35 Bridal Shower Brunch Ideas That Go Beyond Mimosas
These are the drinks, décor, and details that will make your pre-wedding brunch an unforgettable celebration.
A brunch-themed bridal shower offers a variety of benefits: a crowd-pleasing menu of sweet and savory entrees, a flexible dress code, and an aesthetic you can customize to suit the guest of honor with tablescapes, centerpieces, and sweet décor details.
Plan a bridal shower brunch menu of small-bite appetizers, fluffy waffles, and sweet desserts (don't forget plenty of coffee). Choose an elegant theme based on a venue, color, or season: try a garden party, beachside shower, or pink-inspired fete. Then add the decorations, favors, papers, and details that make your event completely one-of-a-kind—because there's no wrong way to celebrate love.
Related: 21 Elements of an Unforgettable Bridal Shower
Idyllic Venue
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 lush centerpieces from Flowers by Mae Mae centerpieces.
Historic Charm
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.
Coffee-Inspired Arrangements
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.
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Rosé
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.
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Shower Attire
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.
Related: The Best Dresses to Wear to Your Spring Bridal Shower
Long Dress
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.
Unexpected Colors
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.
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Blanket of Flowers
Beyond unexpected colors, opt for unexpected floral displays when designing your brunch shower. That's what Rachael Ellen Events did with this ombré cascade of blooms, which replaced traditional centerpieces. ⠀
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Tea Party
Nothing is more timeless (or bridal shower appropriate!) than high tea. For a classic take on brunch, lean into a tea party-inspired bridal shower brunch 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.
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Bold Linens
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.
Pretty in Pink
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.
Strawberries
A simple bridal shower brunch 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.
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Berries and Cream
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.
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Bubbly
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 party.
Garnished Rosé
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.
Related: Genius Ways to Serve Cocktails at Your Bridal Shower
Parfaits
When planning your bridal shower brunch 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.
Shower Cake
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.
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Carnival Inspiration
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 party.
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Creative Seating
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.
Velvet Chairs
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.
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Creative Tablescape
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.
Accessories
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.
Fresh Fruit Tart
While cakes may be a bridal shower staple, we love to see brides deviate from the expected. A fresh, brunch-appropriate tart with ripe fig segments was a welcome addition to the menu at this Rosmarin Weddings shower.
Contemporary Elegance
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.
Floral Garnishes
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.
Lavender Sprigs
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.
Botanical Favor
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.
Macarons
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.
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Savory Bites
Not a fan of sweet brunch foods, like crepes? Opt for savory mini toasts, instead. Urban Palete dished up these mission fig crostinis with Humboldt fog cheese.
Fashion-Forward
Each of these ladies' looks are perfect inspiration for a fashion-forward bridal shower—but are also appropriate for a breakfast-themed, daytime event. You can't go wrong with a vibrant color or bold print. Pair your ensemble with stylish shades and a cute clutch for a polished effect.
DIY Bouquets
Set baskets overflowing with dozens of fresh flowers on risers or stands to create a build-your-own bouquet station. At this shower, each guest put together her own custom bunch—a fragrant floral alternative to typical bridal shower games.
Single Serve
Small vintage compotes holding slices of bright grapefruit, melon, or honeydew—or any other brunch-favorite fruit—work as both part of your tablescape and as individual presentations.
Floral Pops
At a summer bridal shower brunch, lemonade ice pops garnished with fruit and edible flowers are an icy treat before brunch or a refreshing palette cleanser.
Coffee and Donuts
Incorporate coffee and donuts into an elegant bridal shower brunch by presenting donut holes on skewers over glass mugs of hot coffee, taking inspiration from this presentation by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering and Events.
Colorful Tabletops
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 accented ivory linens, while bistro chairs (a nod to the bride's favorite breakfast café!) kept the polished display from feeling stuffy.
