How to Host a Beautiful Brunch

Throwing a brunch can be a great way to enjoy good food, conversation, and fun with friends and family. Unfortunately, the pressure to be the host with the most can make organizing a brunch a highly stressful experience.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. With careful planning and preparation, not to mention a focus on keeping things simple and fun, hosting a brunch can actually be as relaxing and enjoyable as it looks like on TV.

Keep these easy tips in mind to make your next brunch a breeze.

Decide Whether to Host at Home or at a Brunch Venue

The traditional approach is obviously to host the brunch in your own home. That’s a suitable option in some circumstances, but isn’t always a good fit in others.

If you’re short on space, for example, or if you don’t want to add the stress of thoroughly cleaning your home on top of all your food prep duties, why not book a special brunch venue?

You might be surprised by the sheer range of unique and interesting spaces available for hire near you, so it’s worth researching your options to find the perfect brunch venue.

Plan Ahead

The key to hosting a stress-free brunch, just like with any other social occasion, is to plan ahead. Getting everything sorted well in advance of your brunch bash will ensure that everything runs smoothly on the big day.

As well as the venue, you’ll need to put together a guest list and send out invites as soon as possible. Try to find a time and date that suits as many people as possible, then make a detailed list of everything you need to buy and make before the day of the brunch.

It can take a little while to get on top of everything, but doing it now will save you a lot of stress in the long run.

To Theme or Not to Theme

There’s no rule that says you need to have a theme for your brunch. Good food (and drinks), good company, and great conversation will be all you need in many cases.

But if you want to spice things up a bit or add some extra fun to your brunch, a theme can be a great help. From a classy garden party to a laid-back pajama party, a sweet-treat feast to retro dishes, there’s a huge range of brunch themes to choose from. Encourage all your guests to get into the spirit, and you could be in for one very memorable morning.

Choose Your Menu

Now we get to the all-important task that can make or break any brunch: choosing the menu.

There’s a lot to consider at this stage of the process:

● Do you want breakfast dishes, lunch dishes, or both?

● Will there be an even number of sweet and savory dishes, or will you skew the menu towards either option?

● Do the dishes match your theme?

It’s always a good idea to include an egg dish, but something a little fancier than good old-fashioned scrambled eggs is recommended. Fresh fruit is also a great inclusion, adding a healthy option as well as plenty of color to the table.

The main thing to remember is to never be too ambitious with your menu. If you choose dishes that are relatively quick and easy to prepare, including ones that can be made in advance, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.

Make it Boozy

Coffee and juice are important inclusions on any brunch table, so make sure there’s plenty to go around. Of course, if you really want to take things up a notch, add a few classic cocktails or some quality bubbles to the menu.

This will not only ensure an extra treat for everyone’s taste buds, but it’ll give your event more of a party atmosphere too. And if there are mocktails for the non-drinkers or designated drivers in attendance, everyone should go home happy.

Don’t Forget the Decorations

You don’t have to put in hours of effort decorating your brunch space, but a little bit of work can go a long way towards creating the perfect atmosphere.

In most cases, the best approach is to keep it simple. With some fresh flowers and arty cookware, you can make a big impact — besides, the food is going to be the main attraction, so it’ll add a decorative element in its own right.

Of course, if you’re trying to nail a specific theme, you might want to be a little more elaborate with your decorations. Just make sure you have a clear idea of the look you want to achieve as this will ensure the best results.

Relax!

Last but definitely not least, don’t forget to let your hair down and relax. Hosting a brunch can be a stressful experience, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be an enjoyable one too.

So try not to stress too much if everything doesn’t go perfectly to plan. The aim of any brunch is to have fun and catch up with friends, so put a smile on your face and let the good times flow.

Thanks to Gillian