After party etiquette

nuacara

Post-reception (which ends at 11pm), my fiance and I would like to adjourn to a local bar with any friends who care to join us for an "after party."  What is the convention on who pays for drinks?  Should we be paying?  Should someone host it?  Or is it okay to have everyone pay for themselves - just like we would if we were going out to a bar any other night?

jkepros

If it's a casual thing, I'd say just let everyone pay for themselves--like you said, just like you were going out to a bar.  I only think you need someone to host (i.e. pay) if you are getting a private room somewhere & it's a set thing (like with appetizers/snacks you are paying for).

Areden

I agree - if you're just going to a bar (where other members of the public will presumably be too), I absolutely don't think people would expect to get drinks on your open tab or anything like that.  You just treated them to a wonderful gorgeous party AND dinner AND drinks.  After-party should be relaxed and your formal hosting duties relinquished!  Just have fun with your friends!

october010bride

We have "reserved" the bar space attached to our hotel venue for after the reception. We will verbally invite everyone but we won't be "hosting" the bar. It will be very casual and I think people will pay for themselves.

CCBelle

My only advice is to make it a casual, verbal invite rather than a formal, written invite.  The latter would definitely imply that you are paying.  But a casual "let's continue to party" invite does not imply anything about who's paying for drinks. 

nuacara

Thanks for all the feedback!  You all have really put my mind at ease.