BRIDES WHO BRUNCH

The celebrations surrounding a wedding are memorable occasions that not only honor the bride and groom, but also delight loved ones whom the couple holds dear. Bridal showers are the perfect opportunity to up the girlie factor, and choosing a theme is imperative. A bridal brunch or afternoon tea is a perfect get-together for ladies to socialize and shower the bride with love and gifts.

Brunch is an especially easy affair to pull together. Creating a menu of brunch favorites like scones, waffles, and donuts is fun. Guests are usually available and happy to attend a late-morning event, and they won’t arrive starved (like they would if you were serving lunch).

When my cousin Julianna got married, we threw her a bakery-themed bridesmaids’ brunch decorated with hot-pink bakery boxes and garden roses. We invited guests by hand-delivering bakery boxes filled with cupcakes and mini macarons with the brunch invitations attached. Then for the party we decorated a long farm table with pink bakery boxes, vintage cake stands, and hot-pink garden roses.

Brunch consisted of ham and cheese croissants, mini frittatas, and fruit and granola parfaits served in pink Depression glass bowls. Guests enjoyed homemade cranberry-orange and Cheddar-dill scones served with mimosas, tea, and coffee. We repurposed the bakery boxes used as decorations to pack up the leftover baked goods and send them home with guests as favors.