Planning a post-wedding brunch is one of the easiest ways to extend the celebration and give out-of-town guests a warm send-off before everyone heads home. Whether you call it a farewell brunch, a recovery brunch, or simply the morning-after gathering, the invitation sets the tone for a relaxed, joyful finish to your wedding weekend.
- What it is: A casual morning-after gathering, typically hosted the day after the wedding
- Who hosts: The couple, either set of parents, or the wedding party
- Who’s invited: Out-of-town guests, the wedding party, and close family – or the full guest list
- When to send: Include as an insert with the main invitation, or send separately 3-4 weeks before the brunch
- Tone: Casual and warm – far more relaxed than the wedding invitation itself
- Format options: Printed insert card, separate invitation card, or informal digital message
What Is a Post-Wedding Brunch?
A post-wedding brunch is a morning or midday gathering held the day after the wedding – most commonly a Sunday when the wedding falls on a Saturday. It gives guests a final chance to celebrate together, swap stories, and say a proper goodbye before traveling home.
The event typically runs for two to three hours, kicking off between 10 a.m. and noon, and wraps up before early afternoon to give out-of-town guests time to check out and catch flights or drives home. The mood is the opposite of the wedding reception: unhurried, conversational, and easy. Think eggs, pastries, fruit, coffee, and mimosas rather than a plated dinner.
A post-wedding brunch is optional. Many couples host one out of appreciation for guests who traveled long distances or stayed at a nearby hotel across the weekend. Some do it because they genuinely want a few more relaxed hours with their closest people before the honeymoon begins. Neither reason requires a formal event, but a thoughtfully worded invitation goes a long way in making guests feel expected and welcome rather than vaguely included.
Who Hosts and Who Is Invited
The post-wedding brunch can be hosted by the couple themselves, one or both sets of parents, the maid of honor, the best man, or a close family friend. The invitation wording should reflect whoever is actually hosting – more on that in the examples below.
Guest list options
Deciding who to invite is where many couples hesitate. There are two common approaches:
- Full guest list: Invite everyone who came to the wedding. This works well when the venue can comfortably hold the group and the brunch is kept informal (a hotel dining room, a backyard, a rented event space with a buffet).
- Smaller inner circle: Invite out-of-town guests, the wedding party, and immediate family only. This is the more common approach and carries no obligation to explain the selection to those not included. Out-of-town guests are almost always on the list since they have invested the most in the weekend.
One important etiquette note: if some wedding guests are invited and others are not, do not hand out brunch invitations at the wedding itself. Send them separately in advance so no one feels left out in the room.
How and When to Send Post-Wedding Brunch Invitations
There are two timing approaches, each with a different format:
Option 1: Include as an insert with the main invitation
If every wedding guest is also invited to the brunch, including a small insert card in the invitation suite is the most elegant solution. It mirrors the information card or accommodation card format – same paper stock, same design language, tucked into the same envelope. Guests learn about the brunch at the same time as everything else, and you only deal with postage once.
This approach works best when the host, time, and venue are confirmed well in advance – typically at least three months before the wedding so everything is ready when invitations mail.
Option 2: Send a separate invitation closer to the wedding
If only a subset of guests is invited, or if you finalize the brunch plans after invitations are already sent, a standalone invitation is the right call. Send these 3-4 weeks before the brunch date (not the wedding date). This gives guests enough lead time to confirm availability and make any logistics adjustments.
A separate brunch invitation can be printed to match your wedding suite or can be a simpler, more casual design. Because the event is low-key, an informal printed card or a professionally worded digital message both work well.
Post-Wedding Brunch Invitation Wording: 6 Examples for Every Scenario
The tone of brunch wording is deliberately lighter than a wedding invitation. Skip the formal third-person constructions and the full legal name conventions. These examples cover the most common hosting situations – adapt names, times, and venues as needed.
1. Hosted by the couple (casual, universal)
the morning after the wedding
Sunday, the fourteenth of June
eleven o’clock in the morning
The Terrace Room at The Langham
330 West Jefferson Boulevard
Sarah & Michael
2. Hosted by parents (formal-leaning, with RSVP)
and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Reid
invite you to join them for a farewell brunch
celebrating the marriage of
Sarah and Michael
Sunday, June fourteenth
eleven in the morning until two in the afternoon
Holloway Residence
4 Elmswood Drive, Pasadena
Kindly reply by June seventh
sarah.and.michael@email.com
3. Casual couple-hosted, warm tone (works as a standalone card)
Come have brunch with us the morning after –
Sunday, June 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Garden Room, Hotel Indigo Downtown
Coffee, mimosas, and good company guaranteed.
RSVP to the link below by June 8.
4. Hosted by the maid of honor and best man (wedding-party hosted)
cordially invite you to a morning send-off
in honor of the new Mr. and Mrs. Reid
Post-Wedding Farewell Brunch
Sunday, June 14, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Magnolia Rooftop, 72 Harbor Street
Light fare, great coffee, and a final toast to the newlyweds.
Please RSVP by June 8 – seats are limited.
5. Themed recovery brunch (playful, informal)
Revive at brunch.
You are officially invited to the post-wedding recovery brunch.
Sunday, June 14 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Bridewell Hotel, Rooftop Terrace
Eggs. Pastries. Bottomless coffee.
Stories from last night very much encouraged.
RSVP to Sarah by June 8.
6. Insert-card format (to include with the main invitation suite)
Sunday, June 14
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The Garden Room
Hotel Indigo, 420 Main Street
Kindly respond with your wedding RSVP
Etiquette Notes and Logistics
A few points that frequently come up when couples plan the morning-after gathering:
Do you need a separate RSVP?
If the brunch insert is enclosed with the main invitation and all guests are invited, you can ask them to include their brunch response with the wedding RSVP. Use a simple checkbox on the RSVP card (“We will also attend the farewell brunch on Sunday”) or a second line on the reply card.
If you are sending a standalone invitation to a subset of guests, include a dedicated RSVP mechanism – a reply-by date, email address, or link to a digital form. Brunch venues need a headcount, and tracking RSVPs separately from the wedding list prevents confusion.
Who pays?
The hosts pay. If the couple’s parents are hosting, they cover the venue and catering. If the couple is hosting, they budget for it alongside other wedding costs. It is not appropriate to ask guests to pay for their own meal at a hosted brunch – if budget is tight, a more informal setting (a backyard, a hotel suite with a continental spread) is perfectly acceptable.
How formal should it be?
Most post-wedding brunches are decidedly casual. The wedding itself covered the formality. Guests appreciate a relaxed morning where they can dress down, linger over coffee, and say proper goodbyes. If the brunch is at an upscale venue, a simple “smart casual” note on the invitation removes any guesswork about attire.
Should you give favors or gifts?
No. Guests have already given wedding gifts. The brunch itself is the gesture. Some couples use the brunch to distribute any remaining wedding favors that guests left behind, but there is no expectation of additional gifts in either direction.
Dietary notes
If you are aware of guests with dietary restrictions – particularly those who flagged them on the wedding RSVP – it is thoughtful to make sure the brunch menu accommodates them. A simple “please let us know of any dietary requirements” line on the invitation handles this.
How to Adapt the Wording to Your Style
The six examples above cover a range of tones from formal to playful, but the wording should ultimately match the personality of your wedding. A few quick adjustments go a long way:
- Match the register: If your wedding invitations used formal third-person phrasing, keep the brunch wording polished. If your invitations were casual and conversational, the brunch card can be too.
- Name the host clearly: “Join us” when the couple is hosting, “Mr. and Mrs. [Name] invite you” when parents are hosting. Clarity here prevents confusion at the door.
- State the practical details upfront: Time, venue, and RSVP deadline. Guests often reference the card on the morning of the event, so make the logistics easy to find at a glance.
- Skip apologies and over-explanation: Phrases like “We know you’ve already done so much” or “We understand if you can’t make it” undercut the warmth of the invitation. State the invitation with confidence.
- Keep it short: A brunch insert card should fit on a 4×6 inch (100 x 150mm) or A2 card. A standalone invitation may be slightly larger, but brevity is a feature, not a limitation.
Design and Format Options
For printed brunch invitations, the cleanest approach is to match your existing wedding stationery so everything reads as a cohesive suite. Paperlust designs can be ordered across multiple card formats, so you can carry the same design across your save-the-date, main invitation, information card, and a brunch insert.
For a standalone brunch invitation, consider:
- A 4×6 flat card: The most common format for a brunch invitation insert. Lightweight, easy to mail alongside the main suite.
- A folded note card: Slightly more substantial, works well for a brunch hosted as a standalone event with its own envelope.
- Digital message: For very informal brunches or last-minute additions, a well-worded digital message using a design that mirrors your wedding aesthetic is entirely acceptable.
Print methods for brunch insert cards follow the same options as the broader wedding stationery suite – digital print is the most affordable and fastest, while flat foil adds a metallic finish for couples who want the insert to match a foil-printed main invitation.
Browse the full range of wedding invitations at Paperlust to find designs that translate across your full suite, or explore information cards and insert cards for matching stationery pieces.
Decor and Menu Ideas to Set the Tone
The brunch invitation gives guests their first impression of the event. Match the actual experience to what the wording promises:
- For a garden or outdoor brunch: Fresh florals, a grazing table with fruit and pastries, natural linen tablecloths, and casual seating. Wording should be warm and unhurried.
- For a hotel dining room brunch: A private section with a set menu or buffet, mimosas on arrival, and a table arrangement that keeps groups together. Wording can be slightly more polished.
- For a home or backyard brunch: A relaxed spread kept casual and personal. Keep the wording conversational and personal.
A few menu anchors that work well regardless of setting: a coffee and tea station, something egg-based, a pastry option, seasonal fruit, and at least one light cocktail like a mimosa or Bloody Mary. Guests are often tired and grateful for a low-key setting.
Not sure which print method suits your design? Order Paperlust’s $5 sample pack to feel the difference between digital, letterpress, flat foil, and foil stamp before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a separate invitation for a post-wedding brunch?
Not always. If the brunch is included with the full wedding guest list, an insert card tucked into the main invitation is the most common and elegant approach. If only a subset of guests is invited, send a separate invitation to avoid anyone feeling left out at the wedding itself.
Who typically pays for a post-wedding brunch?
The host pays. Whether that is the couple, one set of parents, or the wedding party, covering the cost of the event is expected. It is not appropriate to have a hosted brunch where guests pay for their own meals.
How many people are usually invited to a post-wedding brunch?
There is no rule. Common options are the full wedding guest list, out-of-town guests only, or the wedding party and immediate family. Smaller brunches of 20-40 people are very common. Choose based on budget, venue capacity, and how much personal time you want with guests.
How far in advance should you send post-wedding brunch invitations?
If included as an insert with the main invitation, they arrive whenever invitations mail (typically 6-8 weeks before the wedding). If sent separately, aim for 3-4 weeks before the brunch date. Guests need time to confirm their Sunday plans, arrange childcare, or coordinate checkout and travel.
What is the difference between a farewell brunch and a recovery brunch?
They are the same event with different names. “Farewell brunch” or “send-off brunch” carries a more sentimental tone. “Recovery brunch” is playful and typically appears in more informal wording. Use whichever label matches the tone of your wedding and the relationship you have with your guests.
Can you host a post-wedding brunch if you are leaving for your honeymoon the same day?
Yes – many couples host a brunch, attend for an hour or two, and then depart for the airport. Set clear end times in the wording (“11 a.m. – 1 p.m.”) so guests understand the schedule and do not linger expecting a longer sendoff. A clear RSVP deadline also helps you finalize headcount before the wedding itself.