Bridal Shower Brunch Ideas That Go Beyond Mimosas

Many bridal showers take place during mid-morning, so why not lean into the time of day by hosting a brunch to celebrate the bride-to-be? A universally loved meal, brunch is the perfect inspiration source for this pre-wedding event, menu- and décor-wise. Wondering what foods, drinks, and decoration details to incorporate into your party? First off, the menu is key. Think of the classics you like to indulge in while out with friends and add those to your list. Waffles, mimosas, scones, and coffee are all items your attendees are sure to love. However, feel free to reimagine those must-haves in creative ways that feel unique to your bride. After all, there's no one right way to brunch.

There's more to this type of shower, however, than food. Consider attire, as well—not only for the bride, but also for her guests. Brunch often connotes a more casual dress code; in the warmer months, encourage attendees to wear flowing, colorful summer dresses. As for the cooler part of the year? Patterned maxis and solid jumpsuits are winning options. For the bride, white is certainly the standard option, but it is certainly not the only route. In the images to come, take note of one woman of the hour who opted for a fresh pink frock, instead (she looked fresh, comfortable, and ready to brunch!).

The third thing to keep in mind as you plan is décor. Since this is a pre-wedding party, there's much more flexibility with aesthetic and theme. Feel free to play with color in your floral selections and texture on your tabletops, like Luxe and Luna and Courtney Inghram did here. A robust floral palette with shades of orange and rust looked stunning atop La Tavola linens and paired with Emerson James place settings and Isidore Augustine menus at this Upper Shirley shower. Note, however, that the overall aesthetic feels relaxed—bistro chairs (a nod to the bride's favorite breakfast café!) kept the polished display from feeling overdone.

Once you've given some consideration to these three main categories, all the other miscellaneous details, like favors, music, and activities, will come easily—together, you'll pull off an engaging and unique event your bride-to-be will always remember.

One of the first things you'll need to nail down is a venue that will work for a brunch shower. Beijos Events selected a terrace destination, which was perfect for this daytime event; guests took in picturesque mountain views while they enjoyed a meal at a table decked out with Flowers by Mae Mae centerpieces.

If an intimate, indoor luncheon is more your speed, use this Knot and Pop and The Garden Gate celebration, which took place at a historic inn, as inspiration. One important note: Let the aesthetic of your venue inform your décor. Regal chairs looked right at home in this setting, but may have looked out of place outdoors, at a garden party.

While this entire tabletop is festive and fun, there's one fresh detail—which you may not have even noticed—that stands out to us for its fun nod to brunch. A pour-over coffee carafe was used as the vessel for the Five Fork Farms floral arrangements seen at this shower planned by The Romanticist.

Once you've given your venue and décor some thought, turn your attention to your food and drink offerings. If you're not sure which beverages to choose, know that a crisp, fresh rosé, like this Camp Ovida variety Emily Coyne and Parker Nichols Events served at this event, is always a crowd-pleasing option.

Another important decision, especially for the guest of honor, involves attire. As you curate an outfit, let the season inform your look. This bride-to-be opted for a short and sweet number (casual enough for brunch!) for her spring fête and paired the look with seasonally-appropriate strappy block heels.

The best part about this theme? You can throw a brunch shower any time of the year—just update your attire accordingly. Consider a flowy, long-sleeved dress for a late summer or early fall shower. As for your hair? This bride's simple, swept-back locks are a perfect complement to her airy look.

There really are no rules when it comes to bridal shower décor; feel free to get creative with unexpected colorways. Robin's egg blue, café au lait, and bright coral brought an out-of-the-box look to this table designed by Rachael Ellen Events.

Beyond unexpected colors, get creative with unexpected floral displays when ideating your brunch shower. That's what Rachael Ellen Events did with this ombré cascade of blooms, which replaced traditional centerpieces. ⠀

Nothing is more timeless (or bridal shower appropriate!) than high tea. For a classic take on brunch, lean into a tea party-inspired menu, like Haley Kelly Events and Carroll and Ashe did here. Bonus points if you use polished silver serving items that round out the theme.

You may not have realized that a detail as simple as table linens—these are from La Tavola—could be the star of your party's décor. This brunch fête, however, proves that a tablescape designed around creative linens is an eye-catching and unique way to highlight the meal you'll be sharing with friends.

In a similar vein, choosing colorful attire can also help elevate your brunch shower. While white is always timeless, this bride-to-be's striking pink frock was eye-catching and celebratory.

A simple menu item that's sure to be a crowd pleaser? Fresh berries. Delicious all on their own, consider serving up a big platter of strawberries, like Halfway Wholeistic did here, for attendees to munch on. Or take things one step further and add some whipped cream as a sweet topping.

For a unique twist on fresh berries and cream, add them to dessert. Whether you opt for a decadent pound cake or an airy angel food cake, whipped cream, berries, and a fresh berry reduction are a brunch combination made in heaven. This Wink by Erica confection from a Chancey Charm event looked absolutely mouth-watering.

Champagne is always a great addition to brunch. If mimosas aren't your thing, serve up bubbly garnished with rosemary sprigs and fresh blueberries, as Cru Catering did at this Calder Clark soirée.

Rosé (a Sunday brunch must-have) is another sip that will always benefit from a festive garnish. Though the pink varietal is pretty all on its own, a lavender sprig brings additional color (and fragrance!) to the sip.

When planning your menu, think about food items that guests can hold as they mingle. Berry and yogurt parfaits did the trick at this pre-wedding event styled by Salt Harbor. Attendees could easily pick up a pre-made breakfast treat and nosh as they celebrated.

Who says you can't have dessert at brunch? Ultimately, cake is a bridal shower staple worth serving. We love how Delicious Cake Corfu added gilded drips and dainty blooms to the one-tier confection, which was served at a party planned by Rosmarin Weddings.

This idea from Simply Gorgeous Events is just plain fun. If you want something playful to add to the meal's menu, look to these carnival-inspired cotton candy-topped sips Snake Oil Cocktail served up at this daytime fête.

Bohemian brides, this look is for you. Statement-making wicker chairs from Elan Event Rentals added fun dimension to this Lovelyfest event—but were still casual enough for the brunch party.

Whatever your event style, you can still have fun when it comes to seating—after all, you'll enjoy the majority of your brunch shower at the table, so seating is key. This all-pink setup is the definition of celebratory. Velvet chairs, paired with a dramatic pink-and-mint grass chandelier from Designs by Ahn, ensured this Michelle Elaine design was eye-catching, modern, and fresh.

In addition to unique chair selections, you can add intrigue to your shower design with unexpected tablescape (guests will enjoy the creative setups as they munch and mingle over brunch). Vividly patterned La Tavola linens and contemporary Jenn Sanchez flower arrangements lent a quirky-meets-modern vibe to this look.

Beyond a brunch-ready dress, give some attention to your accessories as well. If you're feeling stuck, look to your locale for inspiration. A woven flat-brimmed hat and open-toed sandals suited this bride-to-be's oceanfront shower.

While cakes may be a bridal shower staple, we love to see brides deviate from the expected. A fresh, brunch-appropriate tart from Manufaktur, with ripe fig segments, was a welcome addition to the menu at this Rosmarin Weddings shower.

If you love this tablescape but can't figure out quite how to let it inspire your own shower, let us break it down for you. Contemporary arrangements from Evergreen Flower added texture to the look while tapered flatware and gold-rimmed, pink-hued stemware added sleek flair to the design. Since breakfast foods will take center stage at your brunch shower, splurging for unique place settings is a worthwhile budgetary move.

As an alternative to standard mimosas, peach bellinis were on the docket at this midday shower. Take things one step further by serving yours in dainty glassware, garnished with fresh, edible blooms.

Of course, flowers aren't the only fresh garnishes to choose from. Herbs, especially fragrant lavender, are a great way to polish off your brunch bridal shower drinks.

Since brunch is often a weekend treat, follow up your brunch-themed shower with a favor that speaks to another Saturday or Sunday ritual: a warm bath. Glass vials were a creative way to gift lavender-infused soaking salts to attendees at this event planned by HHV Designs.

Marry your brunch celebration with another theme for double the fun. At this Parisian-inspired event, an assortment of rainbow-hued macarons were offered to guests. These bite-sized pastries are easy to eat while mingling which makes them a great option. Not to mention, they're absolutely delicious.