The bridal shower brunch from the invitations to the mimosa bar.

A bridal shower brunch is a shower held in the late morning with breakfast and lunch dishes, champagne and coffee. It is relaxed, it suits every age on the guest list, and most of the food can be made the day before, which makes it one of the easier ways to host a celebration for the bride.

Timing the celebration

Start at eleven and plan to finish by one. Spend the first forty-five minutes on arrival, drinks and food, about forty-five minutes on the gifts for eighteen guests, and the rest on dessert, a game and the toast. A Sunday brunch suits out of town family who travel home in the afternoon, and a Saturday leaves the evening free.

How much food to make

Plan on about one serving per guest from each savory dish and a little of everything else, since a brunch table is for grazing. Buy the bakery items and fruit, make the egg dishes and the French toast, and spend part of the budget on good coffee. Everything fits inside Revelwick's $135 food estimate for eighteen guests when it is made at home.

The mimosa bar, a bloody mary bar or a coffee bar

For a mimosa bar, set out champagne or sparkling wine in ice buckets, orange and one other juice such as grapefruit or peach, and bowls of berries. Add a small sign with the ratio, one third juice to two thirds bubbly, and sparkling cider for guests who are not drinking. A bloody mary bar needs a pitcher of mix, vodka, celery, olives, pickles and lemon wedges. A coffee bar with syrups, whipped cream and cinnamon is the easy non-alcoholic choice.

Decor and a photo spot

Keep the decor to the food table and one photo backdrop. Fresh flowers, pastel linens, cake stands and a citrus bowl are enough for a beautiful table, and a flower wall or a simple sign gives guests a cute place for photos with the bride.

Games, gifts and the toast

Open the gifts after everyone has eaten, when guests are sitting with a coffee. One game is enough, and bridal shower bingo fits because guests play it during the gift opening. End with a toast from the maid of honor or the host.

Favors from the table

Brunch themed favors are easy and useful: jam, honey, coffee beans, pancake mix or maple syrup in small jars with a thank you tag. The bridal shower favors page has more ideas.

Planning, week by week

Four to six weeks before, send the invitations. One week before, order the bakery items and buy the sparkling wine. Two days before, shop for the fresh food. The day before, assemble the quiche, the French toast and the parfait components and set the table. On the morning, bake, cut the fruit and chill the drinks. Ask one friend to help with the drinks bar and one with the photos, so the host can enjoy the party.

A bridal shower brunch at a restaurant

A private room at a restaurant is the easier option when the host has no space or time. Ask whether the room is truly private, whether a set brunch menu is available, how mimosas are charged, and whether gifts can be opened at the table. A restaurant costs more per guest than hosting at home, so the guest list or the menu has to fit the budget.

Don't forget

Name tags or place cards if the families have not met, a trash bag for wrapping paper, a pen and paper for the gift list, and a cooler of ice for the drinks.