How much does a post-wedding brunch cost?
Only some of your wedding guests stay for a brunch the next morning - mostly out-of-town guests, family, and the wedding party. We estimate how many will come and compare the cost of hosting at home, catering it, or booking a restaurant or hotel buffet, with brunch cocktails and leftover desserts.
Prices updated: · United States (USD) · free, no sign-up
Calculator result
Brunch cost
$3,200
46 of 115 wedding guests
- Brunch guests
- 46 guests
- Per guest
- $70
- Food per guest
- $55
Where the money goes
- Food46 × $55$2,530
- Brunch cocktails46 × $15$690
Food for 46 guests in other formats
| Format | Cost |
|---|---|
| At home | $828 |
| Catered brunch | $1,610 |
| Restaurant brunch | $1,840 |
| Hotel brunch buffet | $2,530 |
- Ask the hotel where your room block is for a brunch package - many waive the private room fee if your guests are staying there.
- A classic post-wedding brunch: coffee, pastries and bagels, an egg dish, fruit, and mimosas. It usually runs 2-3 hours in the late morning, so out-of-town guests can head home afterward.
How we calculate
- We count only the guests who will actually come (40% of your wedding guests by default), not everyone invited.
- Food cost per guest depends on the format and the area. Leftover wedding desserts replace about 10% of the food, but only at home or with your own caterer - restaurants and hotels don’t allow outside food.
- A mimosa or Bloody Mary bar adds $10-25 per guest, about one or two drinks each. Live music is a flat fee.
Cheat sheet: prices and good practice
Brunch prices per guest in 2026
- At home: $12-25
- Catered brunch: $25-45
- Restaurant brunch: $30-55
- Hotel brunch buffet: $40-70
- Mimosa bar: $10-25
Good to know
- Send the brunch details with the wedding invitation or on your wedding website
- Start late morning (10-11 AM) and keep it to 2-3 hours
- Only guests 21 and over get the cocktails - the bartender checks
Questions and answers
How many guests come to a post-wedding brunch?
Usually 30-50% of the wedding guests: out-of-town guests staying at the hotel, close family, and the wedding party. Invite everyone who stays overnight - it is a relaxed send-off, not a second reception.
How much should we budget for a brunch for 46 guests?
About $3,200 for a hotel brunch buffet with mimosas in a mid-size city, or roughly $70 per guest. A brunch at home costs about half of that.
Who pays for the post-wedding brunch?
Traditionally the couple or one set of parents hosts it, and sometimes a relative offers to. Guests don’t bring another gift.
Calculate next
- Venue and catering Per-guest price for adults and kids, the bar, vendor meals, a day-after brunch, and the service charge and tax that turn a $100 menu into about $130.
- Wedding alcohol A ready shopping list - wine, beer, liquor for cocktails and a champagne toast - with a buffer and the cost.
- Wedding budget A full wedding budget in 30 seconds - from catering to wedding bands, with price ranges.
- Guest attendance Realistic attendance by guest group, with a range - how many seats to book and how many meals to plan.
For the party itself
Games every guest plays at once
Couple trivia, awards and a finale on the big screen. Guests join with a QR code on their phones, no app to download.