A Guide to Planning the Ultimate Post Wedding Breakfast or Brunch

Stephanie

Most venues that offer accommodation and catering will be able to host a post wedding breakfast or brunch. If your venue does cater for this type of event then I highly recommend taking the opportunity to book and plan for it. It is a wonderful way to end off your wedding celebration and will give you some extra time to spend with family and friends, especially those that you do not get to see very often. This type of event gives everyone time to reminisce over all the great memories made on your wedding day.

Who Hosts?

This is a personal choice but is usually the responsibility of the bridal couple or parents of either the bride or groom. If your wedding venue does cater for the event then they can take care of the majority of arrangements for you and simplify the planning process. Ask your wedding venue if the costs associated with hosting a post wedding breakfast or brunch can be included in the venue hire fee.

If the post wedding breakfast is going to be held at a different venue or at a residence then the host will need to think about the budget for the event. It is not uncommon for guests to pay for themselves at the post wedding breakfast but this does depend on the type of event and who will be hosting. If guests will be expected to pay for their own bill then notify them beforehand, so they can decide if they would like to attend.

The Venue

The post wedding breakfast or brunch venue should be near or at the reception venue. This will simplify the logistics for everyone who is attending.

Formality of the Event

The post wedding breakfast or brunch should be casual. If you would like to arrange some decor think about repurposing a few of your wedding reception table arrangements to extend your wedding theme and decor.

Set a Time

Your wedding guests will most likely have spent all their energy on the dance floor and gone to bed fairly late. Setting a sunrise breakfast is probably not the wisest decision and I would recommend arranging a breakfast for no earlier than 09:00 and a brunch for 11:00.

Invitations

Invitations for the post wedding breakfast or brunch can be sent out on a separate card with your wedding invitations. The details can also be added to your wedding website, emailed out or form part of the accommodation information. Remember to set a RSVP date and follow up as soon as possible to confirm numbers for the venue. The invitations should include: Date, Time, Venue, Dress Code, Event description and RSVP information.

You can invite everyone that attended the wedding, or you can choose to invite your immediate family, bridal party and their plus ones as well as any out of town guests. Having a smaller guest count will give you an opportunity to show some love to all who helped plan your big day. Be careful not to add the post wedding breakfast or brunch details to your wedding website if you are excluding some guests.

Food Choices

Plan for your menu to include a light Continental or English breakfast which can be offered either buffet style or à la carte. These traditional menu options offer variety and will work for a breakfast or brunch affair. If you have decided to opt for a brunch then you can also include a selection of quiches, pastries, charcuterie and cheese board platters.

Decor Cleanup

If you plan a post wedding event, ensure you both have the time to enjoy it. Rushing to clean up the wedding venue and prepare hired decor for collection before an early morning breakfast will give you less time to enjoy it. Similarly, if your honeymoon flight is planned for the day after your wedding then it probably not the best decision to arrange a mid morning brunch on the same day.