If you want to celebrate a special occasion with your family or friends, or simply enjoy a friendly moment with your partner, there is no better idea than organising a brunch. Brunch, a combination of the words breakfast and lunch, is the perfect mix of sweet and savoury dishes. Mix and match various recipes to create simple brunch menus and learn how to prepare a buffet your guests will love. The recipes are often quick and easy and can even be prepared with children for a real moment of sharing before and during the brunch!
While organising a brunch can be enjoyable, it is best to be well prepared to ensure nothing is forgotten! Here are some tips and tricks for organising a brunch that is both delicious and successful.
Summary
1. For what occasion are you organising your brunch?
You need to consider the occasion for the brunch. Are you celebrating a special event, such as a gender reveal, wedding, birthday, engagement, or book launch? Or do you simply want to organise a brunch for the pleasure of a Sunday morning with your partner?
A brunch can be organised without any particular reason. There is nothing stopping you from inviting friends or family for a meal and a pleasant time together. There is the brunch for special occasions, and then there is the brunch for the sake of brunch itself.
The occasion of your brunch will determine elements such as the theme and decoration. A brunch usually takes place between 10 am and 2 pm. It is one of the few meals that does not have a fixed serving time. If you have planned additional activities between food and drinks, the event can last all day.
2. Make your guest list
You need to decide how many people you want to invite and draw up a guest list. You can choose to keep the brunch intimate with close friends and family or turn it into a larger event, potentially open to the public.
You must also keep in mind any dietary restrictions or preferences of your guests, as these will affect what you serve at the brunch (vegetarians, allergies, etc.). Since a brunch includes both sweet and savoury foods, it is best to be aware of these restrictions in advance.
3. Choose the venue
Do you want to organise a brunch in your home or on your terrace? Consider the number of guests you will be hosting. If you expect a large number of guests, it is better to opt for an open space, giving your guests the freedom to move around.
If you choose an indoor event, it is best to limit the guest list unless you have ample space. Of course, all of this will depend on the weather and temperature. The good news is that a brunch can be organised just as well in summer as in the middle of winter!
4. The most important part of a brunch: the menu
Now you need to decide what you want to serve for brunch. Offer your guests a wide variety of foods to choose from.
Provide a sweet and savoury menu, from waffles and French toast to avocado toast, baked dishes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and charcuterie. You can choose to cook everything yourself, hire a caterer, or even buy everything from the supermarket. If you are cooking, make sure to plan the menu in advance and create a shopping list to ensure nothing is forgotten.
As mentioned earlier, plan your menu with your guests in mind. What are they allergic to? Common allergens include shellfish, peanuts, lactose, and wheat. In addition to food allergies, other factors to consider are dietary restrictions due to moral beliefs, religion, culture, and personal choices. When planning your meal, consider whether any of your guests may be vegetarian or vegan.
5 essential elements for a brunch
You should keep the following elements in mind for your brunch:
- Drinks
Brunch cocktails and fruit juices should complement the food! Popular brunch drinks such as coffee, tea, orange juice, smoothies, and mimosas are always excellent accompaniments to your sweet dishes. - Fruits
All fresh fruits are welcome at a brunch. You can eat them whole, with jam, in a fruit salad, or on skewers with chocolate, for example. Kiwi, banana, apple, orange, grapefruit, nuts, dates… The choice is yours! - Eggs
Eggs can be prepared in various ways and provide a great source of energy. You can simply serve scrambled eggs or impress your guests with eggs Benedict. These poached eggs are topped with hollandaise sauce, served with cooked ham or bacon, and placed on a toasted English muffin. - Bread
It is best to offer a variety of breads, such as white, multigrain, rye, and sourdough, to accompany your delicious brunch dishes. - Desserts
Simple, comforting desserts like biscuits, pancakes, waffles, and brownies will round off the brunch perfectly.
If you are thinking of organising a brunch, you will probably need an online registration platform like WeezTicket to better manage your attendees. Weezevent also supports you with its access control solutions and marketing and CRM tools!
