a simple DIY virtual brunch

Outdoor DIY Bart Cart Styling

First, choose a spot to display your brunch goodies. I chose this little bart cart underneath my patio pergola.

DIY Floral Arrangements

Using various vases and shrubs from my backyard, I created a few simple floral arrangements to dress up the bar cart.

DIY Statement Piece

I used a big lantern and filled it with two larger vases that held longer bush clippings.

DIY Statement Piece

I tried to fill the vases as full as I could. This took about 10 branch clippings.

Baked Goods and Pastries

By Devyn Hingle

Owner of Maple Place Bakery

Cut Out Sugar Cookies:

Use your go-to sugar cookie and icing recipes! You could even use store-bought if you wanted to!

French Silk Tartlets:

I tried out Joanna Gaines recipe for French Silk Pie, and made it into tartlets! This recipe was easy to follow, used basic ingredients and turned out so yummy!!

https://www.onecountry.com/lifestyle/people/chip-and-joanna-gaines/joanna-gaines-french-silk-pie-recipe/

Italian Easter Bread:

When I think of Easter, I always think brunch, so I knew I wanted to make some sort of bread. If you’re looking for a new recipe to try while you’re stuck in the house, I highly encourage you to try a bread recipe! It requires very minimal and cheap ingredients and will make you feel super accomplished. Plus it tastes way better than store-bought.

I tried out Jessica Gavin’s Italian Easter Bread recipe and it did not disappoint! These little sweet bread wreaths turned out so cute!

https://www.jessicagavin.com/italian-easter-bread/#wprm-recipe-container-36898

Finishing Touches

After you have all of your decor in place, pick out serving trays according to the food. Here I used simple stands and baskets for the for items, and little teacup saucers for plates.

Trading Off Supplies

As I mentioned, Maple Place Bakery hand delivered (no-contact) all of the pastries and baked goods to my doorstep.

I put together a little basket of things for her to use as a place setting and decor. I gave her examples of what she could do with the items but ultimately, it was up to her how to decorate her space for our brunch! That was part of the fun.

Speciality Drink

I included ingredients for making a specialty Mimosa. It was just stuff I had on hand at the house. I happened to have 2 tiny champagne bottles. Then I made a home-made juice of raspberry simple syrup, fresh squeeze orange juice, and Elderflower Liqueur. Pour out the juice into the coup glass and top with champagne (or vice versa depending how you are feeling!).

Place Setting Details

The place setting included all things I already own, just used in different ways.

1. Pink place mat.

2. A wicker charger (or even a shallow basket would be cute).

3. I used 2 green napkins, one as a decor piece under the white plate and 1 as an actual napkin.

4. 1 white dessert plate.

5. A napkin ring allowed me to style the green napkin like a budding flower.

6. 1 little coup glass for mimosas (or any cute glassware that you rarely use).

7. A mini flower arrangement just for you! I used some flowers from my garden.

Setup

I originally set everything up outside. I used the bar cart as my “buffet” and I set the patio table with my place setting.

Getting Ready

We both knew what we were in charge of and made sure we both had delivered our things the day before.

The day of the brunch, it was simple to setup. I actually got dressed like I was going out.

We decided on a time and viola!

The Virtual Brunch

The day was calling for rain, so I moved everything inside. I setup my own little place setting on my dining room table with my laptop. I also put the stands of pastries right next to me.

Virtual Brunch Logistics

Set a time that works for whoever is joining in. I setup a Zoom meeting and sent the link to Devyn. She was able to join easily and it worked really well.

Devyn and I did this during our lunch break from 10:30am-11:30am. We mostly just chatted about work, food, and life during COVID19. But I also printed off a Brunch Mad Lib for us to do at the end. We never had an awkward pause and the hour went by quick!

Brunching!

This was so fun to sit down at my own little place setting and enjoy! I felt like I was actually at brunch.

Beat the stay-at-home blues with a neighborhood brunch collaboration. You and your neighbor friends likely have different sets of skills. For instance, my neighbor just happens to be the owner of Maple Place Bakery and creates lovely baked goods. I am an event planner and love to put together events and decor. We combined our different passions and did a no-contact delivery to each other’s front doors! Then we agreed on a mutual date and time, and had a virtual brunch. Hover on the different photos for more details on a desktop computer!

If you would like Stephanie to help you plan a virtual party, get in touch!