After the whirlwind of wedding festivities, many couples choose to extend the celebration with a post-wedding brunch. This relaxed and intimate gathering allows newlyweds and their guests to unwind, create even more memories together, and enjoy each other’s company one more time before everyone heads back to reality. If this is something you’ve considered hosting, but you’re not sure about the logistics of it, don’t sweat. We’re covering everything you need to know about hosting a post-wedding brunch, from what to wear, how much it costs to who traditionally pays for it, and why you should consider having one.
Why Have a Post Wedding Brunch?
There are several reasons why newlyweds may want to host a post-wedding brunch with their guests. It provides a more relaxed setting for meaningful conversations, allows you to personally thank your guests for attending, and extends the celebration beyond the main wedding day. It’s also a great opportunity to share memories, swap stories, and create even deeper bonds with your loved ones.
What to Wear to a Post Wedding Brunch
The attire for a post-wedding brunch is typically casual and comfortable. Since the main wedding events often involve formal wear, the brunch is an opportunity to relax and enjoy a more laid-back atmosphere. Sundresses, khakis, button-down shirts, and casual summer attire are all suitable options. Of course, if you’re hosting a winter wedding, jeans, sweaters, and long-sleeved shirts work too. Consider the venue and weather when choosing your outfit, and don’t forget to account for any planned activities or games that may influence your clothing choice.
Selecting the right venue for your post-wedding brunch is essential. You want it to be a welcoming environment with some delicious food, of course–especially since there’s a good chance that some of your guests are hurting a little the day after the wedding. Whether you want a cozy brunch spot, a garden with a relaxed ambiance, or the backyard of someone’s home, choosing the venue is entirely up to you.
Costs
The cost of hosting a post-wedding brunch can vary widely depending on factors like the venue, catering, and the number of guests. Typically, brunches are less expensive than the main wedding events. If you’re on a budget, consider alternatives like a potluck-style brunch where guests bring a dish to share or a buffet versus a seated brunch.
Who Pays for It?
Traditionally, the couple hosting the wedding pays for the post-wedding brunch. However, lately, we’re seeing family members or close friends contributing to the cost as a gift to the newlyweds. We recommend communicating openly with potential contributors and establishing expectations from the beginning to ensure everyone is on the same page. Regardless of who foots the bill, expressing gratitude for their generosity is always a thoughtful gesture.
The last thing you want to do is wake your guests up too early–especially if they’re fighting a hangover from the night before. This is also true if your wedding goes late into the night. Give your guests time to sleep in! Ideally, you’ll want to start it anywhere from 11 AM to 1 PM, and it will last about two to two and a half hours.
Who Gets Invited?
Guest lists are never easy to make–we get it. And while it may be wonderful to have all of your wedding guests attend brunch, inviting everyone isn’t required. If you want to keep it more intimate and keep costs low, invite your parents, grandparents, immediate family, and wedding party (and their plus ones). From there, you can decide who else to add. The key is to stay consistent on both sides to avoid hurt feelings.
Hosting a post-wedding brunch is a wonderful way to wrap up your wedding festivities and share a final, intimate moment with your loved ones. If you’re considering making your weekend a whole weekend affair, including a brunch, be sure to check out our guide on planning a wedding weekend for all the tips and tricks!
When a bunch of wedding vendors who absolutely love Taylor Swift join forces, something magical takes place—a Colorado elopement inspiration shoot inspired by the vibes of 1989. And we can’t get enough of it! Creating this styled shoot was a true labor of love, and we’re completely hooked. Every person involved is a huge fan, making it feel natural to bring their Swiftie passion from their hearts into a photo studio.
Since Taylor Swift herself can’t quite decide if 1989 is more of a beach or city album, our talented team embraced both vibes. The industrial studio and courthouse evoked the original NYC aesthetic, while the florist and stationer infused a touch of the beach into their designs. The ceremony space featured a round arch adorned with folded paper planes and grounded arrangements of florals, greenery, and pampas. Moving to the intimate reception table for two, it showcased sand-colored linen, delicate blooms, and candles, all against the backdrop of the same arch. The result? A perfect blend of city chic and beach elegance.
The beauty looks for this inspired shoot were carefully curated, ranging from the “classic red lip thing that you like” to the “long hair slicked back,” serving as their hair and makeup muse. And that’s not all. There are even more details that will leave you in awe. Calling all Swifties, you absolutely need to check this out! Keep scrolling to see every incredible element beautifully captured by Larsen Photo Co.
Why a 1989-Inspired Colorado Elopement Inspiration
This shoot was the result of a group of Swiftie wedding vendors challenging ourselves to see how many 1989 (Taylor’s version) lyrical references we could include in a styled shoot, keeping it subtle enough for the casual observer to see it as “just” a city elopement while leaving easter eggs that any true fan will obsess over and find ways to incorporate into their own wedding planning. From the seagulls and paper airplanes used in the stationery and decor to using lyrics for posing cues like “just take my hand and don’t ever drop it” or “you stand with your hand on my waistline,” we had a blast putting this all together—and we think any Swifties planning their wedding would love it, too.
Congratulations to the talented team for putting together a 1989-inspired Colorado elopement inspiration shoot that Swifties all over will obsess over. And a big thank you to Larsen Photo Co. for capturing all the stunning details and sharing them with us.
Inspiration has the incredible ability to emerge from unexpected places. The key to transforming your vision into reality? It lies in having a committed team capable of weaving those intricate details into a unified theme, just like this shoot exemplifies. To assist you in kickstarting your vendor search, take a look at our thoughtfully curated list featuring the finest wedding vendors from across the globe.
Image by Kelsey Justice Photography. Keep scrolling for unique wedding ideas you’re going to want for your big day
The days of tradition have come and gone. As the years go by, more engaged couples are throwing out the wedding planning “rule book” and doing things their own way–and we’ve never been more excited about it. Although there’s nothing with sticking to tradition, we love seeing newlyweds plan the wedding of their dreams. So, if you’re looking for unique wedding ideas that you have not seen all over the internet, you’re in luck. We’ve seen some pretty special additions in our years and now we’re sharing them with you!
21 Unique Wedding Ideas
1. Leave The First Row Open For Wedding Party
While the tradition is for your wedding party to stand beside you, you can switch it up by leaving the first rows open for them to sit and enjoy the ceremony with your other guests. This allows them to relax, get off their feet, and get a better view of you exchanging your vows.
2. Stand On Opposite Sides
If you want your wedding parties to stand up with you, try this instead. Typically, you stand on the same side as your wedding party as well as your family members. While there’s nothing wrong with this, if you want your wedding party and family members to see your face throughout your ceremony, consider swapping sides. For example, a groom would stand by the bridesmaids, and the bride would stand by the groomsmen. This gives your loved ones a chance to see your face rather than your back.
3. Send a Mood Board With the Color Palette in the Wedding Invitation
Want all of your guests to dress in a specific color palette? Send them a mood board with the color palette of your choice in their wedding invitation. This way they can take the mood board with them while they are shopping for an outfit. Just think about how cohesive your photos will look! Share your mood board with Lovebird, an innovative platform streamlining wedding guest communication, allowing you to share all the important details and seamlessly collect information from guests with elegance, grace, and ease.
4. Flower Grandma
While we absolutely love little flower girls, assigning the role to your grandmother is an adorable way to include her in your ceremony. She’ll feel honored that you asked to her be a part of your special day and your guests will get a kick out of seeing her walk down the aisle with her basket of flowers.
You’ve probably heard about choosing a specific perfume or cologne for your wedding day (which we are all for), but have you considered incorporating a wedding day scent through candles or diffusers? That’s right. Having scented candles on your reception table and lighting them during dinner is an easy way to encapsulate your special day. When you’re in the mood to be reminded of your wedding years later, you can simply light a candle with that scent and be taken back to one of the most cherished days of your life.
6. Monobloom Wedding Party Bouquets
More often than not, a bridal bouquet is made up of multiple different flowers. And, in the past, bridesmaids typically carried bouquets that were very similar to the bride’s bouquet (aka also made up of the same different flowers). However, if you’re looking for something unique, consider having each member of your bridal party carry a bouquet of one singular flower type that makes up your bouquet. For example, one bridesmaid may carry a bouquet of sprayed roses, while another carries rununculas.
Do you and your significant other share love notes with one another? Share these notes with your guests as wedding decor. Whether you use them as signage or put them on cocktail napkins like this couple did, it’s a great way to showcase your love story in a unique way. And your guests will love getting a glimpse of your love story leading up to your big day.
If you have family members who have passed, put together an “in memorial” table comprised of photos, memorabilia, and some of their favorite foods and beverages. It’s a unique way to honor them and the life they lived.
9. Unity Shot or Drink
Get the party started early with a unity shot or cocktail/beer during the ceremony. If you want your guests to be included, doing so at the very end before sealing the deal with a kiss is a great way to get everyone involved. If you want it to be just you and your partner, incorporate it into your readings.
Chances are your guests will be snapping tons of photos throughout your celebration—but there’s also a good chance you’ll never see most of them. They might live on someone’s phone or disappear after 24 hours on Instagram Stories.
To make sure those moments don’t get lost, set up a shared Google album and create a QR code that links directly to it. Display the code around your venue so guests can easily upload their photos. Or, use a platform like Wedibox or PicturesQR, which generates a personalized event page and a sharable QR code for seamless photo collection. These simple tools make it easy for your guests to contribute, and for you to relive the day from everyone’s perspective. If you’re worried that guests will forget because they’re partying too hard, you can also include the code on your thank-you notes.
11. Photo Scavenger Hunt
Speaking of photos, if you’re looking for another way to gather photos from your guests (while keeping them entertained), host a photo scavenger hunt. Create a list of specific photos to take, and then encourage them to upload them to a shared album. To up the anty, put a prize on the line.
12. Walk Down The Aisle Together
Whether your parents have passed or they’re not going to be attending, walking down the aisle together is a memorable way to begin your new life as newlyweds. You get to walk hand-in-hand with your partner in life as you embark on your new journey.
13. Walk Towards Your Guests
Typically, whoever is walking down the aisle toward their partner walks through their guests. Guests then typically have to shift their attention back to see you. To keep everyone facing forward (allow your partner to be the first one to see you walking down the aisle, thus putting an emphasis on your love), consider walking towards your guests.
Image via Vogue
14. Have A Social Media Minute
You’ve most likely heard of an unplugged ceremony, but have you heard of a social media minute? While we’re sure you’d love your guests to stay off their phones, they often don’t listen–even when you specifically let them know it’s unplugged. To give them the chance to capture the footage and photos they want, host a social media minute where they’re allowed to take their phones out and take as many photos and videos as they want. The easiest way to do this is to have your officiant announce it towards the end of your ceremony.
15. Have a Cocktail Wall or Self Serve Bar
We’ll always be a fan of regular reception bars. But if you’re looking to take things up a notch and stand out, consider creating a cocktail wall or self-serve bar. This could include staff passing out drinks when the bell is rung or beer or wine that guests can pour with a handle.
Are you and your fiancee pizza lovers? Considering having pizza served as a late-night snack? Although this is a small detail, it makes for some killer photos that you’re going to love. Use custom pizza boxes and add a message to the top of the pizza using ricotta or pepperoni.
Jump back into the past with a bouncy house during your reception, and we promise all of your guests will feel like children again–just be mindful if you have an open bar!
18. Print a Wedding Newspaper
If you’re hosting a wedding weekend and you want to share your itinerary in a unique way, consider a wedding newspaper. You can include everything from your love story to a schedule to recommendations for food and things to do (especially if it’s a destination wedding).
As more and more couples opt for an alcohol-free or brunch wedding, we’re seeing more couples in search of other fun drink options for their guests. Whether you and your partner are huge coffee lovers or you just want to help guests get a little pick-me-up, a coffee truck or station is the perfect way to keep the party going without drinking. Still want alcohol, too? Do both!
20. Create a Time Capsule
Instead of a guest book, create a time capsule where your guests can write messages or predictions for the future. Seal them in the “capsule” of your choice, pick a time to open it, and read them years later. It will be the perfect way to reminisce on your big day and create new memories with your loved ones.
21. Guess the First Dance
You can never have too many ways to entertain your guests. To get them involved, create a “guess the first dance” game, with the chance of winning a bottle of champagne or another prize of your choice.
Now that you’ve got some unique wedding ideas planned for your special day, check out our ultimate guide on planning unique “I do’s” for even more inspiration!
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