Have you noticed???

The sun is rising a little earlier, the flowers are popping, and it just doesn’t feel right to wear dark colors everyday?!

Yes – SPRING IS IN THE AIR!

It’s time to swap cozy fireplace dinners with the fabulous and chill weekend brunch. And…we LOVE a good brunch. What better way to unwind from the week, enjoy the beautiful weather, and laugh with friends and family?

That’s why we wanted to share 3 must plan ideas for your next weekend brunch!

1. A Bagel Buffet – You don’t have to go fancy to have fun!

We love brunches that are relaxed. Hosting a brunch doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot or put out your good china. Try something easy and simple such as:

A Bagel Buffet!

Pick up a variety of bagels from a local bakery and lay them out with a smorgasbord of toppings. Let guests toast and top their bagels however they’d like. Serve with a fresh fruit salad and cafe au laits.

Need some inspiration? Try these toppings:

Cheeses: Sliced Smoked Gouda, Honey Goat, and Flavored Cream Cheeses

Proteins: Smoked Salmon, Chopped Hardboiled Egg, Deli Smoked Ham, and Peanut or Almond Butters

Savory Toppings: Pickled Onions, Capers, Arugula, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Herbs

Sweet Toppings: Shaved Coconut, Dark Chocolate Shavings, Honey, Jam, Nutella

Now…go get your bagel on.

2. Creative Cocktails – Who says happy hour can’t be before noon?!

Not into cooking so much? No worries!

You take care of the cocktails and let your guests take care of the food!

Plan a Creative Cocktail Brunch in which you supply the cool drinks and they bring brunch dishes.

Consider:

A Mimosa Menu – This Country Living article has some easy recipes! Pick 2-4 to offer and write them on a chalkboard.

A Bloody Mary Bar – Here are some ideas on what to place on your Bloody Mary bar. Serve in mason jars and let guests make their own skewers.

Sangria Sips – If you’re looking to save some money and still offer a refreshing daytime drink, think about serving a variety of sangrias. They are easy to make (can can be made the day before) and are beautiful served with fresh fruit garnishes. Try white sangria with citrus fruits and champagne and traditional red sangria with red wine, citrus, berries, and herbs like cinnamon and cloves. Serve with a Mexican egg casserole and homemade tortillas.

Cheers!

3. Go Healthy!

You don’t have to give up your diet in order to host a brunch! And we’re willing to bet a lot of your guests would appreciate a healthy brunch to help with their waistlines too!

So what to do to stay healthy?

Serve up:

– A Smoothie Bar (fresh fruits, greens, yogurts, milks, and protein powder)

– Egg White Omelettes (with fresh herbs)

– Sides of Grilled Asparagus, Roasted Tomatoes, & Herbed Potatoes

– A Yogurt Bar of different flavors, toppings, and granolas

Ask guests to bring their yoga mat and after a 30 minute yoga session in your backyard or living room, indulge in your healthy brunch and enjoy! Or hey, a walk around the block will do as well!

These ideas don’t have to be for just a leisurely weekend brunch! Consider them for other events as well – a bridal or baby shower, a farewell brunch the morning after a wedding, a corporate morning meeting (maybe sans the cocktails on that one!), or even a girlfriend birthday or holiday gathering.

If you’re planning an event and are in need of additional ideas that you could do on your own or with the help of professionals, please don’t hesitate to contact me at michele@michelebutlerevents.com.

Here’s to Spring & Lots of Brunching and oh…I’m available to brunch!