You've Been Warned: This After-Party Mistake Is A Wedding Money-Waster

Putting the perfect party together for a wedding might be the most fun aspect of getting married. Who doesn't want to be the host with the most? Well, possibly the host, once they get a look at the tab for the best night of their lives. It's no money secret that venue and vendor costs can add up quickly for a wedding. However, one after-party spending trend easily can be avoided, whether you're on an ample budget or a sparkling shoestring: the late-night snack bar.

Perhaps you've been to a wedding with a late-night snack bar of some kind. Who among us hasn't enjoyed a bite of pizza or a handful of nachos from a kindhearted couple at midnight? Of course, a full spread is a welcome treat after dancing and celebrating nuptials, but it's an expensive and not altogether necessary one. In other words, late-night snacks can prove a wedding money-waster.

According to wedding-planning website The Knot's annual survey, the cost of an average wedding and reception in 2023 was $35,000, $5,000 more than the year prior. The cost of catering, cake, and alcohol make up a staggering portion of that average. Of course, costs vary by state and size, but any way you slice that midnight pizza-and-mashed-potato-bar adds to an already hefty per-guest cost.

A wedding reception may be the modern equivalent of a Roman banquet. Practically from the moment of arrival, guests have the opportunity to graze on snack bowls, candy, and hors d'oeuvres. Not too long after nomming down on the nosh offered at cocktail hour, a multiple course dinner is served. Then, there's cake.

Audra Wilson, a dietitian at Northwestern Medicine Metabolic Health and Surgical Weight Loss Center at Delnor Hospital, advises leaving no more than four or five hours between lunch and dinner. For weddings, the length of dinner and dessert service vary, but an average wedding reception runs anywhere between four and five hours, including dancing. All to say, guests' bellies may not exactly be empty at any point during a wedding reception, unless the event stretches far past midnight.

Amorology founder and lead wedding planner Heather Balliet tells Brides.com that couples often spend 10% more on their weddings than they need to when they opt not to work with a planner, and that paying to cater multiple food options after an already food-heavy event is a common money mistake couples make. Balliet recommends instead serving only one option or a limited menu if providing late-night snacks to keep costs and food waste in check.

Many message boards are dedicated to the argument of whether or not to serve late-night food at a wedding. For example, while many Reddit posters admit their after-dinner wedding snacks were a hit, many also caution to keep the food on offer under control, and after midnight. Many posters also recommend sticking with savory foods, rather than more sweet items after dessert. Couples looking for genius money tips would do well to start with this angle for their first big official party together.

There are plenty of wedding trends that will save you money, and shockingly, a well-planned after-party snack might be among them. The key? Keeping it simple. Opting for a simple, easily procured savory snack like your favorite fast-food place's fries might have the same "wow" factor as a much pricier surprise second-dinner menu, for less than half the price.

Keep in mind, putting a personal touch on your wedding actually can save you money, rather than cost you extra. Couples can even strike a deal with their favorite local restaurant or food truck to do an after-party drive-by of one of their simplest (and cheapest) savory snacks. Or, couples could invite the select few revelers willing to stay up past their bedtimes to their favorite late-night spot for a few shared plates. This option creates a delectable memory, and possibly a small doggy bag that might also be part of your first breakfast as a married couple.