Made for Mom: A Retro Kitchen Themed Mother's Day Brunch
It’s almost time to celebrate the special Moms in our lives. Perhaps it is your own mom or just other awesome moms that could use a little pampering! The last few years we’ve skipped the busy restaurant scene and have opted for a Mother’s Day brunch at home.
Setting a special table can make your honored guests feel a little extra special! I’ve got you covered with budget-friendly table decor, a DIY centerpiece, and a DIY that doubles as a place card holder and a little favor for everyone to take home.
Invite
The retro kitchen theme popped into my mind after seeing some sassy postcards with the retro photos of moms. I love these kind of postcards, cocktail napkins, and memes you see popping up every so often online.
I immediately reached out to one of my favorite graphic designers, Jackie of JM Custom Invites, to design some coordinating printables. We’ve worked together on everything from a Game of Thrones party to a Girl Scout Cookie & Wine Pairing, so I had no doubt she could bring this vision to life! We decided on the red, yellow, and an aqua blue color scheme to capture the retro vibe. Aren’t these invites so fun?
Table Setting
Now, onto the table! I usually try to use table linens I already have, but something about the white tablecloth I have just wasn’t working for me. I set out to a favorite thrift store thinking I’d grab one of the old school lace tablecloths, similar to the doilies and linens I used to make a Boho photobooth backdrop last summer, but instead, I discovered a barely used yellow Threshold (Target) brand tablecloth for just $4.99.
The color was perfect! Don’t count out thrift stores for linens. I found brand new Threshold placemats for my St. Patrick’s Day table at Goodwill! Even if they are gently used, a quick washing makes them fresh and clean. But, if that’s not your jam, you can find a similar-colored tablecloth on Amazon.
Next, I pulled out a flour-sack style table runner. This was a Christmas clearance item from Target a few years back and it’s made in appearance in events from a retro themed Bachelorette Party to a Farmer’s Market patio party. I am a big believer in finding clearance items you can use all year round!
Instead of using placemats, I snagged these vintage bamboo trays at a local thrift store. These are a super common item at second-hand stores and vintage shops and they are generally pretty cheap! I got these for $.50 a piece and I think they’ll be great for the deck this summer, too! You can also find similar ones brand new at Pier 1. Bonus, you can take Mom breakfast in bed if she doesn’t want to come to the table!
Next, I used our everyday Crate & Barrel white plates and layered on an aqua and white paper plates. These were just $1 for a pack on a recent Target run. The napkin at each place setting is a $.79 cent Ikea towel!
I also put out a couple of super cute signs from JM Customer Invites. The little sassy sayings crack me up!
Diy Place Card Holders & Party Favors
What You Need
Washi Tape or Painter’s Tape
With a kitchen theme, I thought wooden utensils needed to make an appearance on the table! I bought a set of them for around $5 at Home Goods and used some Folk Art white paint from Michaels to paint the handles white. For your convenience, I’ve linked to these items on Amazon in the supply list above.
Use washi tape or painter’s tape around the handle to get a straight line. Paint one side first, then flip and paint the other side. When partially dry, take the tape off. Letting it dry fully may make it more difficult to get the tape off.
I used name tags from JM Custom Invites and tied them onto the utensils with some red and white baker’s twine. They looked great at each place setting and I’m sending them home with our guests as a little favor!
Diy Centerpiece
While I certainly love fresh flowers, I also have found faux flowers to be a great alternative to creating centerpieces. Plus, I could make it ahead of time and not worry about when the flowers were in bloom. Here’s what you’ll need to make this DIY Mother’s Day centerpiece.
What You Need
Vintage Cake Pan, Bowl, or Pitcher
Floral Foam ($1 at Dollar Tree)
Faux Floral Stems ($1 each at Dollar Tree)
Wire Cutter
Rolling Pin (optional)
With the vintage vibe of the brunch, I was on the hunt for some kind of vintage cake pan or dish to use as the container for the centerpiece. This yellow bundt pan was perfect and I got it at Goodwill. It was $3.99, but I also had a 25% off coupon from donating some items, so it came in pretty darn cheap.
Next, I went to Dollar Tree for my faux floral supplies. I’ve made some great centerpieces with dollar store floral. I’ve used fall foliage, succulents, and roses all in centerpieces for past occasions.
With a circular pan, I opted to buy the floral foam in a circular ring. It fit perfectly in the bundt pan. For the size of this container, I opted to by 8 stems ($8 total) to make sure it was full and had a variety of floral. I stuck with mostly whites and yellows and a little greenery.
The stems will be too long. I recommend using a wire cutter to snip down the stems and you’ll be able to separate bunches to arrange throughout the container. There’s not a perfect science to the arrangement — just keep playing with it and stick your stems into the foam until the container is filled out. You can always add or move things around until you are happy with it.
Because my bundt pan had a hole in the middle, I stuck in a wooden rolling pin to add a little height. If you don’t have one laying round the house, these are also frequently available for a few dollars at thrift shops.
Menu Ideas
Keep things simple with an egg bake or quiche. Here’s a link to one of our favorite egg casseroles. We sub in ham cubes for the sausage! It’s also easy to serve up mimosas and brewed coffee. Pop in a paper straw to your champagne glasses for some added festive fun.
Happy brunching and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mamas out there!
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Whether thrift stores aren’t your jam or you don’t enjoy the hunt for all of the supplies, I know sometimes buying similar items online might be preferred! Here is how you can get this look delivered to your door.
