5 Things to Consider Before Booking Your Brunch Wedding

Oct 9

If you found your way to this page, you're likely considering having a brunch wedding and want to know all the do's and don'ts. Well, we are not in the business of telling you how to host your big day, but we are here to support your visions and make your dreams come to life at CLAY Venues. We do have some key things you should consider before booking your brunch wedding venue as we love a good brunch wedding and hope you make the decision that works best for you and your partner!

Is Booking a Brunch Wedding Venue Common?

Booking a brunch wedding venue is not always common but it's definitely underutilized! A brunch wedding is a great idea for couples who want to keep the festivities casual and inviting. It also allows for more intimate community and conversation as brunch weddings are rarely ragers.

Thinking of having a brunch wedding and wondering if it’s the right move for you? Check out CLAY Venues for the ultimate brunch wedding venue!

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BOOKING YOUR BRUNCH WEDDING

#1. Not All Invited Guests Will Be Able to Attend

Due to the early nature of a brunch wedding, many people will have difficulties planning and scheduling around a brunch wedding. Whether it be more difficulties getting off of work, or challenges with flights coming in the day of, it's best to be aware that your headcount will likely be lower than expected. Which is totally okay! More time for great conversations and community.

#2. Wedding Prep Will Start Very Early

If you are planning to rock a fabulous hairdo with perfect makeup, your wedding prep will likely start early, and we mean very early. This may be something to consider as you are looking for hairstylists and make-up artists as they may charge more for certain times of the day and will need to consider travel time if necessary. For all those morning birds out there, brunch weddings are perfect for you!

#3. The Dance Floor May Not Be Popping

If you choose to have a dance floor for your brunch wedding, there may be a small chance that many will dance, however, don't let that stop you and your partner from having a good time! There are lots of ways to encourage dancing during a brunch wedding such as having curtains to keep out the light, adding fun lighting, props, glow sticks, etc.!

#4. Consider the Menu

We personally love a good breakfast moment and don't have a bad thing to say about a classic mimosa bar and pancake station! We recommend informing your guests about what they can expect to eat as there may be more dietary restrictions to consider or personal preferences. Ultimately, you should have the wedding YOU want, pancakes and all!

#5. Venue Availablity

Some venues have limited slots to book from and may not be able to host a brunch time slot. Thankfully, at CLAY Venues, we book out full days for you and your partner to enjoy. We want to devote our full attention and efforts to one couple per day so no one ever feels rushed or robbed of their special moments. Feel free to move your 10-hour time slot however you please around the day!* We are here to party with you and soak in all the morning brunch sun rays!

*Latest booking time slot is until 11:59 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 10 PM on Sundays-Thursdays

A BRUNCH WEDDING: THEIR DAY, THEIR WAY, AT CLAY

Guest Count: 60

Venue Booking: Peak Season Sunday 7 am-5 pm

Date: September 5th, 2021

CLAY couple Emily and Dane planned their brunch wedding with ease and with great attention to detail. For a couple who craves a brunch menu and a well-lit space, they made the most of their day by choosing a brunch-style wedding filled with morning light and a build-your-own bloody mary bar. It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

An early morning start called for lots of coffee and excitement as Emily and her wedding party arrived at 7 am to get ready in CLAY’s client suite for the big day. Meanwhile, the CLAY team and vendor team were working behind the scenes to get everything set into place to bring E + D’s vision to life.

With E + D’s guest count at 60, they were able to get creative with their floor plan. They had their ceremony in the front wing near the garage door, this area is south facing for the best lighting. In the back wing, behind the drawn curtains, they had their reception tables pre-set with linens and tableware, customized with napkin rings that E’s dad had made and dressed with beautiful floral centerpieces.

As guests began to arrive, they were encouraged to find their seats. Dane, by trade, is a videographer, and what marked the beginning of their ceremony was a projected short video of their relationship filled with romance, laughter, and adventure. It was a very sweet custom touch to a traditional ceremony, which made everyone teary-eyed, and set the tone for a big celebration to commence.

After the ceremony, guests were encouraged to head to the bar, build their own bloody mary and head out to the terrace for games and photos during cocktail hour. They used CLAY’s iconic black wall to hang their wood sign that read “The Iwata’s”, and placed CLAY’s complimentary lounge set in front for guests to use as a photo-op as well.

During cocktail hour, E + D left CLAY with their photographer and headed to Red Rock Canyon Open Space to capture some gorgeous adventure shots. This was important to E + D as the adventures they had taken and the adventures yet to come encapsulated the values they have as a couple. We love when our couples go off-site for photos or even for their ceremony, before heading to CLAY to get the party started.

Once E + D got back to CLAY they wanted to join their guests in the cocktail hour before seating for the reception. They did their grand entrance into the terrace, then everyone headed inside for the reveal of the reception space. The CLAY team pulled back the drawn curtains and suddenly the back wing was filled with beautiful morning lighting and the tabletop details that Emily so carefully curated for guests to admire.

Due to the gorgeous weather that day, we kept the garage door open for the remainder of the celebration. Everyone enjoyed the French toast bar while cheering to toasts and first dances. Instead of a traditional cake-cutting, E + D had donut towers for dessert, and they danced the day away until it was time for their last dance and grand exit out the garage doors.

We've known some brunch weddings where couples head straight to the airport on the same day so they can be on the beach by 9 am the next day. And on the other hand, we’ve known some couples who rally. They add a “recharge block” to their day (insert naps, outfit changes, and touch-ups) before meeting in downtown for dinner and bar-hopping the night away. The celebration can be whatever you make it. If you’re still on the fence about having a brunch wedding, reach out to the CLAY team and we can help make that decision easier.