and they would love to see their friends there. If you want to be a little more organized about it, see if the hotel has a private room in their lounge or restaurant. Another option is to rent a suite in the hotel and stock it with drinks and snacks for a fun after-party. Any of these options are very appealing when the wedding is done by the early evening and guests will be looking for something to do for the rest of the night. Keeping the party going sure beats staring at the walls in your hotel room!

Almost anything can work for a wedding after-party, as long as it is fun and not too stuffy. After the formalities of the wedding, it is great to let your hair down, so to speak. Everyone could head out to a nightclub for dancing, they could go the diner that was the favorite hangout during your college years, or it could even be a party in your living room. Wherever you decide to host your wedding after-party, spread the word in advance by email or by word of mouth, or just make an announcement at the end of the reception. There is nothing like keeping a great time going on all night!

Author Bio: Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about weddings, style, and etiquette. Visit us at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ for the most fabulous collection of Swarovski crystal earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding after party ideas, wedding after parties, Swarovski crystal earrings