The Ultimate Wedding Decor Checklist [Part 4 of 4]- How To Plan Your Wedding Decor (Post-Wedding Celebrations)

Your wedding décor checklist isn’t necessarily complete because you have said your “I Do’s” and the reception is over. Many Western weddings are taking a page from Indian playbooks and extending wedding celebrations over many days to take advantage of the fact that friends and family are all together in one place.

Whether you envision a low-key post-wedding celebration or you want to make your wedding night last as long as possible, our wedding décor checklist has you covered. Décor is broken down by type of celebration including:

• Wedding after-party
• Morning-after wedding brunch
• Day-after wedding activities
• Honeymoon

Then, check out our wedding décor checklist printable. It has décor items broken down by type so you can use our list to make sure you have everything you need, no matter what kind of post-wedding celebrations you’re planning.

Late-Night Wedding After Party: Martha Stewart, Romantic Beach Dinner for Two: Wedding Boutique, Lemonade Drink Station: Better Homes & Gardens, Morning After the Wedding Brunch Spread: Style Me Pretty, Jenga Yard Game: The Knot

Wedding After-Party

Want to keep the party going even after your reception is over? Consider partying until the sun comes up with a wedding after-party!

You may not need wedding checklist items for this kind of shindig if you plan your after-party at a bar or another public establishment, as you can rely on the existing ambiance. However, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and let them know that you want to bring your wedding party to their location. They can tell you if they have the space for your group, or if they might be willing to rent out their establishment for your private party.

You may also discover that they are willing to provide you with a private space, in which case you may want to make sure there are some décor items present. Keep things simple with a small flower arrangement on tables and make sure there are candles, fairy lights, or other lighting that can set the tone and create the perfect ambiance.

Themes can be a fun way to throw a wedding after-party! A few themes you may want to consider include:

• Casino night
• Tiki party
• Karaoke
• Silent disco
• Speakeasy
• Party bus
• House party

Choosing a theme can help you narrow down your décor options. For example, disco balls are a must at a silent disco, while fake palm trees can spruce up a Tiki party.

When planning décor for your after-party, keep in mind that most of your guests are likely to have been drinking. You’ll want to avoid décor that can easily be tripped on or knocked over. Not only is likely to be dark, as most establishments open until the sun comes up tend to keep things dim, but your guests aren’t likely to remember grand flower arrangements and over-the-top decorations anyway. It really is best to keep things simple.

Morning-After Wedding Brunch

The morning-after wedding brunch is popular with brides and grooms because it’s a family-friendly event. Not to mention, you can thank your guests for coming by providing them with something to eat before they take off in the morning.

After a whirlwind day and evening, it’s best to leave the execution of a morning-after brunch in someone else’s hands. That means asking a parent or a sibling to cook pancakes for everyone or enlisting help from a caterer or a restaurant.

A morning after wedding brunch is a great opportunity to reuse some of the same stuff you used at your wedding. For example, you can reuse the same table linens and you can even reuse flower arrangements. That way you don’t have to worry about adding even more expenses to your wedding checklist.

If you want things to look a little different at your brunch than they did at your wedding, ask a friend, a family member, or a florist to remix and rearrange the flowers into new combinations, and consider adding in new details, like glass bud vase napkin rings. Of course, make sure you have:

• Plates
• Bowls
• Silverware
• Glassware
• Serving flatware

The food and drinks you choose to serve are important too. Not only because they can help your guests combat hangovers, but also because it can contribute to the décor. For example, fruit infused water in a large glass container with a spigot is an inviting way to encourage guests to hydrate, mini yogurt parfaits can be displayed in small, single-serving glasses, and muffins can be stacked on your cake stand featuring cupcake wrappers that match your décor. Coffee bars and mimosa stations can also look quite stunning.

Don’t forget a display of hangover kits! Whether in boxes or cute burlap bags, hangover kits that include bottled water, pain relievers, and breath mints are sure to be appreciated by your guests.

Day-After Wedding Activities

If you have a lot of guests in from out of town, or if you’re working on a wedding checklist for a destination wedding, you may want to consider other things you and your guests can do together the day after the wedding. It’s a great way to spend time with people you don’t get to see very often, it’s a fun way for those coming in from out-of-town to experience the area, and finding things for guests to do at a destination wedding means they have less to plan.

If you’re looking for a laidback get together, but you don’t want to get up early for a brunch, consider a backyard BBQ or a pizza party. It only requires paper plates and cups, but traditional party supplies, like streamers and balloons, are great for a casual party, as are yard games.

Excursions are popular with brides and grooms hosting destination weddings, but they can be great for couples in popular metropolitan areas that out-of-town guests are interested in exploring. Whether you go ziplining in Costa Rica, you want to go on an adventure through Times Square, or you’re taking everyone to a sporting event, your décor should be portable, if you choose any kind of décor at all. Mardis Gras beads can be a lot of fun, as can decorative paper cups and drink umbrellas.

Other fun day-after wedding activities that can inspire your décor include:

• Throw a picnic lunch
• Hire an entertainer
• Arrange a class
• Screen a movie
• Host a murder mystery party

As was the case with the wedding after-party, if you choose a special kind of day-after event, let it inspire your décor. For example, an outdoor picnic lunch could include checkered blankets for guests to sit on while a movie isn’t complete without a candy bar and tubs of popcorn.

Honeymoon

No wedding checklist is complete without the honeymoon! A little romantic décor can go a long way towards creating the perfect honeymoon atmosphere.

Ask the hotel if there are any packages you can purchase to decorate the room ahead of your stay. Some will sprinkle rose petals on the bed and fill the room with candles. If you’re spending your first night as husband and wife at home or a more untraditional venue, sneak away to decorate a little bit yourself. Arrange silk rose petals in the shape of a heart on the bed and try your hand at folded towel animals.

Don’t forget decorating at least one romantic dinner! If you’re staying at a resort, ask what your options are. They may be willing to set up a table surrounded by lanterns on the beach or provide you with a private room complete with hanging lights and a bucket of champagne.

If you have to do the decorating yourself, some kind of lighting is a must, whether it’s hanging lights or candlelight. A canopy can make an outdoor dinner seem extra special, while a simple flower arrangement of your partner’s favorite blooms can give the table a personalized touch.