How to host the perfect bagel bar for brunch
I was recently inspired to host an impromptu bridal brunch for a close friend of mine. She had already had her official bridal shower—you know, the one with the games, opening presents, and official platters—back in her hometown. So this didn’t need to be plated dinners and floral arrangements, but I did want something that would give her a place to be celebrated by the people in the city where her and her fiance now live. The question at hand then was to host an event that was the perfect balance between beautiful but not over-the-top, relaxed but still intentional. The answer…brunch!
Obviously brunch can be as high-end as you wanted it to be, but I was looking for something that wouldn’t drain the budget but give a variety of options. I finally landed on putting together a bagel bar. There are a couple of things that I found helpful so pick and choose what is helpful to you and invite your girls over for some bagels!
What You Need for a Bagel Bar
The Food
1. Bagels
Okay, I know this one seems obvious. But finding the right variety of bagels and quality can make or break the rest of your spread (no pun intended). I ended up going with the Trader Joe’s bagels because they hit the mark for variety and quality without breaking the budget—I went with their regular, everything, mini, and gluten free bagels! Finding a quality gluten free bagel was the cherry on top because the bride I was hosting this for is gluten free!
2. Spreads
Bagel Bar Essentials
As a cream cheese fanatic, I was particularly excited about the excuse to try a smorgasbord of spreads. For these, I went to Target and got the Target brand plain, chive and onion, and strawberry cream cheese spreads. I deviated from my Target-brand-loyalty for a moment however to indulge in the Philadelphia Spicy Jalapeño cream cheese—spoiler: this was a hit!
3. Toppings
I would say what differentiates a Bagel Bar from being a lazy excuse for serving breakfast and instead the perfect party spread are the toppings. Instead of a morning snack, toppings ensure you give your guests a full breakfast. Plus…this adds a lot of color to your tablescape! Here are my budget- and time-friendly finds:
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Boiled eggs (yes, I got the pre-boiled ones)
Bacon bits (no, I did not want to cook bacon)
While it doesn’t seem like a lot, between the various spreads and toppings, this led to a lot of possible combinations and kept people coming back for more.
Pro-tip: The bacon bits & jalapeño cream cheese combo is addicting.
4. Options for the bagel-haters
I know what you’re thinking…isn’t this supposed to be all about bagels? Well, yes, but hosting is also about making sure each of your guests feels welcomed and seen. That being said, a bagel isn’t for everyone! So for those guests, I made sure to provide a variety of easy, grab-and-go breakfast pastries to make sure they didn’t miss out on the fun! Here is what I went with:
Sprout’s cinnamon rolls (yeah, these are dangerous)
Fruit tray complete with apples, grapes, strawberries, and oranges
The Decor
Here is where I had all the fun! Some of these things I bought, some I borrowed, some I already had, but everything was well within budget and definitely something I will be using again.
Bagel Bar Decor
1. Tablecloth
This Tablecloth from Amazon is so high quality and so cute! I love how neutral it is while adding a little bit of whimsy and character.
2. Bagel Stands
These bagel stands were key both aesthetically and practically! I didn’t have a whole lot of room (I am hosting in an apartment after all) so I needed to save space on the tables so these bagel stands were perfect for stacking the bagels instead of having to spread them out. Not only this, but it added height and variety to the table spread.
3. Various platters
Instead of using the same platters, I went with a more eclectic selection of platters. This deviled egg platter from Anthropologie is one of my favorite pieces I have for hosting and I pull it out whenever I have the slightest excuse to! I also used two of these Rifle Paper Co. plates from their Fourth of July collection to keep the gingham theme strong!
4. Food labels
Food labels were another choice that achieved both aesthetic and practical goals. It was necessary for me to label the gluten free options to avoid any mix-ups and it also added an intentional, personalized touch as I hand wrote each label on some watercolor paper. After handwriting them, I placed them in these gorgeous little table card holders from Amazon.
5. Cake stand
Utilizing a cake stand for the gluten free options was a great, aesthetic way to make an important distinction while also adding some mid-level height to the table. I couldn’t find the exact cake stand, but here is a similar one with great reviews!
Hosting Tips for a Stress-Free Brunch
As I said earlier, brunch has the potential to get as high-effort or low-effort as you want it to be! When hosting, it is important to me to make sure that every element serves its purpose without placing extra stress on me. A stressed out host results in your guests feeling tension, the event feeling rushed, and you missing out on what it’s all about! I have hinted at a couple of these, but here are my tips for hosting a stress-free brunch:
Use what you have! Before I jump to planning or pinteresting, I take inventory of what I already own to confine my dreaming. The temptation can be to jump to pinterest and get an image stuck in your head of how you want something to look. This can lead you to purchasing things you don’t need in an attempt to achieve that vision. Let what you already have guide what you envision so that you don’t stress out your budget or (in my case) your husband.
Borrow what you don’t! Once you have taken inventory of what you have, take inventory of what people around you have! For this Bridal Brunch, people were more than happy to rally around me to let me borrow serving items and decor. Not only this, but also their time. I had so many people more than willing to come early or stay late to help with setting-up and cleaning-up. This not only made hosting easier, but also more fun to do it with friends!
Buy what you need! Now that you have exhausted your personal inventory and the inventory of those around you…now start considering what you need to buy. I only like to buy things that have the potential to be re-used for future hosting endeavors. Please don’t buy that niche item that is in one Pinterest inspo pic that serves one purpose. No one but you will notice if it isn’t there and it will waste money and space in the end.
I hope this helps you get excited and to feel more at ease when it comes to embarking on your Bagel Bar adventure! Remember that hosting is an opportunity to be both intentional and invitational so find the ways you can do both.
