Post-wedding party for bride and groom

I wouldn't really want this TBH. Don't invite people to a hosted event and make them pay. If you do do this you have to pay. Otherwise just have everyone meet at a bar for some drinks to congratulate the couple. Ithink the cake cutting is completely unnecessary.

I wouldn't want to pay for a party I was invited to. If you are hosting, you need to pay for everything. Please change your plans to something you can afford.

Point well received. Thank you both.

Anything you would recommend at this event, or just keep it informal?

Do they know you're doing this?

I would keep it informal.

Oh yeah, bride and groom are totally in the loop. Definitely would hate to take them by surprise.

Do what @OGKathyrn said and invite everyone to meet up at a bar.

Okay, then I agree with OG Kathryn. Whatever you do, don't ask people to pay for something that you want to host.

So scrap the part where I said people can contribute. Was the bride's idea...I'm capable of paying and I will.

I am doing essentially that... rented a private room at a restaurant and getting people together with the help of the bride. Logistics I've got.

My question is more along the lines of what else I can do to add special touches, both for the guests and bride/groom. Is there anything I can propose to the bride in my planning with her that perhaps you all are doing at your own wedding or reception? Or has anyone thrown a post-wedding party like this before?

Personally any special touches I'm doing at my own wedding I wouldn't want repeated at a post affair. Food, drinks, mingling that's it.

What GymRat said.

I agree, food, drinks and mingling is enough. I think your overthinking it!

I've been to a post-wedding party like this where many weren't able to attend the actual wedding - they didn't try to recreate it or include any wedding-type activities. Just a good meal and mingling and it was done. That's all that's really necessary. I agree that for a wedding-related event where you're probably going to send printed invites, people shouldn't be asked to pay their own way. If this were an informal thing amongst a group of friends, like a "hey let's all get together at X restaurant to celebrate you guys coming back", I think people would expect to pay their own way.

Yeah, the bride asking for that came more from her being uncomfortable at the idea of receiving more gifts after her wedding, so she thought the experience would be something they can chip into. In hindsight she was probably also trying to take financial burden off of me, which is silly, because this is something I am excited to do for them.