Skip to content

Welcome / after-party venue: a wedding guide

A welcome party greets guests before the wedding. An after-party keeps the night going.

When couples book this

About 12 months before your wedding.

Still deciding the wedding

Your wishlist

Answer these before you meet anyone.

  • What kind of night are you picturing?

    What you are hoping for — compare it against each space's own type, below.

  • Roughly how many people are you planning for?

  • How do you want food and drinks to work?

Comparing your options

What to ask each one

  • What kind of space is it?

  • Who handles the food?

  • How does the bar work?

  • How many people does the space hold?

  • When do you have the space?

    This event's own vendors read this window — a dessert drop-off, or a photographer covering the night.

  • Is there a hard end time?

    Bar close, a reserved slot's end, or residential quiet hours for a home or rental.

How it’s usually priced

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Bar / food minimum, Hosted bar tab.

Booked and settling details

What you settle once booked

  • Who's invited?

    Welcome parties are commonly all out-of-towners; after-parties skew open drop-in.

  • Where does it move if the weather turns?

  • Who makes the weather call?

    One name. A call two people share is a call nobody makes.

  • By what time is the call made?

    Setup crews need the answer before they start, so this usually lands the morning of.

What to look over

Correct these details as needed.

  • How many people are you planning for?

The week of the wedding

The day-of sheet

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Across the whole day

Choose which moments to include.

  • Welcome party

For businesses

The brief a couple sends you has these sections:

See a sample brief