50 Ideas for an Unforgettable Post-Wedding Brunch

By Hannah Nowack
The Ganeys
Finish the wedding weekend on a high note with a celebratory post-wedding brunch.
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The Ganeys

The wedding may be over, but the festivities don't have to be. To make the most of every last minute of your celebratory weekend, host a post-nuptial brunch to bid your guests farewell.

Not only is a post-wedding brunch a way to stretch out the fun with loved ones you rarely see, it will help attendees recuperate after an evening of partying into the early-morning hours. After all, who could say no to mimosas, coffee, and donuts (especially when battling a headache)? If, however, those selections don't fit your vision, get creative with your interpretation of brunch. A cereal bar, selections of loose-leaf tea, or even a charcuterie board will be quickly devoured by guests who will surely appreciate a little something different. You should also know that there's absolutely no rule that says your gathering needs to take the form of a formal, sit-down meal. If your venue has a pool, consider a low-key pool party, and set up family-style picnic tables beside it. Better yet? Host a beach fête if you're at a tropical island resort.

By the time the time this event rolls around, the formalities of the weekend are over, meaning it's time to kick back and relax—however you see fit. Ahead, you'll see how one couple used their post-wedding brunch as a chance to sip Prosecco on the shores of Lake Como, while another opted for a whimsical pastry spread served from a vintage trailer. Worried your out-of-town guests won't be able to attend since they'll be rushing to catch flights home? For a fun play on brunch, give them a breakfast-in-bed box, which they can take on the road.

One of the best parts about throwing one of these celebrations? There are no rules, design-wise (or otherwise, for the matter!). Have fun with color, just like Gather Design Company did here. Velvet linens from BBJ and vibrant Anthropologie plates may not fit your reception aesthetic, but we love the idea of including them the next day. As you map out your whole wedding weekend, let the ideas ahead inform the direction of your own day-after celebration.

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Cold Water

Kyle John Photography

While few would turn down a boozy brunch, remember that hydration is important as guests detox from last night's reception. Offer ice-cold water alongside adult sips, like Prosecco, to ensure guests feel rejuvenated. Take things one step further and create an interactive drink station, like Open the Door Events did with this old desk.

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Fresh Citrus

Michelle Beller

Citrus fruits are always a great addition to a brunch menu. Make your display even sweeter with calligraphed terra-cotta planters, like Michelle B Events and Rock Rose Floral used here.

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Brunch Attire

Eve Yarbrough

Wondering what to wear to your post-nuptial brunch? This couple opted for smart, casual looks (the bride wore ASTR The Label) that felt elevated enough for a wedding event, but still relaxed.

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Simple and Elegant

Ally and Bobby

Place settings for your post-wedding brunch don't have to be as intricate as your reception's. This pared-down tablescape from Stephanie Shaul Events is a great reminder that using just a few statement pieces, like patterned china and gold flatware, will make the tabletop shine.

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Pool Party

Belathée Photography

If you opt for a day-after pool party, lean into the aquatic theme. Synchronized swimmer-inspired straws added to the festive vibe of this poolside fête.

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Charcuterie

Kyle John Photography

Balance out carb-heavy brunch pastries with a bit of protein. As guests gathered at this post-wedding celebration, they were welcomed with passed hors d'oeuvres from Wolfgang Puck; they included a variety of Spanish hams, chorizo, local cheeses, breads, and fruits, as well as Spanish fish and mussels.

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Oysters

J. Harper Photography

No seaside summer brunch is complete without a raw bar. Oysters on the half-shell from Let's Pretend Catering were crowd-pleasers at this event. Pro-tip: Style the display with fresh lemons, hot sauce, and on-theme signage for a cohesive look.

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To Go

Sara Corona

Of course, if you're worried guests won't be up for a morning-after party, breakfast in bed is a great idea. Mimosa ingredients and buttery scones, inspired by this Banks & Leaf to-go bag, will definitely be appreciated.

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Dried Citrus

Tenth and Grace

Further reinforce a mimosa brunch theme with citrus-centric décor. Dried fruit slices from Amorology and Compass Floral felt on-theme on this cheery, farmers' market-inspired tablescape.

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Balloons

Katie Stoops Photography

A pool can sometimes feel like a tricky brunch event element to style. However, this bride, with help from Bash Please, selected whimsical balloons to draw attention to the venue's water feature.

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Grazing Table

Ashley Ludaescher Photography

A grazing table filled with fresh fruit is the perfect sweet, but healthy, pick-me-up for guests. Grupo Dani Garcia created this one with cheeses, hummus, nuts, ham, fruits, fish, meat and vegetarian paella, dips, olives, and bread.

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Bloody Mary

Nancy Ray Photography

Bloody Mary's and oysters go together perfectly come brunch, so why not serve them as one unit? At this event, small glasses of Bloody Mary mix came with an oyster garnish, courtesy of Cru Catering—a plus, since guests didn't have to deal with a messy shell.

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Prosecco Truck

Koman Photography

Prosecco and a view of Lake Como, Italy? Guests at this destination wedding planned by Rossini Weddings ended the weekend on a celebratory note thanks to a Bubble Bar truck.

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Family Style

Lisa Blume

Your day-after brunch is sure to feel more intimate than your reception, so choose seating arrangements that reflect that vibe. Everyone at this Pamela Barefoot event sat at one long table, styled with La Tavola linens and Philippa Tarrant florals, so they could mingle and eat together, family style.

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Waffles

Erin Wilson Photography

Feeling indecisive about your post-wedding brunch menu? You can't go wrong with waffles—the crowd-pleasing breakfast food deserves a spot on your menu.

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Ice Cream Cart

Marissa Maharaj

If you're getting married during a warmer month, consider an ice cream cart to help guests cool off. This couple's dessert-for-breakfast station from Noble Folk was full of their favorite flavors, including one custom variety.

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Pop Tarts

Jenn Emerling

Reimagine breakfast staples in elevated ways to give your brunch a wedding-worthy upgrade. Custom baked pop tarts from Black Jet Baking Co. delighted guests at this event. To make them feel even more special, the pastries were served fresh out of the oven in custom wax paper sleeves.

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Drink Dispensers

Ryan Ray Photography

While your reception may be a seated dinner, chances are you're decreasing the formality level come brunch. Food and drink stations, where guests can help themselves, are perfect for this event type; attendees can mingle as they please, as they did here while helping themselves to mint-and-lemon infused water from Tastefully Yours Catering.

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Drink Umbrellas

Ryan Ray

Refreshing homemade lemonade benefitted from the addition of umbrellas at this post-wedding event. Paying extra attention to garnishes will take your drinks to the next level—those details won't go unnoticed by guests.

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Pattern Play

Melina Wallisch

A word of advice: Have fun with your brunch décor. A vibrantly-patterned La Tavola table linen, toned down with solid napkins and greenery-centric arrangements, made a statement at this day-after event by Elise Events and Natasha Kolenko.

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Citrus Place Card

Andrew Jade Photo

Now here's a place card holder you probably haven't seen before. Halved oranges played into the citrus theme of this Stephanie Antoinette Events brunch, while also directing guests to their designated seats.

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Mimosa Bar

Jessica Bordner Photography

Not everyone is a fan of orange juice, which makes serving just mimosas a risky choice. Consider curating a bellini bar for variety's sake, like Rockstar Catering and Papel & Co. did here; present plenty of fruit juices and berry garnishes so your guests can play mixologists for the morning.

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Plastic Cups

Abby Jiu Photography

As you plan out your day-of stationery, like your ceremony programs, don't forget to consider the paper and custom goods you might need over the course of your entire wedding weekend. Case in point? This couple tapped their stationer to create signature plastic cups (yes, this vendor can typically handle one-off projects such as these!). The cups made their cocktails feel extra-special, but still felt appropriately casual for brunch.

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Berry Clusters

Lauren Kinsey

Since your brunch's budget may be smaller than your reception's, think of ways that each element can serve a dual purpose—this will help your budget stretch further. Bookmark this couple's fruit centerpieces. Not only did the arrangement's berries look like they were picked right from a farmers' market, but they also gave attendees at this Amorology event something to munch on as they waited for the brunch entrées.

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Bread Display

Paper Antler

Similarly, this bread display from The TomKat Studio and Baked by Joanna played double duty. The mouthwatering, carb-loaded station also worked as a statement décor moment—which meant the couple didn't have to invest as much in decorations elsewhere. To make it even more over the top, there were a selection of flavored butters for guests to enjoy.

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Smoothies

Tenth and Grace

Rise and shine! If you're serving fresh smoothies to guests, play into the fruity theme and use blenders to display fresh produce. Amorology and Back Up Backdrops did just that to create an event with a menu that reflected its décor.

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Picnic Tables

Natalie Watson Photography

Relaxed, family-style picnic tables brought a down-to-earth vibe to this brunch, curated by by Jennifer Laraia. Blankets were another welcome, cozy detail at the fall event.

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Big-Batch Drinks

Natalie Bray

You may have full bar service at your wedding, but consider offering big-batch, self-serve drinks at the post-wedding brunch, like Tyler Spier and Omni Catering did here. Guests won't mind helping themselves, especially if you give them a variety of delicious drinks to choose from.

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Biscuits

Harwell Photography

Whether you decide to go savory with biscuits and gravy or sweet with an assortment of bread and jams, like Catering by Carters did here, these brunch favorites deserve a spot on your menu.

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Relaxed Yet Sophisticated

Amanda Crean

Although the post-wedding brunch is the last event of your wedding weekend, don't overlook planning a final outfit. Paired with a messy bun, a simple sleeveless fit-and-flair Naeem Khan dress gave this bride a relaxed, but sophisticated look that was anything but an afterthought; the garment was perfect for her send-off brunch planned by Jenna Lam Events.

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All the Toppings

Elizabeth Messina

Waffles are always a brunch menu hit, but make them even more delicious by offering a variety of topping options, like CES Weddings & Events and Bacio Chico did here. Encourage attendees to indulge their sweet tooth with strawberry slices, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.

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Omelette Bar

Jill Thomas Photography

You can still give guests the chance to indulge even if you go the savory route. An omelette bar with bacon, peppers, and a whole lot of cheese, like this one from Trumpet Vine, will win everyone over.

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