Bridal Shower Brunch Menu Ideas

Offer guests a little bit of breakfast and a little bit of lunch with these brunch ideas

By Michelle Bolyn

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Plan a theme for the bridal shower you're hosting to make it a cinch to plan the menu. If you're having a bridal shower brunch theme, encourage guests to bring kitchen-related items, such as baking pans, a blender and measuring cups, as their gifts for the bride. If you get creative with the food and beverage choices, you won't need to go overboard on decorations.

Beverages

Offer your guests an array of beverage options at a brunch party. If you want to serve alcoholic beverages, give guests the option of having a mimosa or Bloody Mary. For a mimosa, you'll need champagne, orange juice and slices of orange for garnish. For a Bloody Mary, you'll need vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, salt, pepper and celery for garnish. And serve nonalcoholic beverages for those who don't want to indulge -- you can offer a nonalcoholic mimosa by substituting club soda or ginger ale for the champagne and leaving the vodka out of the Bloody Mary. Also, provide water, coffee, tea, and at least one diet and one regular soda option. Guests will also appreciate it if you offer both caffeinated and uncaffeinated options.

Breakfast Foods

When you host a brunch, you'll need to serve hearty breakfast options with light lunch fare mixed in. Aim to have around three to four options in each category, depending on the size of the gathering, to have a nice selection for your guests. Serve a selection of muffins or doughnuts as a sweet option. Including a large bowl of mixed fruit as well as a green salad is good for guests who want a healthier alternative. Most people expect some type of egg item at a brunch -- quiches or casseroles are a good choice to keep you from hovering over the stove as the brunch begins.

Lunch Foods

You can get creative with the lunch items that you serve at a brunch because there are tons of options. Ask the bride what her favorite foods are and try to work them into the menu. If the bride doesn't have any preferences, think about incorporating several types of finger sandwiches, a veggie platter, a cheese platter with a selection of crackers and breads, and some type of meat. Take into consideration that some of the guests may have allergies to certain foods or may be vegetarian or vegan, so a wide variety of foods is best. If you want dessert options other than the breakfast sweets listed above, set up a dessert table with cupcakes, cookies and candies. For a scrumptious conclusion, let your guests fill favor boxes or bags with their favorite combination of treats to take home.

Catering

Many bridal shower hosts hold the events at their homes because it's more intimate and less expensive than hosting it elsewhere. If you want to host the shower at your house but don't want to cook a large amount food, think about hiring a caterer for the event. Let your caterer know that you're planning a brunch-themed bridal shower and see what options they can offer. Caterers' prices run the gamut, so you'll need to shop around for the best taste-price combination.