Expert Advice from wedding guru, Sharon Naylor

Answer:

It's now common practice for the bride and groom to skip the getaway after the reception and instead plan to spend their post-reception time with their friends and family.

Since you have a morning wedding planned, that opens up plenty of time for one or several post-wedding gatherings.

For instance, everyone can divide into natural groups, such as your parents and their relatives and colleagues going to their house for a cocktail party and inexpensive buffet of finger sandwiches (since you're getting into the dinner hour at 5pm onward).

You both might go back to the hotel with your friends and have some drinks at the hotel lounge. Decide ahead of time if you want to pick up the tab for this after-party...it could add up to a lot! With your closest friends, you may feel comfortable enough suggesting that everyone split the bill, or sign their own drinks to their rooms. After the big wedding you just put on, everyone will understand that you're tapped out. Some couples check into their wedding gift envelopes to see if they got any cash, and they offer to pick up the tab for their friends.

Don't forget that you don't HAVE to provide entertainment for your friends and family for every minute of the wedding weekend. If you load up your WeddingMapper with lounges, movie theaters, museums and other fun points of interest, your guests might just want to take off on their own or with their other friends for some wandering around, or downtime to spend with each other (and without the kids). So don't feel like you have to have too many events planned. Sometimes spontaneuous ideas create the best opportunities...

Have fun!

Sharon