We’ve got lunch and brunch party ideas that will make all of your daytime gatherings memorable. We happen to adore a daytime event as we can’t think of a better way to spend daylight hours than celebrating a special moment with friends and family. Plus, brunch fare is simply the best — all we love in breakfast and lunch together in one delectable meal. Oh and you get to go to bed early.
Whether you opt for a midday wedding, a daytime corporate event, or a birthday party when the sun is out, we’ve got suggestions for brunch activities, brunch venues, and ways to make your event special. Check out our 13 lunch and brunch party ideas to inspire your catering menu, design and décor, and much more.
1. Find a Beautiful & Spacious Venue
Brunch and Mother’s Day generally go hand in hand — and this annual Mother’s Day brunch in Chicago, hosted at The Estate by Gene & Georgetti, had unique details that made it extra special. A green, pink, and teal color palette offered a vibrant spring color palette, and guests enjoyed special dishes and treats from the reputable in-house catering company.
Best of all, the spacious brunch venue offered elegance and plenty of room for roaming.
2. Have Spaces for Mingling & Munching
A clear sign of a good time is happy people — especially at a party. This adorable brunch wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia features guests chatting and laughing, while also enjoying delicious brunch cuisine.
Hungry guests could dine in style while those who weren’t done chatting, cozied up to the bar for sips and chat. We imagine the bride and groom also made memories to last a lifetime.
RELATED: The Art of Ikebana — Minimalist Japanese Floral Design — Inspired these Seven Celebrations
3. Choose A Jewel-Tone Color Palette
This brunch wedding was more invigorating than the best cup of coffee. We love the luxe velvet lounge areas, boxwood backdrops, and lucite chuppah with encased florals. And we just adore an outdoor brunch venue when the weather is nice.
In addition to the richly-hued décor, a Bloody Mary and smoothie bar starred in plenty of Instagram posts with its unique geometric shelving. We love an Instagrammable moment at celebrations.
4. Get Creative with Place Cards
Chic gold accents — from sleek chairs to complementary flatware — elevated an otherwise-understated dusty blue wedding color palette at this Washington, D.C. celebration, hosted at The Hay Adams.
Unique luggage tag place cards added an unexpected element that also doubled as a takeaway gift for guests. One brunch party idea we love is little elements of surprise like this for your guests; they really make a daytime gathering feel considered and well-planned.
RELATED: 29 Creative Wedding Place Card Displays
5. Consider Square Tables to Encourage Conversation
Note to self: large square tables are the new round tables. Pacific Standard Time was the perfect restaurant venue for this intimate brunch event in Chicago.
The corporate client chose a floor plan and setup that clearly fostered discussion and conversation, while restaurant staff worked to provide its guests with a delicious and fulfilling breakfast. We appreciate how the modern space requires little in the way of décor for a chic brunch.
We happen to adore a daytime event as we can’t think of a better way to spend daylight hours than celebrating a special moment with friends and family.
6. Curate Beautiful Place Settings & Menus
The Bali-inspired jewelry line of corporate client John Hardy provided design-forward inspiration for this lush client luncheon. Vibrant orange and fuschia florals popped against textured linen, keeping with the tropical theme. Gold serve-ware further elevated the daytime gathering.
Guests enjoyed an intimate luncheon, which included remarks from both the CEO and Creative Director of John Hardy, as well as a menu infused with traditional Balinese cuisine.
7. Serve Rosé All Day
This Bat Mitzvah brunch completely won us over with lavish balloon installations, rosé-all-day signage, and photo-worthy catering stations. A coffee station and cereal station made for scrumptious dining, while stylish kiddy cocktails tempted even the adults. Guests received custom to-go coffee cups and Bat Mitzvah-girl approved perfume.
RELATED: Quick! It’s Food on the Move: Conveyor Belts, Slip ’N Slides, and Other Creative Catering Displays
8. Create Clever Displays
Orange County, California
Breakfast flatbreads, biscuit sandwiches, freshly-baked pastries — this brunch party in Orange County, California was filled with comfort dishes we want to eat. White serving dishes, greenery-filled arrangements, and rustic wood accents complemented the cuisine, which already looked so delicious on its own.
9. Have Guests Create Edible Art
It’s nearly impossible to choose our favorite element of this art-inspired corporate luncheon in Miami, but the fresh waffle cone station is high on our list. Guests could then fill their waffle cones with sweet toppings for an epic customizable dessert. Other lunch options included a spud smash bar and a sweet spin station, a creative take on edible art.
RELATED: How 11 Fashion Brands & Designers Created Unforgettable Event Experiences
10. Let Them Eat (Customized) Donuts
Guests at this spring luncheon had the chance to choose their own donut toppings at this sleek, modern donut station. Donut towers featured glazed and chocolate donuts just waiting to be decorated, while clear bins of toppings (including what looks like every type of cereal ever created) let guests’ imaginations run wild.
11. Add Some Dining Drama
Is it just us or is everything better with a little bit of drama? This brunch with Executive Chef Johanna Hellrigl at Yours Truly DC showed guests the range of her talent. From bruléed donuts to flaky croissants, guests enjoyed delightful bites in the new, modern space. Nifty gift bags sent guests home with a smile as they dreamed about hosting events at the hotel.
RELATED: Wow Guests With Interactive Entertainment
12. Create Self-Serve Sweets Stations
What’s a delicious brunch without platters of pastries? The expert team at Tarallucci e Vino Events would agree, which is why they featured plenty of sweet treats at this corporate conference in New York. Mini croissants and fresh fruit, as well as multiple savory options like fluffy scrambled eggs, gave all of the conference-goers ample options throughout the event.
13. Every Brunch Needs an Instagrammable Moment
This branded brunch for Frida Baby was hosted at Duryea’s Lobster Deck right on the beach in Montauk. You would have thought the beach would be the focal point, but it was actually a creative and bold floral wall that kept guests’ attention. Click to see more photos from this perfectly-branded brunch event, including the unforgettable Instagrammable element.
How do you throw a good brunch party?
When it comes to throwing a great brunch party, a skilled team is your best resource. Hire an event planner. They will help you every step of the way from choosing a fun or elegant theme and composing the perfect venue to developing a delectable menu and selecting a photographer to capture it all.
When it comes to brunch — just like all events — the more personal and creative your gathering, the more enjoyable and memorable it will be for you and your guests. Consider every moment from how you will welcome your guests to how you will thoughtfully seat them and you might send them off with care.
One brunch party idea for welcoming your guests is to serve a signature cocktail upon arrival. When it comes to seating your guests, you can get creative with a seating chart. For example, if your event style is bohemian, use dreamcatchers as seating cards or if you’re having a rainbow theme, use cards in every color of the rainbow for a stunning display.
When it comes to tabletops, of course your décor will reflect your chosen style and theme, but you also have an opportunity to offer something a little special at each seat. You can write a personal note to each guest tucked into their napkins or have sprigs of fresh rosemary or mint on each plate to heighten their senses.
Guests will remember your party because it was a special event, but you can also send them home with memories in the form of photos or a small, meaningful gift. A photo booth is a fun addition to any event and allows guests to capture fun moments as they happen and take them home that day.
In terms of brunch party favors, you can theme to the event or season or simply something you love. For example, at daytime holiday event, you can send guests home with Christmas ornaments. We also love the idea of giving things from a city you love — bagels straight from New York or infamous Garrett’s Popcorn from Chicago.
What do you serve at a brunch party?
The beauty of hosting a midday celebration, is that you get to serve your favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. Some ideas:
- Mix it up with sweet and savory dishes
- Offer some menu items as passed bites and others at each table
- Make sure there is a “wow” moment with one dish that is either:
- interactive (donuts with lots of toppings for a custom experience)
- dramatic (a towering display of fried chicken and waffles)
- infamous (macarons straight from Laduree)
- surprising (individual ice towers with single servings of fresh seafood)
- Serve the meal in small courses to keep guests engaged
- Curate a custom cocktail with a creative name
There are some items that are always surefire hits at brunch: cinnamon rolls, crepes, omelets, shrimp cocktail, steak and eggs, fresh fruit, Mimosas, and Bloody Mary cocktails.
You can also choose dishes that adhere to your chosen theme.
For example, a tropical-themed gathering with tabletops filled with palm leaves and exotic florals would be a good fit for island juices like guava or fresh coconut water (served right in the coconut) and a rice dish.
A rustic celebration might feature tables of candles flickering in mason jars and colorful wildflowers along with sips of fine rye and charred chicken with a side of biscuits.
Other popular themes include 1920s, Mardi Gras, Paris, rainbow, disco, and space. Styles can range from beach bohemian to elegant mountain, and oh-so-many more.
How do I get started?
Don’t forget, PartySlate is here to connect you with the best venues and event professionals in the country. You can also use PartySlate to browse real events — from weddings and birthdays to corporate events and fundraising galas — and find inspiring ideas for all of your upcoming celebrations.
