Post-Wedding Festivities
Photo provided by Kristi Patnode, Studio Montage
What about After the big day? Brunches, Dessert Parties, Wine Tasting By Meredith S. Holt
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ou’ve made it through your wedding day, and everything (hopefully) went off without a hitch. Now what? Instead of immediately jetting off to an exotic location for your honeymoon or returning to the daily grind without so much as a breather, consider extending the festivities. An after-wedding event for family and friends is the perfect way to wind down the weekend, spend more time with out-of-town guests, express gratitude and say goodbye. “It’s a great time to again thank everyone for being a part of their big day,” says PJ Overvold, owner of O Design in Pequot Lakes. She suggests the couple take the opportunity to share their wedding pictures and memories. Guests can also talk about their experiences and tell stories about the day. “This can be a lot of fun,” she says. Barb Krousey of Barb’s Bridal & Wedding Services in Little Falls says the day-after gift-opening remains the most popular post-wedding event, whether it’s a brunch, a full meal or a private event between the couple. “A good number of brides and grooms have chosen to open gifts in a private, more 24
Weddings North • Spring 2011
intimate setting, mostly the day after, and some have waited until after the honeymoon.” LaJeanna Eckhoff, owner of Social Butterfly in Baxter, also says she’s noticed a shift away from the “everyone’s invited” gift-opening. “My advice is to keep gift-openings to just immediate family. Gift-openings can create awkward moments,” she says. Eckhoff recalls one instance where a bride’s uncle gave her and her husband a “very generous amount of money It was unexpected, and it created quite a stir when she opened it in front of everyone. Unfortunately, the uncle was mortified and uncomfortable with the attention. He felt it should have been private,” she says. She explains that he hadn’t always been able to give so generously, so the gift had the potential to create hard feelings with relatives. “It can also make someone feel bad if they felt their gift wasn’t enough compared to others,” she adds. Instead, keep the post-wedding event light and fun and not gift-focused. Krousey says most couples invite immediate family members and the wedding party to join them the following