If your wedding plans include hotel reservations for guests attending your wedding, then you want to stretch the wedding by hosting an after-the-wedding get together at your hotel. The party can be as formal or informal as you wish. If your wedding is in the afternoon, it's possible that you and your guests will get hungry again at dinner time and you can arrange a formal or informal dinner party . . . anything from sit-down in a local restaurant close to the hotel, or a "pizza party" in your suite..

Should you choose to arrange dinner in a nearby venue, schedule the party late enough to give you and your guests time to take a short snooze, a shower and to change clothes. Light faire is best after a dinner reception. Here is just a sampling of venues: restaurant, lounge, ice cream or pizza parlor, sandwich shop. For an in-room party, you will need to check out local eateries which provide delivery. The staff at the hotel will be able to assist you. An in-room party may require you to bring along serving bowls, straws, plates, cups, utensils and napkins. Some take out places will provide those things for you, but remember to ask. If yours is a summer affair, check where you can buy ice. Hotel ice makers usually provide small and "weak" ice cubes that don't last too long. Suites often provide refrigerators. If your room doesn't come with one, sometimes with advance notice, refrigerators can be rented for a fee.

If your party will run into the evening, light snacks may be the best choice. Pretzels, cookies, peanuts, candy and soda may be enough. When you make your choices for venues and/or in-room parties keep in mind a variety of dietary restrictions such as low-fat, low-carb and lactose free. You will want to leave the room as you found it, so have on hand large garbage bags.

Enjoy your wedding-day-stretcher however you plan it.

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