Weddings, the After Party
If you want to keep your wedding going long after your reception time is up and the band goes home, consider an after party. This event can be immediately following your reception at a nearby site and it will keep the good times rolling. But you have to plan ahead.
Make is easy for your guests to continue the celebration. It can be at a nearby bar or club as long as you have reserved space and tables. Make arrangements for the tab to be paid entirely by you. It might be easy to have the party in the same building as the reception for example in the hotel lounge.
Invite as much as your party as you wish. If it is going to be a designated part of your wedding reception plans, you can include the information on the invitations. You can also treat the party as a surprise part of the reception. As the wedding is winding down, your band or DJ can make an announcement that the bride and groom are inviting guest to join them at a given location.
Have snacks served. Two big trends in after-party fare are comfort foods (like cheeseburgers, fries, soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches) and sweet foods (like coolies, ice cream, candy and crepe stands). It does not need to be a heavy meal. It is also acceptable to limit the party to drinks. You can bring your own music to play or consider a group activity, like karaoke or a sing-along.