Bridal Shower Brunch Ideas: 11 Planning Tips You Need to Know
The pressure is on when you’re hosting a bridal shower. With the bride, not to mention a roomful of judgy guests depending on you to deliver something special, you want everything to be impeccable. In this article, we will share 11 planning tips you need to know in order to host a perfect bridal shower brunch.
1. Pick the right venue
A bridal shower brunch should be elegant with a hint of whimsy. This requires attention to pretty details and consideration for the bridal themes. That can be a tall order if you don’t choose the right venue.
The Venetian, a Vaughan banquet hall within Chateau Le Jardin, is elegant and decor-ready with minimal effort required to achieve the look and ambience you desire. This castle-like building has the feel of a well-appointed French chateau, where the bride will feel pampered and appreciated.
We also offers in-house catering provided by world-class chefs to ensure every bite is delicious and each dish is beautifully displayed.
2. Choose a pleasing brunch menu
The Venetian Vaughan banquet hall is no stranger to brunch menus, with customized menus elegant enough for the bride-to-be and her guests. Chef-prepared menus are elegant and indulgent, offering a feast for the eyes and pleasing flavours that speak to the quality of the food.
Premium service makes every guest feel attended to, while customized menus ensure the brunch is luxurious and tantalizing. Whether you want a traditional brunch, something suited to special dietary needs such as vegan dishes, or a menu to reflect the bride’s culture, a customized menu can be suited to any gathering.
Whether it’s something fun and flirty, elegant fine dining, or whimsical and light, beautiful serving wear, delightful wine selections, and bespoke cocktails add to the sophistication of the brunch.
3. Pay attention to the decorations
The bridal brunch is a sophisticated affair, but it should also reflect the theme of the wedding. You can do something as simple as lovely floral arrangements on the buffet and tables, or go all-out with matching linens, hanging decor such as paper lanterns or bells, balloon arches, or fairy lights.
You want the bride to feel special at this gathering, with her wishes being honoured and reflected in every detail. Cultural decorations can also work beautifully at a lovely bridal shower brunch.
4. Send out pretty invitations
Being a bride is all about the pretty, with feminine touches that can be chic, whimsical, or elegant. Whether you send e-vites or traditional paper invitations, they should be thoughtful and tasteful.
Incorporating the bride’s wedding colours is always a safe idea, and having a fun invitation that reflects the bride’s personality adds a personal touch. Once you have the venue booked and the time confirmed, send the invitations out right away to make sure everyone has enough time to mark it on their calendar.
5. Consider the activities
First, let’s start by saying that today’s brides aren’t necessarily looking for activities like the brides of days gone by. So, be sure to consider the bride’s personality and whether she would want any activities to begin with. If she’s an activity kind of gal, then the game’s on and can include an endless list of activities, such as:
Paper veil or wedding gown-making contests
Karaoke, featuring cheesy love songs
Belly or hip hop dance lessons
Wine-tasting
Bridal trivia and/or Pictionary
Build your own cocktail competition (cue the Ubers!)
6. Think of the drink situation
Bridal brunches should not be an all-out drinking occasion where people get sloppy drunk! Think more along the lines of a few glasses of Prosecco, a nice light rosé wine, or champagne mimosas (as opposed to a full bar).
You want to keep things tasteful, while appealing to those who enjoy a drink or two without letting things get out of hand. Because the guest list tends to be a mix of friends and family, you also don’t want to offend anyone who is past the “party” stage of life or who doesn’t drink.
7. Consider the gifts
Of course, the bridal shower is a celebration that includes gifts. You should manage the gift-giving with a bridal shower gift registry to avoid overlaps. Be sure to include gifts priced well under what appears on her wedding registry, as people are already having to pay for a wedding gift.
You can also consider giving the bride one major gift from the group, but be sure to include everyone in the plan and avoid asking for too high a price from each guest.
Keep in mind that some people might not be able to manage an additional gift on top of the wedding gift. In this case, let guests know that cards and DIY gifts are welcome. For example, someone might put together a slide presentation of memories for the bride, a photo album, or purchase a book by her favourite author.
8. Time it right
A bridal shower brunch is a day affair that typically starts at about 11:00 a.m. Avoid planning it after the bachelorette party when many guests might be tired or feeling a little under the weather. Also, consider the length of the shower. About 3 hours should be enough for drinks, brunch, and gift opening. Going beyond that becomes a little much.
9. Consider a wrapping colour theme
A great way to elevate the brunch shower decor is to have a wrapping colour theme. A table strewn with boxes and gift bags all sharing a common colour theme will have a real wow factor that makes a lovely impression. When you choose a single colour, there will be varying hues that blend in beautifully with your decor scheme.
10. Schedule the activities
To keep things moving along at a good pace, set a schedule of activities and share it with the venue. They will ensure the drinks are served at the right time, followed by the meal, with plenty of time for activities and gift opening.
11. Remember logistics for clean-up
While the venue staff will take care of the clean-up, you should have a plan for transporting the gifts for the bride. The longer the guest list, the more planning it will take. You also want to know where the bride wants the gifts taken, so arrangements can be made if it isn’t her home.
Contact the Event Venue Professionals
These ideas and tips will help you plan a flawless bridal shower brunch that impresses your guests and ensures the bride-to-be is blushing with pleasure.
For more information about the Venetian Vaughan banquet hall at Château Le Jardin, click here. You can also call us at 1-888-529-8573 or book a consultation online.