Bhangra / Reception After-party

The Bhangra reception or after-party is the informal late-night celebration that follows the main reception, often held in a separate room or at a different venue once the formal programme has ended. This is where the dance floor truly opens up — the DJ plays Punjabi bhangra and Bollywood, and the energy shifts from formal to uninhibited celebration.

Not all weddings have a dedicated bhangra after-party, but for large Punjabi weddings it is near-mandatory. It typically begins around 11pm and runs to 2am or later. Dress code is relaxed, the bar is open, and the atmosphere is the closest a wedding gets to a nightclub.

Key vendors: a DJ who knows bhangra and can read a late-night crowd, lighting (often more rave-adjacent than the formal reception), bar and late-night catering (street food, chaat, or a dhaba-style spread), and photographer or videographer for candid late-night coverage.