The wedding DJ has has exhausted the novelty of cheesy '80s songs hours ago, the free beer is tapped out and there are less people on the dance floor than there are passed out in their chairs.
The reception is on its last legs and you're ready to make your escape -- but does that mean putting the kibosh on the good times for the night? Absolutely not. Let uncle Jerry and aunt Bethany hit the hay while you gather your fellow second-winders for the after party.
For some groups, the reception after party is something that just comes together on the spot as people realize their party potential has exceeded what was allotted and paid for by the happy couple. But for others, a little pre-planning could make the post-party truly a night to remember.
Depending on the size of your group and its ambitions, there are several options for what to do:
- Bring the party to a bar or dance club. This is the obvious choice for the guest whose idea of cutting it up on the dance floor doesn't involve putting her right foot in and subsequently taking it out. Show the out of towners how Milwaukee really parties by taking them to clubby hotspots such as Milwaukee Street Downtown, where you can bounce between Eve, 718 N. Milwaukee St.; Three, 722 N. Milwaukee St., and Tangerine, 729 N. Milwaukee St. Or hit up North Avenue on the East Side for Cush, 1806 E. North Ave.; Mantra, 1905 E. North Ave. and Cans, 1815 E. Kenilworth Pl. Other places that should satisfy everyone's dancing needs are Have A Nice Day Café, 1101 N. Old World 3rd St., and Mad Planet, 533 E. Center St.
- There's a certain special excitement about the air of spontaneity when it comes to after parties, but sometimes, if you're looking to avoid the inevitable, "I don't know? What do you want to do?" banter, it's best to have a plan before hand. All it takes is having one of the bridesmaids or groomsmen who live in the area commit to hosting a gathering his or her house after the reception. If everyone chips in for refreshments it turns out to be just as fun, and much less expensive, than hitting the bars.
- Of course, there's always the possibility that the reception was a blast and all that dancing and drinking has worked up your appetite. If you are all partied out but have a taste for something yummy or just feel like hanging out for a while without having to yell over the music, go grab some late night munchies. Mexican sound mouthwatering? Conejitos, 539 W. Virginia St. is cheap, fast, and serves food on paper plates until 11:30 p.m. Italian sound ideal? Pizza Man, 1800 E. North Ave. serves until 1 a.m. on the weekends. Then there's the list of old after bar Milwaukee standbys: Ma Fischer's, 2214 N. Farwell Ave.; Pizza Shuttle, 1827 N. Farwell Ave.; El Chico Zuma, 1814 E. North Ave., and Oakland Gyros, 2867 N. Oakland Ave., are all open until the wee hours of the morning.
- Living on Lake Michigan has endless perks, one of them being the number of beaches perfect for hanging on a warm summer night. Feel like some fresh air rather than a smoky bar? Hit the beach. Plan ahead and stash a pair of jeans and a blanket in the car, or just do it up with what you've got on (Ladies, when are you ever going to wear those bridesmaid dresses again, anyway?) Bradford and McKinley Beaches are both on Lincoln Memorial Drive, Doctors Park Beach is located at 1870 E. Fox Lane in Fox Point, Grant Beach begins at 100 S. Hawthorne Ave. in South Milwaukee, and South Shore Beach is located at 2900 S. Superior St.
- Last, but not least, is the option that many people overlook -- stay at the hotel and party there. (Isn't that what it's for?) If everyone in the wedding party has a room at the hotel anyway, just pick one and carry out the night there. It's probably the safest option if there is drinking involved, seeing as nobody has to get behind the wheel, and since the number of people still willing to party it up at this point might be dwindling, the small room might just be the perfect size for an intimate gathering of friends.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
