Planning a bridal shower brunch? Here are some cute bridal shower brunch invitation ideas to inspire you and welcome guests.
Last updated February 5, 2024
Bridal showers are one of the best parts of pre-wedding activities. And while there are different bridal shower plans or ideas, one popular option that we simply love is bridal shower brunches. Not only is the time great—not too early in the a.m., but also not too late—brunch is a great way to gather your loved ones for a delicious weekend meal.
But you need to actually invite guests to your bridal shower brunch with cute invitations, of course, which is where Zola comes in.
Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about cute bridal shower brunch invitations, menu ideas, and etiquette, including:
Just like every other aspect of wedding planning, it’s important to clearly communicate your plan with guests—that’s why it’s crucial to send out invitations. In this guide, we break down the key pieces of information you need to know about cute bridal shower brunch invitations, including when to send them out and what details to include, design ideas, and how to ensure your event goes off without a hitch. Let’s get into it.
There’s much to consider when getting ready to send out the bridal shower invitation and certain etiquette to keep in mind. Here’s everything you need to know.
There are some key pieces of information that should be on all bridal shower brunch invites. While you can customize your wedding shower invitation to suit the nature of your event, these are the details that guests should know:
Bridal showers are typically events that are attended by the bride’s close female friends and family, often along with the women in the groom’s family. Sometimes bridal showers are just for the bride’s friends, so there’s no right or wrong way to approach them. (Wedding showers can be coed, so if throwing a wedding shower brunch for all guests is more your jam, do it!)
Typically, the bride makes a list of the guests she’d like to invite to the bridal shower brunch and shares it with the host. The size of a bridal shower brunch can range: sometimes brides prefer intimate events of 15 to 20 guests, whereas others have larger showers that have more of an open-house vibe. At the end of the day, if the host is having the event at their house and is organizing it, they get final say on size. After all, not everyone can accommodate 100 people.
Who you invite to your bridal shower brunch depends on personal preference, but below is a list of the typical folks to include. (It’s important to note, however, that you shouldn’t invite guests to a shower that you don’t plan on having at the wedding. It can come across as rude, as guests often bring a gift to the shower and expect to be invited to the wedding, too.)
It’s tradition that the bride’s maid of honor hosts the bridal shower brunch, but these days, there are no hard rules about anything when it comes to weddings. It’s also common for the bride’s bridesmaids, sister, or super close friends to host or organize the bridal shower brunch together.
If a bridal shower brunch is a jointly-hosted event, like between all of the bridesmaids, it can help with the associated costs. (If you’re looking for more info on how to plan a bridal shower, check out this handy guide.) Regardless of who hosts the bridal shower brunch, it’s super important for there to be clear communication among the wedding party to make sure there’s no overlap in planning or missed details. Organization is key.
In short, yes! It’s not unusual for brides to have more than one shower. Typically, one bridal shower may be hosted by the bride’s maid of honor or close friends and another one hosted by a close family member, like the bride or groom’s mother, or a close relative.
If you’re going to have more than one bridal shower, try to keep the guest list focused on either family or friends. It can be a lot to expect all your guests to go to two showers.
Just like most pre-wedding celebrations, gifts of some kind are often part of the festivities, unless the couple specifically says otherwise. Some couples have a bridal shower registry, which is a bit different than a wedding registry. Guests often pick a gift off the registry that suits their price point. It’s important to note that wedding shower gifts are typically smaller or more personal than wedding gifts, so be sure to have a range of options that consider people with smaller budgets.
Some brides or couples specifically request no gifts or ask for contributions to their honeymoon fund instead. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to clearly link to your bridal shower registry or honeymoon fund site, so guests are easily able to celebrate with you.
It’s custom for whoever hosts the bridal shower brunch to cover the costs, but depending on the host’s financial situation, others can chip in. This means bridesmaids may split the shower costs with the hosting maid of honor or close female relatives will help the hosting aunt with food and drink. The bottom line is this: Be open and communicate about costs and expectations. It’s hard to talk about money when you’re in a wedding party, but it’s important.
If you’re having a bridal shower brunch at a restaurant or venue, guests may be comfortable paying their own bills while all chipping in for the bride’s meal. Alternatively, you can ask guests ahead of time to cover their plates. Whatever you decide, make it known to guests, so they can accept an invitation based on their budget.
It’s best to give as much notice as possible to guests. Aim to send out your bridal shower brunch invitations about four to six weeks before the event. This time frame gives guests enough notice to plan any travel accommodations, as well as book time off work or arrange childcare. If you’re inviting guests who need to travel a significant distance, the earlier you can let them know the plans, the better.
One of the best parts of planning is finding the location for your events. It’s tradition to have some games involved in bridal showers, followed by opening presents and some food and drinks. These are important factors to consider when deciding on a bridal shower brunch location. Of course, everyone has their own idea of fun, so if games aren’t your thing, no sweat.
Here are some cute bridal shower brunch location ideas suitable for events of varying sizes. Whatever you decide, make sure that the space can accommodate your guest list and has parking for those who need it. Some couples even opt for virtual affairs, so the options really are limitless.
The maid of honor has a bunch of wedding duties. These include being the bride’s go-to on the wedding day, but also helping out with planning the pre-wedding festivities, including the bridal shower and bachelorette party.
If the maid of honor is planning to host the bridal shower brunch, it often makes the most sense to do so at her home. Depending on the guest list of the event, an apartment is suitable for a more intimate affair, whereas more space is often needed for a larger gathering. Some condos or apartments have party rooms available to rent, so that’s always an option, too.
Even though, traditionally, the mother of the bride does not host the bridal shower, there really are no “rules” anymore. These days, the bride’s mom or a close relative of the bride can certainly host a bridal shower brunch. Even the groom’s mother can host, depending on her relationship with the bride and her role in the wedding.
Regardless, when a relative hosts, the nature of the event tends to be a bit more family-friendly and often includes cousins, sisters of the bride and groom, and aunts. Depending on the size of the event, location and time of year, an outdoor/indoor event is a great option to accommodate more people.
Who doesn’t like a fantastic bunch spot? If there’s a go-to restaurant that allows for bridal shower celebrations and can suit your guest list, you may find it’s the easiest option as it means no cooking and/or catering. The cutlery and dishes are also already set, so there’s no need to rent dinnerware.
What’s more, a restaurant allows guests to pick what they’d like to eat off the menu, allowing for more dietary restrictions and flexibility. Many places let you bring a cake, too, so don’t count dessert out of brunch.
Wineries are popular spots for weddings, but they’re also great locations for bridal shower brunches, too. Many vineyards will offer wine tastings or tours, paired with delicious meals. Find a venue that has a solid brunch menu and gather the girls for some fun.
Some hosts prefer to keep the festivities out of their homes and instead host at a venue. Not only does this help with the set-up and clean-up, but it can also take the stress out of catering and decorating (if those things are included with the venue). Popular venues for bridal shower brunches include banquet rooms, gallery spaces, halls, and even golf courses or tennis clubs.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Backyard bridal showers are great events. If you’re looking to plan an outdoor bridal shower brunch, using your natural surroundings is one of the most scenic ways to host guests. This outdoor option is one of the best choices for summer and spring events as the warm weather, sun, and lush greenery make for an effortless gorgeous backdrop.
Now that you have the down-low on bridal shower brunch etiquette and locations, it’s time to talk invitations. There are so many cute bridal shower brunch invitation ideas out there, so it may be hard to pick just one, but we’re here to help you.
Before we jump into invitation design ideas, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll likely want your bridal shower brunch invitations to match your wedding invitation suite or the location or theme of your shower. While the brunch invites don’t need to be identical to your wedding invitations, it’s a good idea for them to at least convey the same aesthetic. For example, if you’re having a rustic barn wedding or a floral wedding and a brunch in your friend’s backyard, you’ll likely want the invitations to reflect that.
Here are some cute bridal shower brunch invitations.
Floral bridal shower brunch invitations are a classic option. Whether you get whimsical and colorful designs or more minimalist motifs, invitations with flowers are incredibly suitable for a very lovely wedding shower brunch. They’re also very cute.
If your bridal shower brunch is in a backyard or at a vineyard or other rustic location, why not lean into that on your unique bridal shower invitations? Think about hand-drawn illustrations, vintage fonts and muted colors like olive green and burgundy. (Draw some inspiration from these rustic wedding invitation ideas.)
Because the bridal shower is centered around brunch, why not lure guests with some old-school diner-inspired designs? Think illustrations of a stack of pancakes or waffles or colorful fonts that evoke a classic diner feel. Anything that gets the tummy rumbling is good.
If your wedding is a destination event or you’re getting hitched on the water, you might be inclined to get guests excited with a beach-themed brunch invite. Think tropical flowers, blue skies and ocean graphics—anything that screams warm weather fun. If you’re getting married on a marina or near a lake, nautical-themed invitations can help tie your bridal shower brunch to your larger wedding theme.
If your bridal shower brunch is happening around a holiday, you can incorporate that theme—or season—into your invites. For example: a fall brunch invitation can use warm colors like burgundy, deep reds, and burnt orange. If you’re a huge fan of Halloween, don’t be shy to send out an invitation inspired by the day. Likewise, bridal shower brunches happening around Valentine’s Day can use hearts and pinks and reds to convey a really romantic feel. Themes help anchor ideas and invitation design choices.
For brides that appreciate minimalist design, opt for a cute bridal shower brunch invite that isn’t fussy. Think clean lines, simple fonts, and few graphic elements. Keep the color palette minimal and focus on conveying the key pieces of information.
For brides who want to incorporate the mimosa or Champagne aspect of brunch, using a Champagne flute illustration on the bridal shower invite is a creative and cute solution. Text can wrap around the stem of the glass, while the details of the event can sit underneath the base of the flute.
Let’s talk about the good stuff: food. If you’re hosting a bridal shower brunch or in the middle of planning one, you’ll need to consider the menu. Some hosts prefer to have all the food available on tables in a buffet style, so that guests can help themselves to whatever they like. Others serve the meal family-style, with shared plates and bowls to pass around the table. It’s also perfectly lovely to have a plated brunch—whatever works best for the size of the bridal party.
Thankfully, we are experts in brunch and have plenty of ideas for the perfect celebration.
Mimosas and brunch are perfect partners. Let guests have some fun and make their own mimosas at a bar stocked with fresh juice and chilled Champagne. Fresh fruit, like berries and orange slices, make for a nice addition.
Because not everyone drinks alcohol, it’s a good party idea to have some non-alcoholic Champagne available or some sparkling water to mix with the juice instead. Make guests feel comfortable if a cocktail isn’t their thing.
When you invite guests over for a bridal shower brunch, it’s important you have popular brunch items. Pancakes and waffles are staples and can be customized to people’s liking. Options include banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, and fresh fruit and maple syrup for waffle toppings. They’re also relatively affordable brunch items to make and a fan favorite.
What would brunch be without oh-so-delicious bacon? For vegetarians or people who don’t eat pork, make sure to have a meat-free option and clearly label it on the table. Depending on the size of your bridal shower brunch and how many guests will attend, it’s often easiest to make a large batch of scrambled eggs. That way, people can scoop out the portion to their liking.
Breakfast pastries, like danishes and croissants, are brunch staples. Grab some options from the local bakery and have a selection ready for guests to enjoy. If there are any leftovers, they can take a few home so they don’t go to waste. Likewise, bagels are a brunch must. There’s nothing better than a fresh bagel with cream cheese, so be sure to have some toppings ready, too.
Fruit is a must at brunch—and not just at the mimosa bar. Consider what fruits are in season and easily shared and displayed. Between sliced pineapple, fresh berries, sliced banana, and grapes, fresh fruit trays give guests something sweet before the dessert.
Who said you can’t have dessert with brunch? Dessert can include everything from cake to individual sweets like brownies, doughnuts, and cookies. You can even have a candy bar where guests can make their own treat bag to enjoy at the bridal shower brunch or take home with them as a little thank-you gift.
Bridal shower brunches are fun parts of the pre-wedding process. Whether the brunch is at the maid of honor’s home, a restaurant, or outside, the first impression you give guests is through your invites. Once your loved ones get their cute bridal shower brunch invitation in the mail, they will be just as excited as you are for the festivities.
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