Hosting the Perfect Mother’s Day Brunch
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and while flowers and chocolate are always good go-to gifts, why not mix it up this year? Preparing a special brunch and inviting your family to spend time together will be a wonderful treat for Mom. It’ll also allow you to get creative and hone your event planning skills!
Inviting guests into your home, preparing food, and creating a beautiful dining atmosphere can be a daunting task, and it likely seems like a lot of hard work. Don’t stress! We’ve laid out all the steps you need, beginning with the creation of a plan and guiding you through menus and tips to ensure the day is as wonderful as it can be.
Have a Vision
Before planning any event, there are a series of questions to consider:
- Will it be formal or casual?
- How many guests do you plan on hosting?
- How long will the event be?
Use these questions to create a vision of what the brunch will be like. Our suggestion? A Mother’s Day brunch should certainly have an element of formality to it, so now is a great opportunity to break out those linens, fine china, and complementary colors. In terms of how long it should be, we recommend no longer than 3 hours—you want to allow time for everyone to socialize, catch up and enjoy themselves! Late morning is the perfect time to invite guests over and we recommend 11:00-11:30 a.m. as the sweet spot.
Since the brunch is in Mom’s honor, use her favorite colors, flowers and foods as the starting point to build the event on.
If you need some extra help understanding which colors work best together, our color cheat sheet will get you started on the right foot.
Write down your ideas, and keep the list handy as you go forward. A few weeks before Mother’s Day, extend invitations to the close friends and family whom you want to attend.
You don’t need to send a formal invitation, but you do need them to RSVP! Give invitees a deadline to let you know if they will be attending, and make sure that deadline is well before the event date. This way, you won’t be scrambling at the last minute—like we said, no stress!
The Food
Now that you know which guests will be attending and what the overall feeling of the event will be, it’s time to decide on your menu. Tired of the same old brunch classics? A simple new twist—or extra-high quality ingredients—are the perfect way to spice up a traditional favorite.
These ideas might help inspire you:
- Waffles: You can easily dress up waffles with toppings like fruit, hazelnut spread and even ice cream! We love this easy recipe.
- Almond Cinnamon Buns: An alternative to waffles, or an additional course (if you’re feeling ambitious), this pastry recipe from Country Living is to-die-for.
- Breakfast potatoes: As a side dish, these are always a hit! This recipe from Damn Delicious is a great one to try.
- Yogurt Parfaits: Parfaits don’t only look lovely—they’re also delicious AND healthy! This recipe from the Food Network is a foolproof one.
The Drinks
A necessary, basic element of brunch is coffee, which should be readily available throughout the event. Other than coffee, you can pick and choose some delicious specialty beverages for your menu.
For non-drinkers, check out local stores and producers for some unique, healthy juice blends. And of course there’s no better time than a celebratory Mother’s Day brunch to enjoy a mimosa! We’ve got an easy recipe for you:
- Mix equal parts chilled orange juice and champagne (Prosecco is a great choice!) into a champagne flute.
- Add a splash of Triple Sec Liqueur and stir gently.
- Garnish the champagne flutes with fresh strawberries.
Set the Scene!
What are Mom’s favorite colors and patterns? Pick two (for example, polka dots and pink) and use these to decorate your brunch table and the areas around it. If you’re not used to decorating a table, this is a great time to experiment with different colors and accents, and there are plenty of online resources to help you.
Try this checklist for your Mother’s Day brunch décor:
- Linens: Choose linen napkins, place mats, and a table cloth for this brunch—paper is an acceptable choice for other parties, but the use of linens will bring an air of elegance to this special brunch.
- Fresh Flowers: Blooms are a wonderful addition to a Mother’s Day brunch, so don’t be afraid to incorporate lots of them! Roses, tulips, daisies and hydrangeas are vibrant, lovely choices. Flowers work well as your standard centerpiece, but you can also experiment. Instead of one big arrangement, try putting smaller arrangements in two or three difference spots along the table, as well as a single bloom or small bouquet next to each guest’s place setting. Setting out flowers in nearby corners of your home also creates a beautiful overall atmosphere.
- Place Settings: You can choose to keep your place settings simple or more intricate, depending on your level of expertise and your creativity! No matter what you choose, however, you can use Martha Stewart’s Setting the Table 101 as your guide.
- Candles: As decorative accents, candles are elegant and classic. If you want to add some to your brunch table décor, we recommend choosing four or five and arranging them around your place settings, linens and flowers in complementary colors.
The Day Before
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be hectic at all! The yogurt parfaits can be prepared the day before (without the granola—add that before serving) and refrigerated.
You can also decorate your table the day before with your place settings, flowers, candles and linens, so all you have to do on Mother’s Day is prepare some delicious food, set it out, and enjoy a wonderful few hours of family time!
VERY HELPFUL IDEAS SINCE I HAVE INTEREST TO TAKE COURSES AS EVENTS PLANNER.