How to Plan a Brunch Wedding

A brunch wedding is a great choice if you’re trying to save money on catering. Even if you go all out, the menu will cost a lot less than a full dinner. Another place you’ll save money is on drinks and alcohol. People will drink a lot less on Sunday morning. You can still have a champagne toast or a signature drink, but no one will miss a full bar at brunch time.

Planning a brunch wedding is similar to planning a dinner wedding. Start by deciding on your style and your guest list:

1. Decide on Your Style or Theme

Before you start your venue search, decide what style you want for your wedding. You don’t need to choose a theme if you don’t want one, but you’ll need to find a venue that matches your style. Do you want your wedding to be formal, semi-formal or casual?

2. Write Your Guest List

You’ll also need to know how many people you’re inviting. Your list doesn’t have to be perfect, but try to get an idea of your numbers before you start looking at venues. Will you invite less than 50 people? More than 100?

3. Choose Your Venue

Start looking at venues that fit your style and guest list. When you’re planning a brunch wedding, the best type of venues to look at are restaurants or room rentals. Try to visit the venues at the same time your wedding will be held. Notice how the lighting looks. Will it be comfortable on the day your wedding? Is there a view or any scenery that can be a backdrop for your ceremony or reception?

Restaurant or Room Rental?

A restaurant is best for 50 people or less. You won’t need to set up, decorate or clean up, so if you’re looking for a simple plan, a restaurant is perfect. Look for restaurants that offer private rooms and set menus or group discounts.

If you have more guests or if you want to include music and dancing, a room rental is a better option. If you rent a room and hire a caterer you’ll have more control over all the details. Look for space at a banquet hall, community center, legion hall or civic building.

4. Decide on Your Menu

If you’re planning a formal wedding, your best choice for the menu will be plated meals, served individually. For this type of menu, you might include some upscale dishes like quiche or Eggs Benedict. Talk to your caterer or restaurant manager for help choosing your plated meals.

A semi-formal or casual wedding could include a buffet, food stations or family style service. With these types of food service you can include all the traditional favorites: scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausage. If you want to add a fun element, you can plan an omelette station, a biscuit bar or a coffee bar.

5. Make Your Schedule

You can save time and money by holding your ceremony and reception at the same venue. A brunch wedding is usually shorter than a night time wedding. If there’s space, it’ll be easier for everyone to simply move to a new room when it’s time for your reception.

If you’re getting married at your place of worship, check first to make sure they perform ceremonies at the time you want. Once you’ve got your ceremony time, you can work from there and decide what time to schedule the rest of your wedding events.

Timeline For a Brunch Wedding:

10:00 am Wedding ceremony
11:00 am Guests are seated for the meal
11:15 am Grand entrance and first dance
11:25 am Welcome toast from the parents or host
11:30 am Meal is served
12:15 pm Best man & maid of honor make their toasts
12:30 pm Special dances
12:40 pm Cake cutting
12:55 pm Bouquet and/or garter toss
1:00 pm Open dance floor
2:00 pm Last dance and your grand exit

6. Hire Your Vendors

Once you’ve booked your venue you can start hiring people for your wedding. Planning your wedding during the day on a Sunday could get you better, or less expensive vendors. Most good vendors are booked well in advance for Saturday nights during wedding season. By having yours on a Sunday you might be able to book a great vendor who wouldn’t be available otherwise.

Need more help planning your wedding? The DIY Rustic Wedding Planner will walk you through every step, from finding your ideal venue to choosing your menu. It includes all the details you need for your wedding including caterers, vendors, invitations and more: