I love quiche, and you could buy them or make ahead and warm them up or just buy some frozen pie crusts in foil pans, pre cook them about 10 minutes after pricking them well, and pour the filling in. I prefer quiche made with whole milk, not cream.

Lots of fresh fruit. I like to cube melon and cut up lots of fresh fruit, toss it with orange juice to keep apples and pears from browning, and add sliced banana at serving time.

Or--Strawberries Romanoff. We were served these at the Rainbow Room atop the RCA (?) building in NYC eons ago, and it is still a favorite. Lovely red strawberries with the stems and leaves still attached and well rinsed, and on the same plate, a large daub of sour cream (regular or light) and a pile of light brown sugar. You hold the strawberries by the leaves, dip the strawberries in the sour cream, and then in the brown sugar. This is a great way to serve strawberries that are not fully ripe yet as the dips cover up any lack of flavor or sweetness.

And if you do the Strawberries Romanoff as the dessert, then you might want to do a main dish salad for the main course. I love a Chinese chicken salad, chopped ice berg lettuce, chopped cooked chicken breast, peeled and chopped cantaloupe, toasted slivered or sliced almonds, toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions tops and all. Just before serving, crush won ton soup noodles (throw out the seasoning packet) and sprinkle over tossed salad. Dressing is made from sugar, rice wine vinegar, corn oil, and seasonings. I can look it up for you if you are interested.

I went to a wedding brunch last week. As Sheilajoyce said, lots of fresh fruit. They also had quiches, French toast, sausage patties, and other dishes I didn't explore. My favorite was a good, whole milk yogurt (a luxury for me, since I'm always eating the nonfat variety) with maple granola to spoon on top.

Something I like to make is a puffed oven pancake, with or without a layer of apples on the bottom.

Looking forward to wedding pictures!

I'm getting married in 2 months, and we're having a brunch at our home after the ceremony. We're keeping it light because there's a delicious (expensive!) reception dinner at a fancy restaurant later that night and I don't want people to fill up too much on brunch.

We're doing fruit salad, fruit tarts, banana pudding, a yogurt bar with toppings, homemade strawberry shortcake, some cookies, muffins, scones and banana bread. And some savory dishes with caprese skewers, greek panzenella, asian noodle salad and a tortellini salad.

I'm skipping egg dishes and other more filling types as my goal is just to tide people over until dinner, but otherwise I would definitely add those. I'm also doing things that can be made ahead for the most part.

Smitten Kitchen has a spinach strata that looks amazing. She also has a lot of easy, make ahead brunch ideas. Pioneer Woman is also a good resource for feeding a crowd.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, chi83!

Thanks Glenda :)

A carving station with a good ham and trays of different kinds of biscuits....cheese, sweet potato, and angel biscuits, all rolled and cut with a smaller than average biscuit cutter. Serve with different kinds of mustard and jellies.

There are a zillion strata recipes that sound delicious.

A big tray of hash browns, made with onions and green peppers.

Twice baked potatoes

Mixed fruit platter is a must. Seedless grapes, kiwi, strawberries, orange sections, pineapple, honey dew, canteloupe are some you don't have to worry about turning brown. A great sauce to offer with fruit is greek yogurt mixed with a little honey and fresh orange zest.

Creamy scrambled eggs.
Boiled shrimp

Mini salad bar

Dessert assortment, good home made stuff of your daughter's choice.

You are certainly brave doing all this from a distance. I am wondering if you could hire the main part of the food out and just supply the sides yourself. I am thinking particularly of something the family has done for christenings etc. We hired Mr. Omlet who completely set up his station and offered a wide variety of ingredients. We usually opt for them doing the station and we do the rest of the meal=fruits, sweet breads, bagels and toppings or whatever sounds good. Satine

I like that idea, Satine. Catering a portion of the brunch, like omelets and a carving station would sure make things so much nicer (and easier) .

I agree that doing this kind of thing at an unknown location/kitchen would worry me a bit. ;^)

I've never hosted a big brunch but I would love to some day! I'd make both quiches and frittatas, a spiral-sliced ham w/ buns and condiments, mini pecan pie muffins, blueberry muffins, fruit compote, maybe deviled eggs or something like that.... then I'd definitely include things like chocolate-dipped strawberries, really good coffees, teas, juices, and all the mixings for mimosas!!! I would also make everything gluten-free, but that's another story. lol!

I specifically named those muffins because I have great recipes and they both hold for days *extremely* well! If you need recipes LMK. Everything I've listed could be presented beautifully. I'd also emphasize the table settings for that elegant look you want... I'd use tablecloths, maybe use clear glass serving pieces and white paper doilies, fresh flowers, etc., or might decorate according to the wedding theme!

It sounds like fun!!! wish I could do one. :p

PS: yes, congratulations, chi83! My niece is getting married next month but she doesn't want any parties, showers, or anything fancy for her wedding. :(

This post was edited by party_music50 on Sun, Jul 6, 14 at 17:11

I also have a recipe for an overnight crockpot called Christmas morning....it's a no fuss mix everything (takes about 10 hours on low) served right out of the crock pot so still warm. and one less thing to do the day of the wedding.....at dd2's they had a waffle iron (one of those flip kind) but it only does one at a time and one person on duty to make....i'm for all easy and premade...be sure to take advantage of the local Costco, and sam's for sweets...my dd didn't want a traditional wedding cake so got a Costco sheet cake with pretty white frosting...a full sheet would serve your 30 guests.....forgot! they also had a hotplate and on order eggs....again a fulltime person....

I make an Eggs Benedict casserole that is quite tasty.
Can put it together the night before as I have.

Love to have your recipes, gals. We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with a catered party but will have a brunch for out of towners and close friends the day after. Anything that could be made ahead would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

These are delicious! I bought these at Sam's for a graduation open house and they went fast!

They are Nancy's brand and at Sam's can buy a box with 48 in them for around 7 or 8 bucks.

You have to cook them, and are great warm or at room temperature.

{{!gwi}}

Another vote for eggs Benedict.