From Vows to Vibes: 6 After-Party Ideas To Keep the Fun Going All Night Long
Your wedding day is one of the most special and important days of your life. So, naturally, when the big day finally comes around, you won’t want the celebration to end! Once the rings have been exchanged, the toasts have been made, and the dances have all been danced, you’ll want to keep the energy going into the late-night hours. And when your wedding venue is tucked away on 200 acres in the pristine (and very private) Plumas National Forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you can do exactly that.
Twenty Mile House is a late-curfew wedding venue in California so there is no need to worry about bothering the neighbors, and no noise restrictions. So consider this your permission to keep the party going long after you’ve said “I do.” Below, we tapped our expert wedding planners to share a few creative ways to carouse to your heart’s content at our private estate wedding venue in Graeagle, California.
#1: The Secret Silent Disco
If you’ve never been to a silent disco, you’re missing all the fun. Picture an all-out dance extravaganza in which party-goers don wireless headphones that offer three channels with different styles of music. Choose your favorite, then dance away. The catch? No one can hear the music without wearing headphones, and the person next to you might be dancing to an entirely different song, so it can sometimes make for hilarious interactions.
We love the idea of setting this up as a second and undisclosed dance floor — a lively, top-secret event that starts once your reception winds down. During the wedding, let the word spread about your silent disco via the grapevine and set up mysterious signage that hints at another discreet dancing location among the trees. A bridal party wardrobe change could also signal to guests that it’s after-party time.
#2: The “VIG” Lounge
As the hours tick by during your wedding celebration, chances are there will be a few guests who turn in before the night’s end. For the night owls who remain, a cozy “VIG” lounge (aka very important guest), complete with comfy furniture, blankets, and floor pillows, can keep the party going — albeit with a mellow, relaxed vibe.
Offer libations in the form of espresso martinis or other nightcaps, as well as savory eats like wagyu sliders or elevated chicken wings. Then, play old-school slumber party-style games (telephone, truth or dare, never have I ever, or charades). For maximum coziness, make it a pajamas-encouraged event so there’s no question that it’s a laid-back atmosphere.
#3: The Casino Night
Love to gamble but don’t love the thought of transporting guests to an actual casino for late-night betting? Bring the casino to you, instead. Post-reception, your guests can try their luck at a handful of high-stakes casino games such as craps, poker, roulette, and blackjack.
At Twenty Mile House, there is plenty of space to create your casino night after-party. The best part: No need to worry about anyone betting their retirement fund, as you can opt to use “play money” to keep everything fun and enjoyable. If you still want to reward any big winners, have a few special prizes on hand.
#4: The Karaoke Session
For some wedding guests, the party truly begins when they command the room with their rendition of their favorite party anthem, belted as loudly as possible. (And since there are no noise ordinances at Twenty Mile House, they’re free to belt away!)
To get the karaoke magic going, set up a mini stage and secure at least one or two brave performers to start with songs that everyone can sing and dance to. Our suggestions: Anything by ABBA, Journey’s classic “Don’t Stop Believin',” the always crowd-pleasing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, or the very catchy, millennial must-have “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Having a few singers lined up ensures there is no lull in the energy, and hopefully encourages others to check their shyness at the stage.
#5: The Glow Party
Smaller, more intimate after-parties call for entertainment of the glow-in-the-dark variety. A high-energy glow party is a colorful and very cool way to keep the celebration going into the wee hours. Similar to the silent disco, we’d recommend scouting a spot separate from your main reception area for this event. On our 200-acre property, there’s no shortage of options. Create a mystical, glowing atmosphere with LED lighting, blacklights that illuminate neon and fluorescent decor, and a shining disco ball. Then, divvy up the glow sticks and accessories, neon body paint, and other colorful props to get your wedding guests glowing. Consider experimenting with glow-in-the-dark cocktail offerings. Fun fact: Tonic water glows under blacklight, thanks to the ingredient quinine. So it makes for an easy, luminous addition to any after-party drink menu.
#6: The Classic Movie Night
After an evening of champagne and dancing with your nearest and dearest, you might want to wind down with a chill late-night event. Consider showing a classic movie outdoors on a big projection screen. Arrange comfy theater-style seating, complete with blankets and pillows (our standing outdoor heaters are also a welcome addition for cooler temps), then set the mood with twinkling string lights overhead or lanterns to create an “aisle.” Screen your favorite flick — a light-hearted romantic comedy and a wedding-themed movie are always winning selections. We like the idea of showing a movie that holds special meaning to you as a couple, or perhaps even a favorite old-school comedy that you and your friends can’t stop quoting. As for snacks, you can’t go wrong with offering freshly popped popcorn scooped into those classic striped bags or movie-style boxes of candy — all artfully displayed on a nearby table.
Let Your Wedding Celebration Live On All Night Long With an After-Party Your Guests Won’t Forget at Twenty Mile House
If you’re deep in wedding-planning mode, then chances are you’ve wondered about whether you should host an after-party. These smaller, more intimate events can be a fun way to entertain your guests and keep the festivities going into the late-night hours — a final flourish to your unforgettable wedding weekend.
At Twenty Mile House, we’re big fans of throwing inventive after-parties. We would love to help you plan yours at our unique, private estate wedding venue amid the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Send us a note and let’s connect!