Inexpensive and Elegant Reception Ideas: Breakfast Buffets

Breakfast Receptions Can Be Inexpensive and Easy without Being Tacky and Cheesy

I am thrilled to see breakfast receptions cropping up in the Blogosphere. Recently, Elizabeth Anne Designs posted a lovey breakfast wedding concept shoot and Austin Weddings has posted a pancake bridal shower concept shoot. Both are sweet and beautiful, and incorporate vintage elements–which I love. 

So why am I'm loving breakfast buffets so much? I had one!

You may recall that Hindsight groom and I had two weddings. A small JP wedding in California and a larger, more traditional outdoor wedding in North Carolina. The first, JP wedding took place in the Mammoth Ski Museum in Mammoth Lakes, California at 9:30 in the morning. We offered a "European breakfast buffet" for our short reception.Our buffet included assorted rolls with jams and nutella, fresh fruit, assorted cheeses and meats, including brie, Swiss, manchegio, Parmesan, and sharp cheddar; and  ham, hard salami, and prosciutto. We also offered coffee, hot chocolate, Bloody Mary's, and Mimosa's. Our wedding cake was a chocolate ganache cake from Schatts Bakery.

Then we departed for the ski area for an afternoon of skiing. We offered each guest a box lunch with a gourmet hogie on rustic bread, fruit, sun chips, Belgium chocolate and dark beer. This is a southern thang. We used white 8" cake boxed tied with ribbon with labels indicating what type of sandwich was inside. It was wonderful, simple, and fit our ski wedding theme perfectly.

Seeing Austin Wedding's and Elizabeth Anne Design's concept shoots has gotten the old gears going again.

From Austin Weddings Blog: Pancakes are incredible inexpensive and easy to make. They are also relatively easy to keep warm with a hotel pan and sterno. Paired with vintage pastels and found objects, this breakfast reception makes me nostalgic for big family breakfasts on the weekend.

pancakes and syrup at a bridal shower
Image from Design*Sponge via Austin Wedding Blog

What's more, they can be served with locally available toppings. In the southern mountains, peaches are still in season. Blueberries and blackberries are starting to fruit in earnest as well. You can also offer homemade jams, apple butter local honey and sorgorhm, in addition to the classic maple syrup.

 

Variety of syrup for pancake bridal shower
Image from Design*Sponge via Austin Wedding Blog

Design Sponge

Event Design: Ashley Meaders of The Flashdance
Photography: Jesse Chamberlin from Our Labor of Love
Read more at Design*Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/04/beyond-the-big-day-a-pancake-breakfast.html#ixzz0sQt1YAzF

 
 
From Elizabeth Anne Designs: I love the vintage elements that you can find in your local antique shop, flea market, or thrift store. Or, even better, you may be able to find these in your mother's kitchen, or your attic, or an old barn. I believe "found objects" make a wedding truly special and unique.
 
tablescape for breakfast reception
 
How clever is this!? Stick a glass jar full of wildflowers in an old cupcake pan. Throw in a muffin here and there and you have a great piece for a table scape or to add texture to your buffet table. 
 
 
I think using locally produced jams, jellies, and honey is a nice touch that supports the local economy and is green. If you or someone in your familiy has the skills you can DIY homemade jellies and jams using local friuts the year before your wedding.
 
 
I love using recipes as favors and escort cards. Grandma's biscuits are a good choice, so is a great pancakes recipie. If you make your own jam, you can offer a recipe for that. But don't limit yourself to recipes. If you are a destination bride, you may want to consider listing the best farmers markets for getting the best in-season, local fruits and include a killer recipe for fruit salad.

 

Elizabeth Anne Designs:

Styling & Floral Design – Dandelion & Grey
Photography – Olive Juice Photography
Paper Goods – Dapper Paper