After Your Wedding Reception

Some newly married couples choose to stick around after the wedding reception and revel in the opportunity to have all of their dearest friends and relatives at their side. And why not? For most of us, it is a rare day when our closest friends and family are at our side rather than scattered all over the universe. But, without paying for more hours for the entire reception facilities to extend your wedding dance what options do you have for an intimate celebration after the wedding reception?

Bond Fire on the Beach

If you are having a beach wedding and live in an area where you are allowed to have a bond fire on the beach, this can be a wonderful way for close friends to wind down and enjoy each other's company. Just invite your guests to bring a change of more casual clothes to change into after the formal aspect of your wedding reception is done so they can feel comfortable as your (potentially more intimate) group moves on to the next phase of your wedding celebration - your beach bond fire.

Intimate Coffee House After Reception

If you have the resources and the contacts there is nothing like a late night with your dearest friends hanging out in a coffee house. There are several ways to do this. The obvious option is to find a coffee shop that you can rent out for a couple hours after they would normally close for the night. Unfortunately, that might not be a realistic option depending on your budget.

However, what if I told you that you could achieve a similar after wedding reception get together all while ending up with something tangible - something more than memories of a great night with your friends and family - something you could make use of in your home for years after your wedding reception? Some of you are way ahead of me. That’s right. If you have access to a home that is large enough, host the coffee house in that home (yours or someone else’s) and purchase a good quality personal espresso machine.

Another option, once you have found a suitable location, is to hire a traveling barista to provide the drinks for your intimate after wedding reception. You provide the soothing music and good company to your after wedding reception (late night?) affair.

Star Gazing

Since most weddings are pretty much all day affairs and at least several hours long by the time you combine a ceremony that fills most of an hour and a reception which can easily last five or six hours, why not end the night by traveling to a nearby favorite park for a quite time of star gazing with your closest friends. Bring along some blankets and some coffee and spend some time after your wedding reception contemplating the beauty of the universe. This is a wonderful way to wind down after a hectic day of celebrating your nuptials.

Of course you can mix and match. Hire a traveling barista to set up near where you go to gaze at the stars. Go for a midnight swim (please, no alcohol - we do not want a tragedy).

Speaking of alcohol, why not arrange with a local wine tasting room for a special reception for your intimate after wedding celebration?  Likewise you could go for a bike ride if the time of day and weather permits.

The point is, after your new husband has taken your garter belt and you have tossed your bouquet, the celebration with your closest friends does not have to end. All you have to do is choose something that you and your family and friends like to do together as a way of enjoying your time together after your wedding reception.