Are you thinking of hosting a post-wedding brunch? Are you worried it’ll be complicated and unnecessary? If so, you’re in the right place, because I want to convince you a post-wedding brunch is totally worth it.
Hosting a brunch after your wedding can be a great way to keep the celebration going. Yes, it’s another event that you’ll have to coordinate and plan. But, it doesn’t have to be a big undertaking. The pressure of the wedding will be off, and you’ll be able to converse and visit with guests in a really chill way. Plus, it’s a wonderful chance to spend a little more time with out-of-towners. Yay!
The great thing about a post-wedding brunch is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. And, it can be very relaxed, if that’s what you’d like. This is great, because you’re likely going to be tired after your wedding and ready to just rest and reminisce.
How To Host A Post-Wedding Brunch
From what a post-wedding brunch is, to why it may be right for you, and all the logistics of hosting it, this post has you covered. You may have questions about who to invite. Or, questions like what time of day to host the brunch, and where to do it. The costs may also be a big factor for you. From big to small questions, your answers will be below.
Here we go!
WHAT IS A POST-WEDDING BRUNCH?
Maybe you need a little overview of what this brunch is.
Well, it’s exactly like it sounds. This is meal between breakfast and lunch, that takes place typically the day after your wedding. It could also be the last day of a destination wedding trip, if you have a large group traveling together.
A post-wedding brunch is a wonderful way for guests to properly say good-bye to each other, and to you. Often, during our weddings we are way too busy to have special moments with our guests. During a brunch the next day, we are given another opportunity to connect. Plus, the brunch will give everyone a chance to share stories and experiences from the wedding, which are always fun to hear.
WHERE SHOULD THE POST-WEDDING BRUNCH BE HELD?
Where you hold your post-wedding brunch may depend on where you’re getting married, your budget, and what’s the most convenient for you. However, here are the most popular choices:
- Local restaurant. Yes, you’ll have to pay for the food, gratuity, and tax, but all of the setup, takedown, and cooking will be provided by someone else.
- Someone’s home. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend, family member, or your home is big enough to host everyone, this is a great option. You can order food in, and your guests can come and go with ease.
- Local park or outdoor area. You may have to plan ahead and book a spot, and there may be a fee, but if the weather is nice, this could be a great location for a post-wedding brunch. The downside is that you’ll have to bring a lot of supplies, and there will be some clean up afterwards.
- Your wedding hotel. A lot of hotels offer a brunch package after weddings. For any guests who are staying at the hotel after your wedding, this can be a very convenient option. The downside is that it may be pricey.
WHO PAYS FOR THE POST-WEDDING BRUNCH?
The hosts of a post-wedding brunch typically pay for it. And, the hosts may vary per family.
In some cases, the newlyweds are the hosts. However, your parents may be open to hosting. Or, another friend or family member. Typically, the largest expense will be the food and beverage costs, and any rental fees if you’re using a public space for the event. However, these costs can be kept very low most of the time, if you’re budget conscious. More on that later.
In some cases, if you’re hosting the brunch at a restaurant, guests may be asked to pay for their own food. I suggest avoiding this, if possible. Or, be very open about who is going to pay for their bill before they arrive. The brunch is supposed to be an extension of your wedding, and some guests may not like being told they have to pay to attend.
BUDGETING FOR THE BRUNCH
As with all things wedding, there can be a huge range in what everything costs. When it comes to a post-wedding brunch, you can keep the costs low by sticking to a few different goals or guidelines:
- Skip the alcohol. It’s early in the day, and your guests probably don’t need it.
- Try your hardest to have the brunch at “free” location, like someone’s home or backyard.
- Price out different restaurants if a nearby home isn’t available. You’ll find that some are more affordable than others.
- Provide simple food. You don’t have to go gourmet just because it’s “brunch”. Serving light pastries, fruit, and coffee is just fine.
- Keep the guest list small.
WHO DO I INVITE TO AN POST-WEDDING BRUNCH?
When it comes to who to invite to a post-wedding brunch, you can keep it very simple or more grandiose, depending on your guests and how big your wedding is.
If you are having a small wedding, it may make the most sense to just invite all of your guests to the brunch. Or, at least let them know about it. If your wedding is on the large side, and it doesn’t seem appropriate to invite everyone to the brunch, you can limit to whoever it makes sense. For example, you could just invite your out-of-town guests (or anyone who had to stay in a hotel to attend your wedding), your family, and your wedding party.
For the most part, you can expect that guests who live near your wedding will not attend the brunch, because they will be moving on with their day to day lives after your wedding. However, those who are traveling for your wedding will be likely to attend.
DO I SEND INVITE GUESTS TO A POST-WEDDING BRUNCH?
When it comes to letting guests know about the brunch, you have a few options:
- Send an insert about the brunch with your wedding invite.
- Include details on your wedding website.
- Create a separate evite for the event.
- Send a separate physical invite for the brunch.
- Rely on word of mouth (be careful about this, unless it’s very clear on where and when the brunch will be).
- Include details in your hotel welcome bags.
As you can see, you can let guests know about the brunch in many different ways. And, you can combine them as well, if you’d like. For our post-wedding brunch, we included the details on our wedding website, and in hotel welcome bags.
WHAT DO I SERVE AT A POST-WEDDING BRUNCH?
The food that makes the most sense to serve at a brunch will be you know, brunch food. However, you can always change it up if you’d like. I have examples of brunch food that would be perfect for this event listed below, along with some other tips.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
My advice when it comes with what to serve is to make it very simple. If you’re at a restaurant, work with the staff on the menu. If you’re at a private venue, and the food is flexible, you may want to have it delivered to reduce the amount of work you’ll have to do after your wedding. Of course, you may have someone else who wants to make the food, and if you’re able to delegate to others, that may work out great for you.
SERVE IT BUFFET
No matter the type of food, it may be easiest to have it served buffet style, and guests can help themselves. Chances are, if you’re having your brunch at a private home or park, your guests will arrive at different times. Having food that can be left out, and eaten at your guest’s leisure, is ideal.
BRUNCH FOOD
If you’d like to keep it easy and expected with American brunch food, there are lots of crowd pleasers you can serve.
Food like toast, croissants, donuts, bagels, muffins, and biscuits are all easy to keep out and serve room temperature. Eggs, potatoes, waffles, sausage, quiches, and bacon may need to be kept warm, or cooked as needed. Other items like yogurt, or fruit, may need to put on ice or something that can keep them cold. For drinks, keep it simple with coffee, teas, juices, and perhaps champagne, if you’re serving alcohol.
You may find that ordering from a local breakfast shop, Panera, or even Costco, can help you provide some great brunch options and keep it all very simple.
WHEN SHOULD THE POST-WEDDING BRUNCH BE?
As I mentioned before, the timing of the post-wedding brunch varies, but tends to be the day after the wedding. Or, it can be the day before everyone leaves if you’re having a destination wedding event.
For example, if your wedding is on a Friday, you may want to host the brunch on Saturday or Sunday. It’s all about what makes sense for when your out-of-town guests will still be available. The time of day to host the the brunch is also subjective. For example, you may want to plan on hosting around 11am or noon, and letting the brunch go until the early afternoon. Or, earlier may work best for your schedule.
WHAT OTHER ITEMS ARE NEEDED FOR A POST WEDDING BRUNCH?
Alright, so you’ve got your guest list, food, and location figured out. What else is there to think about? Well, a few things. Keep in mind that they are all optional, and just something to consider.
- Décor: Keep any décor simple by re-using signs, flowers, and photos from your wedding that are still handy.
- Favors: Don’t worry about having separate favors for this brunch. Instead, bring anything that was leftover from your wedding.
- Activities: There’s no need to go crazy with entertainment. In fact, the more relaxed, the better. However, if you had a guest book, or games, provided at your wedding, you may want to have them handy at the brunch.
- Dress Code: Unless you’re specifying that your brunch is fancy, your guests are likely to arrive looking quite casual. If your brunch is more upscale, let your guests know what they are expected to wear so they don’t show up in pajamas and messy buns.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Hopefully you have a more clear idea if a post-wedding brunch is right for your guest’s experience. Remember, it’s totally optional. It may not appeal to you to try and coordinate another event right after your wedding. Or, it could be very appealing and you have a clear idea of how to make it happen. A post-wedding brunch is a great way to spend more time with wedding guests, but it’s not the only way. So, do what works for you and your partner.
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
Guide To Wedding Food: From The First Bite To Last Call
How To Create The Perfect Wedding Seating Chart
Wedding Cakes: Trends, Traditions, & Tips
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