Tips for Hosting a Memorable Mother’s Day Brunch

Mother’s Day is a great time to celebrate the women in your life.  Whether it’s your mom, your grandmother, or your friend, taking the time to make them feel extra special is a wonderful gift.

One of the most popular Mother’s Day activities is a brunch.

In this post, we’ll discuss the top things to consider when hosting and tips to make it as memorable as possible.

The Mother’s Day Brunch

Much like a traditional brunch, this event is a part breakfast, part lunch meal with a beautiful balance of sweet and savory dishes to pick and choose from at will.

It is hosted late morning to early afternoon, usually between 10am and 2pm.  Light alcoholic beverages like mimosas (part orange juice and part champagne) are generally offered during brunch.

Frankly, I’ve never seen a brunch menu outside of a church setting that didn’t include a mimosa option.

That being said, even if you don’t drink I would strongly advise having it as an option for those who do.

In general, I think an event like a Mother’s Day brunch should be as accommodating as possible.  After all, it’s about making someone (who may often find themselves on the short end of the stick because of sacrifices they’ve made for their family) feel special.

But, before I find myself on an appreciation rant, let’s get into some tips for hosting a memorable Mother’s Day Brunch.

Non-Mom Mother’s Day Invitations

Let’s jump right in with a controversial topic.  Inviting people who aren’t moms to your Mother’s Day brunch.

I’m going to take a firm stance on this issue and say YES, extend an invitation.  Don’t leave out your closest friends just because they’re not in the exclusive mom club.

Friends without children, Dads, partners, and spouses may want to celebrate with you.  There’s no reason to exclude anyone.

Also, don’t forget, that a lot of people try to have children and can’t.

A gracious host (in my opinion) would never throw that in someone’s face by not extending an invitation.  Particularly, to someone who is likely to ask you how your Mother’s Day was or inquire about what you did.  This is someone who cares about you and you should treat them well.

They may very well decline, but its kind to extend an invitation regardless of whether or not you think they’ll attend.

Mother’s Day Gifts & Favors

A small take-home favor is always nice to have for guests.  This doesn’t have to be elaborate.  A small assortment of candies or a bite-sized dessert is a great gift.

If you want to go the non-food route, monogrammed glasses or Mother’s Day themed coffee mugs are a nice idea as well.  Small flower arrangements or another unique favor will help make your brunch memorable.

One of my favorite sites for party favor ideas is MyWeddingFavors.com.  They have favors for many different occasions and the prices are great.

Bite-Sized Offerings

With your guests dressed to impress, make sure the food you offer is easy to eat.  BBQ ribs or a crawfish boil may not be the best idea for this event.

Try to offer a variety of bite-sized options that aren’t too messy to avoid spills onto clothes and floors.

Menu Options

A little something for everyone should be the theme of the day.  There are a lot of choices for diet and lifestyle these days, so be aware of what your guests might want.

You don’t have to go crazy, but try to cover your bases with a non-meat option, a non-cheese option, and a gluten-free option.  This isn’t as complicated as you might think.

Just include fruit and veggies into your offering of eggs, bacon, and pastries and you should be good.  Also, keeping dressings and toppings separate is a good idea.  Not everyone wants gravy smothered over biscuits, or cheese in their eggs.

You can offer these on the side as add-on options to make dishes accessible to more people.

Seating & Serving Room

This is probably a no-brainer, but make sure you have ample seating.  Don’t make women stand in heels.

Whether you opt for a formal seating arrangement or a more casual, sit where you’d like and mingle affair, make sure there’s room for everyone.  Also, make sure there’s room to set down a plate.

If you have a buffet-style setup, don’t overcrowd your table or counter.  We all know the struggle of trying to find room to put a plate down to pour or dispense a drink.

Yes, of course, you can make multiple trips, but most people by default, won’t.  Why we do this is hard to say.

Some people don’t like to leave their food unattended outside of their homes.  Others don’t want to appear to be making multiple trips to a buffet table.

Whatever the reason, most people want to make one trip so help them feel comfortable in achieving their goal by not overcrowding your buffet.

Outdoor Accommodations

Hosting outdoors in the spring is lovely, but not without its challenges.  Bugs and flies should be minimal during bunch hours, but burning a few citronella candles to help deter them away is a good idea

Also, if you’re setting up a table outside on the lawn, be sure to let guests know its a garden party so they wear appropriate shoes.  No one likes struggling with heels in grass.

Decorations

Flowers and balloons are a good starting point for the decor.

Also, if you’re setting up a buffet remember that creative food presentation can double as decor.  For more brunch buffet ideas check out the post “5 Cool & Inexpensive Brunch Buffet Ideas“.

A spring or summer-themed tablescape is also a great way to decorate if you’re gathering folks around one table.

For a few tablescape ideas that would work for Mother’s Day check out “5 Tablescapes That Are Perfect For Summer“.

Flexible Date

Although this is a Mother’s Day brunch, consider hosting the day before.  With this day being held annually on the second Sunday of May in the US, you’re competing with the church and family plans.

Hosting a Mother’s Day brunch for friends and extended relatives on Saturday instead of Sunday will help ensure a good turn out.

Don’t forget that kids, particularly young kids, are excited to celebrate their mom with handmade pictures, or breakfast in bed on Sunday.  It’s best not to create a “you or them” type of choice on this day.

With these things in mind, while you plan out your Mother’s Day brunch, you’re sure to make it a memorable one.  Your guests will feel considered, appreciated, and will embrace the opportunity to relax and have fun with others.

Do you have any tips for hosting a Mother’s Day brunch?  Please leave them in the comments below.

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