How to Host a Simple Bridal Brunch
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I’ve attended and hosted many a bridal shower, and I can tell you from experience, that it can get stressful. What I can also tell you from experience is that often the most beautiful, and successful bridal showers are the most simple. I’ll show you how to host a simple bridal brunch.
Good food. Good company. No pretense.
Here are the five steps you need to host a simple bridal brunch:
- ONE – Choose your theme.
- TWO – Select an invitation.
- THREE – Plan your menu.
- FOUR – Decide on Decor
- FIVE – Choose a take-home gift/favor
Why host a bridal brunch?
I always enjoy a brunch because it’s the best of both worlds.
Your bridal shower menu is less complicated and stuffy, and there are usually options that please everyone. A vegetarian can choose a salad, egg, or pasta dish. A gluten free guest can enjoy eggs, meats, or salads, and your meat lovers get their fill in different dishes from all of the yummy choices you prepare.
If you aren’t having the event catered, but rather serving various brunch themed dishes, you can easily ask people to bring their favorite, and it all works together seamlessly.
Brunch also allows you to serve a variety of different drink options.
- Mimosas
- Punch
- Coffee
- Flavored Seltzers
- Bloody Mary Bar
My only caution with planning a brunch gathering is to not get into too many options. For example, pick a signature cocktail (the bride’s favorite), and add a Bloody Mary Bar OR a Mimosa Bar. Not both.
Five steps to planning the perfect Bridal Brunch:
Step 1: Choose Your Theme
You’re hosting a simple bridal brunch at home, so go with a theme you can pull off in or around your house. It doesn’t need to be bland and boring. The most intimate of affairs are often at home.
Think about the space you’re in, and what you already have on-hand and work with it. The idea isn’t to spend more money than you have – its to keep it simple and elegant – because the best get togethers are just that.
Idea for a theme: Garden Party – take the bridal shower outside. Set up simple tables, use linens you have around your home, and fresh flowers. It’s a simple and elegant way to celebrate your friend’s upcoming nuptials.
Step 2: Select an Invitation
I always try to do a written invitation for formal events, and a bridal shower is one that I consider to be a formal event.
Keep with your color theme and keep it classy. The invitation below is an example of one that you might choose for a simple garden party bridal shower.
I’ve seen invitations that mention “Prosecco Pong”. Although this may be a fun bachelorette party game, it certainly doesn’t belong on a pretty invitation (or in my opinion, as part of a bridal shower).
Ask for an RSVP. As much as I hear that asking for one is “no longer needed”, that’s simply not going to help you plan your bridal brunch effectively. You need numbers, and quests need to let you know that they’re coming.
Step 3: Plan Your Menu
Here’s where the fun comes in. Brunch involves food from breakfast and lunch and can be as heavy or as light as you prefer. One mistake I saw was where the only type of food offered was seafood. I’d shy away from any one type of food only with your menu. People have allergies, and all sorts of other food aversions, so keep your menu simple and easily pleasing.
Bridal Brunch Recipes
A bridal brunch is a great way to gather some easy, delicious menu items together to make a special menu that the bride will love and guests will never forget!
Fruit Kabobs with Cream Cheese Dip
Easy to make fruit Kabobs with Cream Cheese Dip. Pretty and elegant!
English Tea Finger Sandwiches
Tea sandwiches are such a fun brunch time snack to serve with or without tea! This recipe makes three types including traditional cucumber, Greek tzatziki and pimento cheese!
Easy Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Eat the rainbow with these delicious fresh vegetable spring rolls. These beautiful and light Vietnamese Spring Rolls are great as an appetizer or a light meal.
Easy Roasted Stuffed Tomato Side
The perfect brunch addition, Easy Stuffed Tomatoes get rave reviews every time I've made them!
Mini Quiche Appetizers (Onion & Cheese)
Quiche is always perfect for brunch, and the mini quiche versions are exactly what you need for an elegant, but simple bridal shower brunch!
Mom's Lemon Lush
This Lemon Lush recipe is something my mom has been making for over 30 years because it’s THAT GOOD! It's light and fresh and is a total crowd pleaser.
Pink Macarons with White Chocolate Ganache • Food Folks and Fun
These Pink Macarons are filled with white chocolate ganache. They’re perfect for any party, celebration, or holiday because you can color them any way you please.
Iced Fudge Brownies
Easy Charcuterie Boards
Charcuterie boards are perfect for bridal showers because they offer so many options in one place!
Easy Pasta Caprese Recipe
The perfect part about using this pasta caprese dish for a brunch? It can be served hot or cold!
How to Make A Fruit Platter (Fruit Tray)
Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes
Everyone loves a classic sweet treat and these Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes fit the bill! They're tender, fluffy, and simply irresistible! Make them for parties, or when you just want something sweet and simple. They are so easy to whip up and they bake in just 20 minutes!
Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
These heart-shaped strawberry Rice Krispie Treats make the perfect bridal shower dessert. They also make a super cute shower favor.
Step 4: Decor
Try a little whimsy for decor for your bridal shower table. Use a few of the brides’ registry items to hold floral arrangements. She gets to take home pretty flowers to display for the week after the shower, and also gets something off of her registry with each arrangement. You could also ask the other ladies in the bridal party to each make their own arrangement in one of these items so that all of the different tables are covered.
Step 5: Bridal Shower Games
I have never been one that enjoys or encourages lots of bridal shower games, pick one or two and go with that. Make sure that the bride to be isn’t embarrassed by the games or made to feel uncomfortable in any way.
Play a game that allows guests to get to know each other rather than focusing on the bride alone. This takes the pressure off of the guest of honor. Here’s an example of a game that does just that:
Step 5: Take Home Favors
Today is about the future Mrs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the guests feel special as well. Think simple and elegant as far as favors go. Seeds and pots. Teacups you can pick up at thrift stores and plant a small plant in. A colorful plant that is at each place setting also doubles as decor!
Hosting a Simple Bridal Brunch the Easy Way
There is a great deal of pressure on a bride and groom leading up to the big day. If the past year or so has taught us anything it’s that perfection isn’t required, so hang up your tightly wound lady pants and set up an environment where friends and soon to be family can simply enjoy each other and celebrate the impending nuptials.
Leave the pretense where it belongs – in the past.
xoxo,
JJ
