Mother’s Day is held each year on the second Sunday in May. It’s a wonderful day to celebrate the moms, grandmas, moms-to-be, fur moms, and other maternal figures in your life.
It’s also a great excuse to host a brunch party. Whether you’re planning a last-minute get together with your mom friends or you’re hosting a small family meal, use these tips to plan a special — but simple — brunch party.
Brunch Party Decorations
Mother’s Day is a sentimental holiday. When it comes to decorating your brunch party venue, use pictures and stories to honor the women in your life. Scour each woman’s Instagram for family photos and print a few copies to hang around the room. Your guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness and enjoy a walk down memory lane.
In lieu of a fancy tablescape, keep things simple with brown wrapping paper and markers. Ahead of the party, decorate the wrapping paper with prompts like “Best memory with my kids…” or “Most embarrassing mom story…” Then, ask your guests to complete the prompts as they enjoy their brunch. When conversation dwindles, take turns reading aloud your prompt responses and share the highs and lows of motherhood together (and hopefully a few laughs!).
Mother’s Day Party Activities
Moms so rarely get social time away from their kids. Make your brunch party one to remember with festive activities for everyone to enjoy.
First up, consider a photo booth. Moms are always the ones taking the family pictures — they deserve their moment to shine! You can order a backdrop on Etsy or make your own using streamers and wrapping paper. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be fun.
Next, plan a hands-on activity like make-your-own floral arrangements or spring wreaths. Again, it doesn’t have to be super fancy. Head to your local Trader Joe’s or Produce Junction to purchase flowers ahead of time. Guests can make small talk as they make their own floral masterpiece. These flowers can also serve as party decorations and favors — win-win!
If your guests aren’t the floral arranging type, plan a group game instead. You could host Mother’s Day Trivia based on one-liners from famous TV moms or play the Newlywed Game to see how well you know the other moms in your life.
Brunch Party Menu
Now it’s time to discuss what’s arguably the most important part of your brunch party: the menu. Brunch can mean different things to different people. Is it breakfast? Lunch? Sweet? Savory? The answer is somewhere in the middle. Think about your guests and plan your menu based on their palates. Don’t put pressure on yourself to provide too many options — after all it’s your day, too — but choose a few that are sure to be crowd pleasers.
The Pioneer Woman has you covered with 75 Mother’s Day brunch recipes to choose from, including several overnight or make ahead options to eliminate your time in the kitchen. Who doesn’t love a breakfast casserole paired with a warm cinnamon roll and a tasty fruit salad?
Make-your-own food and beverage stations are always a hit at parties. You could prepare an omelet bar or parfait station with numerous toppings and let your guests choose their own adventure. For beverages, coffee and mimosas (or should we say “mom”-mosas!) are sure to please. Let your guests indulge with a few options for creamer, juice, and fruit to enjoy a special drink on their special day.
Whatever you choose for food and drinks, make it easy on yourself. If you don’t want to do extra dishes on Mother’s Day, arrange with your spouse or kids and ask them to clean up as a gift to you.
Mother’s Day Party Favors
While favors are certainly not required, it’s always nice to give your guests a small parting gift and token of your appreciation. For Mother’s Day, lean into self-care and relaxation with spa-themed favors that will make your guests feel pampered.
You could create a small spa basket for each guest with items like nail polish, eye masks, a fancy scrunchie, and a candle. Or, you could fill a basket with several items from each category and let your guests choose a small favor to take with them. Either way, it’s the thought that counts!
Planning a Mother’s Day Brunch
Mother’s Day should be a time of celebration, not stress. If you’re planning a brunch party for family and friends, we hope these tips help you host a celebration that’s special for your guests and simple for you to plan.
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
