Tips & Menu Ideas for Planning a Brunch Wedding Reception

If you’re looking for a way to plan a casual, fun wedding without ruining your budget - a brunch wedding reception could be the perfect choice.

A great venue, gorgeous light and a delicious meal are some of the highlights of a brunch wedding. If you want a wedding that’s unique and fun for your guests, you can’t go wrong with a brunch.

What to Look For at Your Venue

Brunch weddings can be smaller and more casual than a formal wedding so you don’t need to rent a ballroom. Look for a venue that’ll be attractive during the day.

A botanical garden or a greenhouse with an outdoor view would be ideal. Or you can look for a restaurant, a bed and breakfast, a park or a clubhouse that fits your style.

Since it’ll be daytime, the view will be the main backdrop for your wedding. Consider venues on a rooftop, near a lake or a rental space with lots of windows and a good view.

Is a Brunch Wedding Cheaper?

If you’re trying to stick to a budget, a brunch wedding is a great choice. A brunch wedding can be held at a less expensive venue - you’ll save a bunch of money right off the bat. By avoiding peak times, you could get a better price by planning a daytime wedding.

Catering will be less expensive, too. The food itself will be cheaper - breakfast is less expensive than dinner. Plus, avoiding the peak pricing of Saturday night could save you even more money.

In addition to food, you’ll spend less on alcohol. At a brunch, you don’t need a full bar. Even if you do offer beer, wine, and cocktails, people won’t drink nearly as much as they would on a Saturday night.

Budgeting for a Brunch Wedding

If you’re on a tight budget, planning a brunch wedding will save you big bucks without having to sacrifice the reception of your dreams.

Since these events typically happen in the morning to early afternoon, venues offer deep discounts for the use of the space. Plus, brunch foods are significantly cheaper than dinner options, making it easy to manage your budget.

According to The Knot, a traditional evening wedding can cost about $500 per guest. For a midmorning event, that cost drops significantly to about $80 dollars per person, depending on the venue, catering, and other factors.

Either way, you slice it, a brunch wedding reception is a great option for couples who want the wedding of their dreams but don’t have deep pockets,

Of course, there are some hidden costs that come with hosting brunch weddings. While some venues offer discounts, you may face venue fees for early access.

You may also have to pay a pretty penny for delivery charges since vendors may have to hire additional help to deliver during unconventional hours.

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.

A table of mimosas with floral decor. Image by Get Ordained.

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 on a Sunday during the day could get you better or less expensive vendors.

Most good vendors are booked well in advance for Saturday nights during the wedding season. By having yours on a Sunday you might be able to book a great vendor who wouldn’t be available otherwise.

Brunch Wedding Invitations and Stationery

Design Ideas

Your wedding invitations will be the first look at your wedding theme. They should match the vibe and color palette of your big day! Since you’re hosting a brunch wedding, choose colors and motifs that scream morning or brunch.

For instance, opt for bright, cheery colors against a white backdrop for a clean look. You can include imagery like croissants, mimosas, or flowers in a vase to evoke that brunch feel.

If you prefer a neutral palette, coffee mugs and pancakes make for cute invites!

Invitation Wording

Since your wedding will be unique, it’s important to phrase the invitation correctly. You’ll want to reflect the informal and unconventional nature of a brunch wedding.

You can do this with phrases like “Join us for vows and brunch” or “Wedding and brunch: are you in?”

Since your wedding will be mid-morning, guests will probably already expect a more casual dress code and event!

After you specify who the happy couple is and the details of the event, add a note to let attendees know they can dress more casually. Ask them to wear their Sunday best or “elevated casual.”

Dress Code and Attire for a Brunch Wedding

Brunch weddings are traditionally casual, everyone should take it up a notch to keep the event classy. For the bride and groom, attire should be more casual and light colored. Think a white mini dress or lace sleeved and billowy boho number.

The groom will look dashing in a linen suit or even in a pastel button down and light colored slacks. Go for casual shoes, like sandals or loafers to give off a casual brunch vibe.

Guests should be comfortable, but still look presentable. It is a wedding, after all! Everyone should give their best effort. There are a lot of options to match the brunch theme. Women can wear flowy dresses, pastels, and even floral jumpsuits with delicate accessories.

Classy casual pieces will fit right into the theme. Men can opt for casual suits, or even short sleeved button down shirts for daytime events.

What Is the Best Season for a Brunch Wedding?

While brunch may be delicious any time of the year, a brunch themed wedding works best for spring and fall. That’s because the weather isn’t too hot, meaning you can enjoy an outdoor wedding without dealing with the cold or heat.

These seasons also offer beautiful natural scenery, meaning you’ll save big on decor since Mother Nature is at her peak! Indoor venues will also be more affordable during these seasons, depending on where in the country you’re getting married.

Of course, no matter what you should have a weather contingency plan. Speak with your venue to see what back up plans they have.

Chances are, they have already thought it through! If you’re planning an outdoor wedding at home or in a park, have a tent or indoor space on standby.

No matter what, communicate to your guests what your plan B is, so they know where to go in case of poor weather. This will prevent any gaps in your special day and keep everyone in the loop!

What Time Should a Brunch Wedding Start?

Typically, a morning ceremony will start at 10:00 am. That gives your guests plenty of time to arrive, and you’ll finish just in time for brunch. Ask your vendors how long they need to set up, then work backwards to figure out your start times.

Getting Ready, Hair & Makeup 7:00 to 9:00 am
Photos 9:00 to 10:00 am
Ceremony Starts 10:00 am

Timeline for a Brunch Wedding Reception

Your ceremony start time also depends on the location. If your ceremony is at the same venue as your reception, the timing is simple.

If you have a 4 hour rental window, start your ceremony at 10:00 am. After the ceremony, you can move straight into the reception area.

If your ceremony is at a separate venue, you might need to adjust the start time for your reception, to allow time for traveling. If you’re having your ceremony at your place of worship, you’ll also need to check how long the service is.

A full mass or service might take longer than a simple ceremony. If your service is going to run longer, make sure to adjust your timeline.

To include all the wedding traditions, a typical timeline for a brunch wedding reception would start at eleven o’clock:

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
1:50 pm last dance and your grand exit

How to Serve Your Brunch Wedding Food

If you’re aiming for an elegant style, plan a plated meal service. If you want more of a semi-formal or casual style, choose family style, buffet or food stations.

Individual Plated Meals

If you’re planning a plated meal, you can choose a classic breakfast, like french toast or pancakes. If you want a more elegant meal, your caterer will probably have a special menu with signature dishes, like eggs Benedict, tarts, quiche or salmon.

Breakfast Buffet

If you’ve got a small budget, you can make it go further by choosing a buffet service. You can offer a selection of breakfast dishes that everyone loves: scrambled eggs, waffles, sausages.

If you’ve got a bigger budget, you can treat your guests to some special items, like smoked salmon or frittata.

Food Stations or Food Bars

Food stations are a perfect fit for a brunch wedding reception. There’s so many choices for a fun, delicious menu if you plan your meal service around food stations.

Nearly any dish that has a variety of toppings can be set up as a station for your guests. Choose a main dish then go wild with the toppings. Offer toppings like jam, jelly, peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, fruit and berries.

If you want to get creative, you can come up with lots of unique and tasty ideas for food stations. Start with a classic dish as your base and go from there:

Biscuit bar
Pancake station
Omelette station
Crepe station
Bagel bar
Waffle station

Brunch Wedding Food Ideas

French Toast Board

A brunch staple, french toast is an inexpensive crowd pleaser. Top the thick slices with whipped cream or powdered sugar for a sweet and savory experience your guests will crave.

2. Omelettes

This is a great way to feed a crowd. Not only are eggs an affordable protein, but guests can choose from different preparations, like bacon and cheese or veggie medley. Add a side of hash browns or home fries to fill everyone’s bellies.

3. Belgian Waffles

An upgrade from traditional Egos, Belgian waffles can be topped with syrup, fruit, and other delicious additions. If you’re setting up a brunch buffet, preheat a waffle iron so guests can make their own waffles to order!

4. Bagels and Lox

A board of bagels and veggies. Image by Sea Salt Savorings.

There’s nothing like a warm bagel schmeared with cream cheese and topped with smoked lox. You can easily organize a bagel buffet so guests can pick and choose their favorite flavors and toppers.

5. Frittatas

This elegant breakfast fare is easy to customize and prepare, especially if you are looking to DIY your wedding day brunch. Mix veggies, meats, and seasonings with eggs and pour into a pastry shell.

Bake and voila- a delicious addition to your brunch buffet!

6. Fresh Fruit

No brunch is complete without fresh fruit! Choose seasonal varieties to save big and offer the best tasting options. Cantaloupe, honeydew, and strawberries are brunch staples, but opt for anything that's in abundance in your area.

7. Croissants

There’s nothing quite like a fresh, buttery croissant. Stack these delicious bakery items high and offer butter, jams, and deli meats to go with them. Or prepare stuffed croissants filled with meats, cheeses, and fruit spreads to satisfy every palette.

8. Sheet Pan Pancakes

Pancakes are delicious, but take a lot of time to prepare, especially if you are DIYing your wedding brunch. Cut that time down by making sheet pan pancakes.

Simply mix the dough as usual, but instead of dropping spoonfuls in a pan, spread it all on a baking pan. Pop it in the oven for about 10 minutes with a variety of toppings and you’ll have pancakes for a crowd in no time!

9. Egg Bites

Bite-sized foods are just so bunch-coded. Egg bites are like mini omelets that guests can pop in their mouths. Choose flavors like spinach artichoke, and sausage cheddar. These items are easy to serve and can be eaten hot or cold.

10. Crepes

These thin European pancakes are folded and filled with sweet items like Nutella and raspberry jam. You can have servers make them to order or ask your caterer to make a crepe bar with unique flavors and familiar favorites.

11. Breakfast Burritos

Whether you offer them pre wrapped or allow your guests to build their own, breakfast burritos are affordable and filling. Offer scrambled eggs, diced veggies, meats, and cheeses. Don’t forget the hollandaise sauce!

12. Donut Wall

Cake is great, but donuts fit perfectly into a brunch theme! Get creative by assembling a peg board and stacking donuts vertically. Arrange them by flavor and allow guests to serve themselves.

This will be not only delicious, but beautiful and unique as well.

Signature Drinks for a Brunch Wedding

Most people won’t want a lot of alcohol at lunch time. But it’s always nice to have a cocktail when you’re celebrating, especially with brunch.

If you want to keep your bar service easy (and budget friendly) you can offer wine, beer and a signature drink to your guests. You’ll be able to give guests familiar favorites without spending a lot of money on beverages.

Choose your signature drink based on the season, the color or your favorite flavors. For instance, citrus flavors and colors look beautiful during a summer wedding. Some cocktails go better with breakfast than others, so start by considering some of the classics:

Mimosa - A mixture of orange juice and champagne, this cocktail is served in a fluted glass, making it perfect for a celebratory brunch.
Bellini - This Italian cocktail is typically made with Prossecco and pureed peach. However, you can get creative and add your favorite fruit puree.
Tequila Sunrise - Tequila, grenadine syrup, and orange juice come together to make a stunning cocktail that mimics the colors of a sunrise.
Screwdriver - Orange juice stars in another cocktail, but this time it’s paired with vodka.
Bloody Mary - A brunch staple, this spicy cocktail uses V8 juice, tabasco, garlic, and vodka.
Irish Coffee - Bailey’s Irish cream mixed with espresso or coffee is an excellent complement to your brunch meal.

Non-Alcoholic Beverage Ideas

If you don’t want to serve alcohol at your wedding, there’s a lot of ways to make your beverages special. Think about setting up a self serve station, where your guests can make their own drinks and add their favorite toppings:

Mulled Apple Cider - You can serve hot cider with spices, which is perfect for a winter brunch.
Hot Chocolate Bar - Offer cocoa or hot chocolate with decadent toppings like whipped cream, chocolate and cinnamon. Guests can make their own cups to fit their unique taste buds.
Coffee Bar - What’s brunch without coffee? Provide coffee makers with local or gourmet roasts and flavored syrups and toppings. In the summer, you can offer an ice coffee bar with cold brew options and even a mini immersion blender so they can make custom foams to top their brews.
Soda Bar - Offer soda pop with flavored syrup, peanuts and ice cream. Think of an old-timey soda counter rather than a variety of cans. Either way, soda is a surefire crowd pleaser!

Brunch Wedding Reception Activities

You can include all the traditional wedding events at a brunch wedding. If you’d like, you can plan toasts, wedding cake and a bouquet toss.

If you want dancing, go ahead and rent a dance floor. It won’t be a wild party, like on a Saturday night, but most people will get up for a dance or two.

If you don’t want to have dancing, you can make your toasts and the meal last longer, then spend the rest of the time mingling. Or you can make the cake cutting last longer by skipping the traditional cake.

Instead of one big cake, some couples will place a small cake on each table. After the meal, the couple can go around to each table to cut the cakes. Visiting with your guests and cutting the cakes will fill up the last hour of your reception.

If you still have extra time in your reception, you can plan a photo booth or a selfie station for your guests. But the time will go faster than you expect.

So don’t worry too much about scheduling every minute. Your guests will be happy chatting and mingling after the meal.

Can I DIY My Reception Food & Decorations?

There’s lots of DIY projects you can do ahead of time for your wedding. Invitations, favors, and bouquets are fun projects to make yourself. If you’re planning to make your own decorations, you can do those ahead of time, too.

Just remember that you’ll need to start early on the day of your wedding. If you’re allowed to set up your venue the night before, doing your own decorating will be easy to plan.

If you’ve only got the morning, make sure you have enough help to set everything up on time.

It’s a little ambitious to plan your own wedding food, but it can be done! If you want to make the food yourself, think about making picnic boxes, sandwiches or other food that can be set up quickly and easily.

Details for Your Brunch Wedding

Please note: this article contains affiliate links. That means that I may earn a commission if you decide to buy something.

Brighten up your beverage service with a mimosa bar sign kit - complete with table cards, banner, and straws. You can also set up a fun, brunch themed backdrop for your photo booth or selfie station.

Add a wedding themed prop kit to your selfie station or photo booth to spice things up!

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Tips For Planning a Brunch Wedding Reception