"Things Guests Dislike: Unspoken Disappointments of a Secondary Party"

2019.03.21 published

What Were Guests Displeased About at the After Party?

The After Party Held After the Ceremony and Reception *

It’s a fun party where close colleagues, friends, seniors, and juniors gather to enjoy a more casual and relaxed atmosphere.

But...!

When viewed from the **guest perspective** at the after party,

"There were some things that I found a little annoying."

"It's a celebratory occasion, so I won't say anything, but there are a few things that bothered me."

These negative opinions can be seen scattered across the internet and social media.

Therefore, in this article, I will introduce some realistic opinions from guests (that they can’t directly tell the bride and groom) that should be kept in mind when holding an after party.

① Games with Penalty Systems

At the after party, it’s common to have games where all guests can participate.

However, creating rules where lower-ranked guests have to take a **penalty** while awarding prizes to the top winners is something to be cautious about...!

This is my own experience, but at a recent after party, there was a "Bride and Groom Quiz" where the bottom three participants with the lowest correct answer rates had to drink a bad beverage in front of everyone.

Each person was given a controller, and their answer rates and timing were displayed on the screen.

Since the quiz questions were things like “Where was their first date?” and I could only guess, I ended up ranking about 44th out of 50. (I was really panicking during the result announcement, almost facing a penalty.)

Fortunately (?), the bottom three were lively male friends of the groom, so the penalty time was energetic, but

I felt that if it were a woman, reactions would be expected, and it could lead to an awkward atmosphere.

Therefore, I think it’s better if the games just celebrate the top winners! *

② Not Ending on Time

"Not ending on time" is also one of the things that guests may feel dissatisfied about in their hearts.

It’s often heard that things run over time, but for example:

- The entertainment was poorly prepared and dragged on too long.

- The proceedings were disorganized.

- Many participants arrived right before or were late, which pushed back the start time.

These are problems that could have been addressed with proper preparation, so it’s natural for the invited guests to feel puzzled.

There may be people who traveled a long way by shinkansen or have plans afterward, so it’s essential to keep to the schedule as much as possible! *

③ It Felt Like a Group Date or Street Party

The good thing about the after party is being able to converse and enjoy games with the bride and groom at a close distance, but

typically, everyone is free to drink and get food from the buffet.

There was feedback that there was a complete lack of unity in the venue, like “This is a wedding,”

and when men approached women, it felt more like a group date or street party, which was uncomfortable...

Especially if you participate with just a few people, it can feel aimless and confusing about where to be.

While there should be time for mingling, I think it would be great if the bride and groom could create plenty of enjoyable times with everyone focused on shared performances or games! *

Let’s Make a Wonderful After Party Time! *

I introduced three things to be cautious about during the after party that might make guests think, "This is a little concerning..."

1. Do not create a penalty system.

2. End on time.

3. Do not create a group date or street party atmosphere.

For the bride and groom or organizers who are preparing for the after party, please keep the above in mind to host a fantastic after party! ♡