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While you’re planning your wedding, it’s exciting to put all the pieces of your wedding puzzle together. You get to choose how the event will go and what it will look like, but it’s easy to forget that many brides plan a post-wedding brunch for the next day. 

Wedding brunches are meant to be a time where you can hang out with family and friends in a more intimate and relaxed setting than a reception dance floor. It’s also a great time to relive your wedding day and talk with everyone about how much fun it was. If you’re thinking about planning a brunch for the day after your wedding,  here’s everything you need to know about it.

Day After Brunch Is Becoming More Common

Weddings have increasingly become weekend-long celebrations instead of single-day events. In fact, 71% of wedding celebrations now span two to three days, usually including additional gatherings other than the ceremony and reception. While rehearsal dinners remain the most popular extra event, day-after brunches are gaining in popularity, with 21% of couples including one in their wedding weekend.

It’s Totally Optional

There are certain parts of weddings that brides may feel obligated to plan for, even if it’s not their style. Specific traditions or styles can be held by different families, and the post-wedding brunch is the same way. No bride is truly obligated to do anything for their wedding, and guests won’t expect you to have a brunch. 

If you’d rather head straight off to kayak through a bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico or enjoy a romantic getaway in Rome, that’s perfectly fine. Only plan for a brunch if it’s something you’d love to do. It can be a great time if your heart wants to be there. 

Not All Guests Must Attend

A post-wedding brunch is usually a more intimate gathering than your reception, so don’t feel like you need to invite everyone. Most couples keep the guest list to immediate family, grandparents, the wedding party and their plus-ones. If you decide to invite extended family or friends, be fair about it. Include both sides of the family equally and avoid inviting only a handful of cousins or close friends to prevent awkward conversations later.

No Invitations Necessary

Since a post-wedding brunch is usually a smaller event, you can skip the formal invitation. A text message, online invitation or quick conversation during the wedding weekend is often enough. Many couples share the details closer to the wedding date, once guests have a better idea of their travel plans and availability.

For couples who want to include brunch details with their wedding stationery, a separate insert keeps the information limited to the invited guests. You can also send a simple digital invitation to track RSVPs and get a better idea of the final headcount. However, this should be separate from your wedding website to avoid any confusion.

Start at Brunch Time

If you’re not a frequent brunch eater, you may not know when to host the brunch. Starting it too early would make it breakfast, and starting it too late would make it lunch. Brunch is typically held between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the weekend, which is usually when weddings are also held. That gives everyone some cushion time to digest their meal and enjoy the day before dinner. If you want to have your brunch at a local restaurant, make sure to make reservations as far in advance as you can. 

Buffets Are Time-Friendly

Worried about guests needing to head out pretty quickly the day after your wedding? Don’t bother with having your brunch at a restaurant. Host a brunch buffet at your home instead! Everyone can bring a dish, pastry or other brunch food from a store if they don’t live nearby. Make sure to have mimosa supplies on hand, and you’ll be good to go. 

Buffets make it super easy for people to grab and go, and you can even get some to-go containers pretty cheaply online for those who need to run. Pro brunch tip — if you bake a day or two before your wedding and make casseroles, you can freeze them to reheat for the brunch and save some time. Muffins and pastries will keep well over those two or three days as well if kept in the fridge. 

Think About Your Guests

The best thing you can do to make your post-wedding brunch a success is to think about your guests’ needs first. What allergies do they have? Will there be kids in attendance? Will they be short on time? The answers to these questions will help you come up with the best wedding brunch ever. Even if it ends up just being you and a few girlfriends at your favorite brunch spot, it’ll still be a great time.

Keep the Schedule Relaxed

A post-wedding brunch is meant to be a chance to slow down after the excitement of the big day, not another event full of activities and expectations. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy conversations, catch up with loved ones and thank guests who traveled to celebrate with you. If you want to add a few simple touches, consider activities that encourage guests to mingle without taking over the day, such as:

• Set up a casual photo area where you and your guests can take a few final pictures together.
• Give a short thank-you toast to show your appreciation for everyone who helped celebrate your special day.
• Create a memory table with your guest book, printed photos or keepsakes from the wedding.

Don’t feel pressured to plan any activities, though. A simple, leisurely meal with good food and meaningful conversations is usually more than enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning a post-wedding brunch comes with plenty of small decisions. Here are some common questions couples have before adding a brunch to their wedding weekend.

Who Should You Invite to a Post-Wedding Brunch?

A post-wedding brunch is usually reserved for the people you’re closest to. This means immediate family, grandparents, the wedding party and their plus-ones. Some couples also include close friends or extended family. The most important thing is to keep your choices consistent and avoid creating an uneven guest list.

What Is the Best Time To Host a Post-Wedding Brunch?

Most post-wedding brunches take place late in the morning or early afternoon, so guests have plenty of time to rest after the wedding and prepare for their journey home.

Do You Need To Plan Activities for a Post-Wedding Brunch?

No, a post-wedding brunch doesn’t need a full schedule of entertainment. The main purpose is to give everyone a chance to relax, chat and spend more time together after the wedding.

Brunching the Wedding Weekend to a Close

At the end of the day, a post-wedding brunch shouldn’t feel like another wedding task on your checklist. There are no rules about who attends, how fancy it should be or what you need to plan. Choose what feels right for you, then enjoy one last chance to celebrate with the people who made your wedding day special.

Originally published on 08/09/2019 — Updated on 05/08/2026