My MIL hosted a morning after brunch at the hotel where we were staying. Out of town guests were invited.
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So, I think weāre going to go with a pavillion rental at the park (same park as the wedding reception, but thatās at a nicer venue within the park).
Not sure on menu, but perhaps some combination of continental breakfast items (baked goods, fruits, cheeses), light sandwiches, juices etc, and/or maybe some light grilling (hot dogs and such), and or some catering trays. Much more casual (and cheaper!) than the wedding reception itself.
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My daughter and I are flying to Nashville to go wedding dress shopping with my bride daughter on Easter weekend. Iām really looking forward to it, but time will be tight so sheāll probably have to pick the first dress she tries on. And then we can go to lunch. Iām sure it will be that easy!
The only 2 post wedding brunches Iāve been to were at the brideās parentsā homes in our home town. Best decision by both was to ācaterā which meant buying a sheet cake, some casseroles from a woman who did this for a lot of events (think big aluminum pans with delicious egg, potato cheese dishes), lots of fruit salads. Very casual and very lovely.
If you donāt know anyone with a home, I think the park is a great idea. I hadnāt thought about the day after brunch for daughterās wedding. Weāre trying to figure out the night before (I donāt think they really need a rehearsal dinner AND a welcome party) and Iām guessing most out of town guests (and everyone will be out of town guests) will be heading out of town.
And find someone else to clean up. That is the one thing Iām insisting on.
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For sonās wedding, there was no formal Sunday morning breakfast. But the hotel had a nice buffet, where we bumped into other guests all weekend. It was $18, but because of the cost there was always available seatingā¦. nice calm atmosphere.
On Friday night there was a rehearsal dinner for wedding party and families (incl aunts/uncles, not cousins). Then 6 hours at the nature preserve for cermony, happy hour, dinner/dancing. And a nice, casual catered after party at the hotel. On Sunday we didnāt mind it just being a low key morning. Oh - no local family, other than bride/groom apartment an hour away.
For D1ās wedding we had a breakfast catered at a bed and breakfast place we stayed at. It happened to be at a major road on the way out of town, so most people stopped by to have something to eat before they hit the road.
D2ās wedding is going to be in Brooklyn and a lot of people will be local, so we are not going to host a breakfast after the wedding. We will have a tea ceremony and a welcome party the night before. The tea ceremony will be for the immediate family and the welcome party will be for everyone.
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@oldfort where in Brooklyn? Just wondering.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The wedding ceremony will be at a terrace, cocktail by the fountain and reception in the green house. If it rains then the ceremony and cocktail will be moved indoor at a gallery.
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Really nice!
I wrnt to a wedding at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden - it was just lovely.
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That will be lovely - such a gorgeous place!
Fingers crossed for a nice weather. The event planner said the flowers should be in full bloom for the wedding.
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We have the Sunday pavilion booked for the whole day (but obviously donāt plan on being there the whole day).
Wedding is night before, ending circa 11pm, with booze, dancing, etc.
Sunday brunch 10-1? 11-2? Shorter? (2 hoursā¦)
Start too early and the guests will all be sleeping off the night before, start too late and those flying out will miss it. Make the window too broad and itās a drag for us (the parents putting on the brunch), the B&G will feel ~obligated to be there the whole time, and early guests will miss late guests anywaysā¦
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Maybe do it 10-noon, without B&G. (They will likely be exhausted and/or headed to the airport). Then you could do danishes, juiceā¦ keep it simple.
My D and fiancĆ© would be highly disappointed if they missed the chance to see family and friends - especially from out of town - the morning after. Of course they may not see them all - people may dip in and out of the brunch quickly - but I wouldnāt assume to count them out. Ask them.
The time you decide may determine your menu. I donāt know if Iām up for a grilled hot dog or hamburger at 10:30 the next morning!
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We did brunch from 10 - 12 and that seemed to work for most people.
My sisterās son is marrying a woman who comes from wealth and her father has offered anything she wants so even though the wedding is in an auntās backyard (lovely) everything else it top of the line. My nephew is like "he can spend whatever he wants, invite whoever he wants, but weāre not joining in the spend a million club.ā
My sister is hosting the rehearsal dinner but set a $5k limit, which means just the bridal party the siblings (all in the wedding), both sets of parents, and the aunt who is hosting, and all their significant others. No one else (including me). Now the brideās family wants to have a welcome party and thatās another $5k. My sister had the appropriate answer, I thought. āI choose not to afford that.ā B&G have a lot of money of their own, but my nephew is cheap too, so heās like no, not going to pay $5k for a party that heād probably miss half of because he is his motherās son and likes to go to bed early before a big day.
I believe I will be stuck with all our out of town relatives, which arenāt that many but my 85 year old uncle thinks heās coming, my nephew and his GF, another niece. I foresee many trips to the airport. Maybe Iāll just go out of town that week?
I donāt know I gotta kind of respect that the groom is sticking to his guns and not spending $5K where he doesnāt want to!
Can your relatives not stay at lodging other than your house? A nearby hotel or AIRBNB?
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Why would they do that when they can impose on ME? The wedding is about an hour away, so everyone will need rides (ME), and somewhere to stay, and food and all the things that arenāt provided at the wedding.
These people have always stayed here, because it was my motherās house. But usually not all at once. My brother lives across the street so some can sleep there, but he has dogs and itās sort of a messy house. He does have extra cars that niece and husband can drive (manual transmissions, so not all can drive them). My daughter will host her sister/BF.
It will work out. We just didnāt think my 85 year old uncle would come.
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If you would like to host them that is great, but saying no to hosting and transporting a large crowd is certainly an option. Perhaps ask them to chip in to pay for a rental van to make transportation easier?
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āHome time hostsā can be a heavy burden.
It is one thing for younger cousins who cannot easily afford other accommodations - DD and her BF donāt mind couch or floor cushions to save money when there are accommodation limitations. But the number of bathrooms when people are getting ready for a wedding - all needs coordination, in addition to people willing to help with meals/clean up during peopleās stay. Same with coordinating to wedding site - getting a rental vehicle is a great suggestion, but some one coming should be the ones paying - not the house hostess/hosts.
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