Whether you’re planning for a Mother’s Day brunch, a bridal shower brunch, or a ‘lets celebrate because it’s spring and beautiful outside’ brunch, they all come with preparation. One of my favorite pastimes is playing hostess and entertaining guests. However, it can be stressful to entertain if you aren’t adequately prepared. I’m not talking weeks of preparation, but it’s good to get organized (and it’s fun, too)! Here is your 10 step guide to planning the perfect brunch in the comfort of your own home.

• Pick a date and time
• Create a guest list
• Send out invitations. You can, of course, just send your invitees a text or an email, but I think it’s much more festive (and the invitees will feel special, too) to send an e-vite (Paperless Post is my all time favorite)
• Make lists
  • Food/Drink you want to serve
    • What you already have in your pantry and refrigerator, and what you need to purchase
  • Decor/Tablescape
    • Don’t go crazy here (unless, of course, you want to). I think flowers are perfect and a simple color scheme. Place cards take away the question of ‘where to sit’ and can also serve as a decorative element
  • Serving Platters and Dishes/Silverware
    • What you already have in your cabinets, and what you need to purchase
• Set up a schedule for the few days leading up to the brunch – when to purchase the food, the serving platters needed, flowers – so you’re not running around like a crazy person the day of
• Clean your home. No guest wants to walk into a mess. Set aside 30 minutes to clean up prior to the brunch
• Give your guests something to take home afterwards so they’ll remember the great time they had at your brunch (cupcakes in a jar, mini floral arrangements, etc)
• Thank you notes – if your guests bring anything (they most likely will), always follow up with a thank you  note afterwards. Hand-written notes are essential; do not thank them via email.
• Clean up immediately following the brunch, as soon as the last guest leaves. If you put it off, it may take you hours to get to it, and you don’t want to have dirty dishes in your sink all day. Put on some great music, finish the mimosas off, and clean.
• Don’t forget to have fun. Sometimes when you’re playing host or hostess you can get wrapped up in making sure everything is perfect that you forget to enjoy your company. If you prepare enough in advance, you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and have an unforgettable brunch.

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