Weekend-long wedding celebrations have skyrocketed in popularity, and for good reason. Soaking in as much time with your loved ones as you can during such an important milestone is ideal, especially when you consider how far some guests will travel and how little time you have in a single wedding day to see them all.
By: Meghan Ely
Photo: Rebecca Love Photography
A post-wedding brunch is often a great way to wrap up the party and give your thanks to guests. That said, it might be up in the air when considering if it's something you'd like to invest time and money into planning in addition to your big day. Luckily, we have some experts ready to share their top tips for making the decision.
"Between the welcome party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception, it's easy to feel burnt out with wedding planning. If you're hoping to host a post-wedding brunch, we recommend offloading the main responsibility onto a family member or bridesmaid. This will ensure you stay focused on the main event." —Jen Avey, DestinationWeddings.com
"Seeing the early birds at brunch might give you a chance to catch up with elderly family members who turned in early the night before. If you missed speaking with someone because you were busy making the rounds while they were busy calling it a night, the brunch is a great opportunity to chat with them." —McKenzi Taylor, Gather After
"Everyone is tired after a long night dancing, so your guests are going to appreciate comfort food easy on the stomach, plus some light cocktails to help with a hangover. The best brunches I've seen are indoor-outdoor — having that option to sit in the sun or hide inside with AC on makes it easy and calm. Keep the schedule light: no speeches, no games, no pressure. You and your guests will be grateful for a relaxed day to just chat and recover." —Natalia Zuk, Lilac Studios
"If you're on the fence, think about your energy and budget limitations. If a brunch sounds more like a chore than a celebration, it’s okay to skip it or keep it super low-key. The most important thing is to start your married life on your terms." —Craig Peterman, Craig Peterman Photography & Videography
"Ensure that guests know that this is a come-and-go event. Allow guests to grab a breakfast taco and a Bloody Mary on their way to the pool or the airport. No one wants to feel obligated to stay for another 3-hour event at the end of the long weekend!" —Meaghan Cody, Sweet Pea Events
"Hosting a brunch will be an added expense, so if the budget is tight, this is an area that is optional. There is no obligation to host a post-wedding brunch, so if it is not in the budget, it is perfectly okay to skip it altogether. To save on costs, couples can also decide to include only select guests to attend the brunch (i.e., out-of-town guests or bridal party only). Having to decide who is invited and leaving some guests out can be tricky, so this is something to consider when deciding whether or not to host a brunch." —Kelley Nudo, Momental Designs
"After the whirlwind of the wedding day, brunch can feel like a cozy, joyful landing pad — less pressure, more just being present. If your photographer offers a wedding weekend package, it's an opportunity for beautiful candid photos of the final goodbyes to close your wedding photography gallery. Including info about the brunch to those who are invited to it as early as possible (maybe as a separate leaf in their printed invitation) can help those guests plan their departure times with the brunch in mind." —Pamela Tatz, Pamela Tatz Photography
If you choose to regroup with a nice brunch the morning after (or recover with your new spouse at home), having all of the options at your fingertips can help you to pull off an amazing breakfast to cap off a lovely weekend!
Meghan Ely is the founder of OFD Consulting, a public relations agency specializing in publicity, speaking engagements, and thought leadership for wedding and event professionals.
