"Things to Do for a Satisfying After-Party Without Games or Entertainment: A Guest Engagement Checklist"

2019.11.10 published

What to do for the wedding after-party...?

Are you a bride planning a second party after the wedding and reception? Have you decided on the details of the party?

When we think of after-parties, performances from guests and games are the norm, but...

“I don’t really like games”

“I feel bad asking for performances”

This kind of thinking has been spreading.

In reality, when the after-party is all about games, the main couple doesn’t get to talk much, and sometimes only a select few get excited...

Especially as you get older past your thirties, the energy from games and performances at the after-party can become tough.

Therefore, there are likely many grooms and brides who say, “I absolutely do not want to do performances or games!”

Is it okay to have an after-party without games or performances?

So, what about an after-party without games or performances?

The typical length of an after-party is about 2 to 3 hours. Having all of that as just chatting time feels a bit too long and worrisome, right?

However, doing games or performances that you’re not into is even worse.

You want to have a satisfying after-party where you can drink, laugh, and enjoy with close friends!

You can have a fun after-party even without games or performances ♡

For brides who feel this way, we’ve summarized the must-have elements and hospitality for an “after-party without games or performances.”

By incorporating the contents introduced in this article, there’s no doubt that your after-party will be fun without having to do cumbersome performances or childish games! ♡

➡ If you haven't decided on an after-party venue yet, consider consulting the "LINE Advisor"! They can introduce you to venues that meet your conditions from a carefully selected list of venues by marry!

After-party performance and hospitality idea ① Focus on the food

If your after-party has few activities, the most important aspect to emphasize is the food.

Without time for performances or games, you will inevitably spend more time eating the food.

If the selection is limited or it’s all junk food, guests might think, “The food is mediocre, and there are no performances, so was there even a point in coming... (I attended the reception too...)”

Instead of cheap izakayas or dining places, choose a venue known for its delicious food, like a nice restaurant or a stylish café.

Also, having buffet options like dessert buffets, ochazuke buffets, or sushi buffets, where the menu changes midway, is well-received! ♡

There are few after-parties where guests can truly enjoy the food, so that alone can significantly enhance their satisfaction!

After-party performance and hospitality idea ② Provide enough chairs for everyone

For an after-party without games or performances, it's essential to have enough chairs for guests to relax and chat!

In fact, it might be a good idea to set up a seated style from the start and assign seats! ♡

If you can sit comfortably and chat with close friends, 2 to 3 hours will fly by.

It might also be nice for the couple to decide on a specific time, like “5 minutes per table,” and have guests rotate like a table round. (Make sure to prepare extra chairs at the tables!)

After-party performance and hospitality idea ③ Opening movie

By playing an opening movie for the after-party before the couple’s entrance, you can boost the guests' mood! ♡

Having an opening movie makes the party feel properly prepared.

It’s a good idea to have a casual and friendly message that differs from the reception’s opening movie.

If a lot of guests are coming only for the after-party, it’s also okay to reuse the opening movie from the reception.

@kh_wedding0224

After-party performance and hospitality idea ④ Display a lot of photos

If you display many photos on the walls of the venue, guests will enjoy reminiscing about the moments when they see them! ♡

Instead of being selective, prepare as many photos as possible for visual appeal.

To avoid guests thinking, “There weren’t any pictures of us…” make sure to include photos of all groups of guests!

Additionally, creating a memory photo corner with middle school or high school graduation albums on the tables could become popular ♩

@yuri.wedding11

After-party performance and hospitality idea ⑤ Guest book

To prevent guests from feeling bored, it’s good to have interactive elements that promote guest involvement.

A recommendation is to have guests write messages on unique items!

“What is this? It's my first time!” or “What should I write?” can get guests engaged.

☑ Jenga

☑ Soccer ball

☑ Stuffed animal

☑ Tapestry

☑ World map

Choose items that reflect the couple’s personality!

@kh_wedding0224

If using smaller items, it’s advisable to prepare multiple to allow simultaneous signing (otherwise, a line may form, creating stress for guests).

While it’s customary for guests to sign before the after-party starts, in the case of no performances, having them do it during the mingle time as the party begins might work well! ♡

After-party performance and hospitality idea ⑥ Provide a photo booth

Longer mingling time means more time for taking pictures. It’s recommended to have a photo booth so that guests can enjoy taking photos! ♡

The bride and groom should actively move to the photo booth and take plenty of pictures with the guests＊

@misa1007.wedding

After-party performance and hospitality idea ⑦ Cake cutting

Incorporating wedding-like elements is also a plus!

The classic choice is cake cutting! ♡ Guests who attend from the after-party can experience a bit of the reception vibe.

Let’s also enjoy the first bite with a relaxed approach ♩

Instead of a regular wedding cake, many brides opt for unique wedding cakes like cupcake towers or donut towers.

@yuki_txs

Alternatively, meat cutting or cutting a ham can also be a great choice! Guests will likely appreciate it more than cake! ♡

If the newlyweds personally serve the cut food to the guests, that alone can pass a good amount of time! ♡

An after-party without games or performances can still be enjoyable ♡

We’ve shared hospitality and performance ideas for an after-party without games or performances.

Brides who are hesitant about doing performances or games at the wedding’s after-party can feel reassured! ♡

During the mingling time, the newlyweds should visit guests and chat a lot!

With delicious food, nostalgic photos, and quality time with the couple at the forefront, your after-party is sure to be a great success! ♡

When there are no games or performances, particularly choosing the after-party venue is crucial! *

Since the focus is more on the atmosphere of the venue and the food, if you choose a subpar venue, guests may think, “There were no games or performances, the food was mediocre, and the venue was small and dark, making it hard to take nice photos...”

For brides who want to emphasize the after-party venue, consider consulting with marry’s LINE advisor! *

When you share your desired conditions (distance from the ceremony venue, budget, number of guests, whether or not to have games or performances, etc.), they can introduce you to after-party venues that meet your needs! *

The venues introduced by the advisor are selected solely from the 【marry’s carefully chosen】 list of after-party venues. You can check one by one and only be introduced to the venues that you would personally want to visit or recommend to friends! *

Instead of starting from scratch to choose an after-party venue, you can have marry provide the venues they think are good, making the selection process more efficient and straightforward! ♡

Since it’s easy to consult via LINE, feel free to reach out! *

➡ Contact marry’s LINE Advisor here 💬