Do you need help planning the next get-together for some of your book club friends? Get inspired with these simple tips and ideas for hosting a book club brunch.
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Welcome To Supper Club
Welcome, friends, to our first supper club of 2023! It is hard to believe that this blog series started two years ago during the height of the pandemic. Since we could not gather in person, virtual parties were the next best thing, and so supper club was born.
Each month we welcome a guest host, and I am thrilled that my friend Nicolle at Our Tiny Nest is joining us for our latest party. Nicolle lives in New York with her husband and two sweet boys. On Nicolle’s blog, you will find posts about all things motherhood, with a sprinkling of recipes, home decor, and style tips.
If you have not met her yet, be sure to stop by, say hi, and spend some time touring her beautiful website.
Before I share more about my tablescape, I want to say welcome to each of you. I’m so glad you stopped by! And an extra special welcome to those who have joined me from my friend Michele’s blog, Vintage Home Designs.
I’m Jen. I’m a wife and mom of two who plans events by day and blogs by night. Here at MWLS, I like to write about all the things that make a house a home. From thrifty DIYs to recipes, styling tips, and more. I share a bit of everything.
If you’re not already a member of the MWLS family, I’d love to have you subscribe and join me! You’ll get exclusive emails and updates on all of the latest both here on the blog and on my other social channels.
Simple Ideas For Hosting A Book Club Brunch
This month for supper club, we are sharing tablescape ideas and entertaining tips for hosting a book club brunch.
I will confess that I am not an avid reader. (Unless you count magazines!)
But if you love books and plan on hosting a get-together with your friends soon, these simple ideas will help make your planning easier.
How To Select A Theme For Your Book Club Brunch
When it is time to make plans for your brunch, consider building the theme around your book.
If you are reading a mystery novel set in North Carolina (like Where the Crawdads Sing), serve coastal-inspired dishes and style your table with decor that reflects the location. (This low country boil table setting might provide some great ideas!)
Flipping through a historical fiction book? Serve drinks and foods that were popular at the time, or chose decor that reminds you of your favorite character.
My book club tablescape was not inspired by one book but rather by a small collection of vintage books that I regularly use to decorate around our home.
The book topics and genres vary widely, so I let the colors of the covers guide me.
Instead of a specific theme, I focused on a neutral color palette with shades of blue, black, ivory, and green.
How To Create A Centerpiece With Vintage Books
After I decided on my theme, I got to work creating a centerpiece for my book club brunch.
First, I angeled a rustic wood tray in the center of my dining room table to create a focal point. Then on top of the tray, I added a vintage soup turned DIY planter filled with some faux paperwhites.
Next, I scattered and stacked my vintage books down the center of the table. Not only did the books inspire the colors of my brunch tablescape, but I used them for decor too!
I finished my centerpiece with one of my favorite tablescape staples, candles. To add a bit of ambiance and height I paired some thrifted glass bottles with matte black candlestick holders.
How To Set The Table For Brunch
Hosting a brunch for your book club friends is all about good food, good company, and good conversation.
When it comes to setting the table, it is best to keep it casual.
For each place setting, I started with some galvanized metal chargers. Then, I layered black and white grain sack striped napkins on top of each charger.
Next, I added some black and white stoneware plates that I recently found while out thrifting.
To tie in more with the book club theme, I placed a page from an old book in the center of each plate. I used a lighter to carefully burn the edges of the pages for a more vintage and worn look.
Next to each place setting I added another napkin tied with a piece of twine and adorned with a small paper scroll.
And I finished each place setting with some thrifted silverware and pretty hobnail drinking glasses.
What Food To Serve At Your Book Club Brunch
What is a good brunch menu? Well, the answer to that question likely depends on who you ask.
To me, a brunch menu has sweet and savory options that are a mix of both classic breakfast and lunch dishes.
Some of my favorites include blueberry sour cream coffee cake, Belgian waffles, omelets, quiche, and casseroles like bacon and egg potato bake or cheesy hashbrown casserole.
If you are looking for even more menu options for your book club brunch, here are a few other ideas.
- Eggs Benedict
- Cinnamon-Sugar Monkey Bread
- French toast
- Breakfast Sausage Crescent Rolls
- Fruit Salad
- Oatmeal
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
- Pastries
Oh, and you can’t forget the drinks!
For brunch, you can offer both non-alcoholic and alcoholic options. Coffee, tea, and juices are all great non-alcoholic options. And for something with a bit more punch to it, try a sparkling white sangria or an apple cider mimosa.
Simple Ideas For Hosting A Book Club Brunch
If you’d like to recreate the look, I’ve linked what I can below for easy shopping. Or, if you have questions about any of the items I used to style my table, leave me a message in the comments.
More Book Club Brunch Inspiration
Thanks for stopping by! I hope this post has given you some tips and ideas for hosting your own book club brunch.
Next, visit my friend Nicolle at Our Tiny Nest to see her tablescape and see all of this month’s party inspiration, linked below.
And if you need ideas for what to serve at your book club gathering, don’t forget to check out our full brunch menu.
Xo,
Tablescape Inspiration For A Book Club Brunch
The Ponds Farmhouse / Bricks n’ Blooms / Vintage Home Designs
Midwest Life and Style / Our Tiny Nest / Simply 2 Moms
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Such a beautiful table, Jen! Those paperwhites in the soup tureen are gorgeous! I am excited to feature your post at Tuesday Turn About. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you, Lynne. I truly appreciate it! Heading over now to check out all of the features.
I’ve always heard of book clubs but have never thought sitting around talking about a book I just read would be all that fun. Why didn’t I think book clubs could be this fun or pretty?! I’m raising my hand to join in now (if ever asked). Your table is fantastic! You have a real gift for tablescapes my friend. Love this. Thank you for sharing it on Farmhouse Friday too. I’m featuring it tomorrow. pinned
Thank you so much, Cindy. I’m not much of a reader myself, but I think the idea of a book club sounds like so much fun. And of course, you would absolutely be welcome!😉 And thank you for sharing my tablescape. I look forward to seeing all of the features and reading your post!
Yeah for book club brunch, Jen! This tablecape is gorgeous. I love the paperwhites and how you added so many fabulous books and book pages to each place setting. It’s all so fun and festive and warm and inviting. Loving, pinning, and will share on Friday. Big hugs, CoCo
Thank you, CoCo. I love how the table came together and the centerpiece took me less than 10 minutes to make. I plan to share a separate DIY post for that soon! And thank you for sharing. It is always so appreciated. I look forward to reading Friday’s post!
What a fun table Jen! Those paperwhites give me hope that Spring is close!
Thank you, Diane. I’m with you on holding out hope for spring. I’m ready for some sunshine and warmer weather!
What a fun idea, Jen, I adore your paperwhites and all of the book details on your table.
I can’t wait to see what you are serving tomorrow.
Thank you, Wendy. I hope you enjoy the menu as well. Each of the recipes looks amazing. I can’t wait to try them all!
Jen I love the paperwhites in your tureen, the books, the candles, the aged book pages…all of it! Pinning!
Just love this pretty tablescape Jen! I’m with you on not being a big reader…I try but I’d really just rather scroll social media when I have downtime to relax. The vintage books are perfect and I love the book page rolled up with the napkins!
Thank you, AnnMarie. Yes, I’m with you too. After a long day, my brain needs a break. I know I should read more, but I’m guilty of preferring to zone out and scroll on social media or turn on a movie.
Ohhh my gossshhh my vintage book loving heart is in love!!! You did such a beautiful job styling your table, Jen!! So smart to use books down the middle as a runner and I love how you incorporated that theme throughout the rest of the table settings. SO pretty with those candlesticks, too!! You are the queen of tablescapes…Pinned!!
Thank you, friend! You always know how to pick me up when I need it. Your kind and encouraging words are so appreciated. Hugs to you!
Your tablescape is so pretty, Jen. I love it. Thanks for the inspiration, my friend.
Thank you so much, Renae. It has been so gloomy here lately. The paperwhites and neutral colors really help to brighten the whole room and remind me that spring is on the way!
Jen,
Your table is just stunning. I had my tureen filled with paper whites as my centerpiece but decided to change it at the last minute. That would have been funny if I’d left it. Love all your ideas.
Haha! Great minds. That would have been too funny. Thank you so much, Rachel.
Jen your table looks amazing! love the paperwhites too!
Thank you, Stacy. I haven’t been brave enough to try real ones yet, but these faux ones are the next best thing.
Jen I love your beautiful neutral setting and those paperwhites are gorgeous! Thank you so much for having me this month! This was so much fun!
Thank you, Nicolle. I’m so happy you could join us! I can’t wait for the menu on Saturday!