How to tell guests they're paying for one of the meals

You either pay for everyone or skip it.

Just tell them straight up. DWs are hella expensive and your guests can't expect you to pay for absolutely everything.

Question...why would this be treated differently than an after reception party? The couple isn't necessarily expected to pay for everyone that goes out with them to the bars after the wedding reception; but if you let guest know that you will be going out to brunch the following day - you have to pay for everyone?

You've already paid for the RD & wedding. Everyone says that the dinner/reception is a 'Thank you' for attending the wedding ceremony. What are you thanking people for be buying them brunch, also?

I would just treat the brunch as something separate from the wedding & personally feel that if someone knows it's not hosted & wants to join the couple for a bit - nothing wrong with that.

Again, my opinion is going to be totally unpopular on this topic; but...I still have a right to it/share it : )

@ambrok, the difference I see if the formality in the invitation. An after party usually just announced at the end of the reception or spread via word of mouth. If I receive a formal invitation and/or need to RSVP I assume it is being hosted.

I wouldn't even say you are hosting a brunch ...I mean if you really want to have brunch ...day of or night before you could let guests know where you'll be eating before heading out making it seem more impromptu than planned...

Thank you everyone for your responses. We won't include it on the invitation - that makes sooo much sense! Instead, I'll just let our family spread the word at some point during the weekend.

We did brunch with many out of town guests the morning after our wedding in the hotel restaurant. We paid. It was another way we said "thank you for coming".

Seriously, in the grand scheme of wedding things, breakfast isn't that expensive.

We are having a brunch wedding. It means that some of our guests will be staying the night at the hotel (OOT guests, parents), we are thinking of having dinner at the hotels restaurant later in the evening and it will be a "pay your own way" type of thing. No one is formally invited, so I'm planning on just basically stating "so we are having dinner at X place tonight if anyone would like to join", obviously no one is obligated to go, and it's not a formal thing.

I wouldn't invite people officially since you aren't planning to host it yourself. You can always just share by word of mouth that you'll be eating at such-and-such place and anyone can join you but it's not an official celebration.

I should clarify, we are obviously paying for the brunch and rehearsal dinner, but if anyone wants to hang out longer and have dinner later they're welcome, but they would pay for themselves.

Ashlyn, you're new. Lurk more.

DW's are expensive, and the cost of hosting the reception is indeed on the wedding couple.

You could pull this off in a more informal way. Basically word of mouth. Jim Bob and I will be grabbing a quick bite to eat at the hotel restaurant at 9am feel free to stop by!

I agree with JuJuBee that would be the best way to put it if you really want it to happen. Otherwise skip it

Skip the brunch.

Nope. Don't invite all your guests to the rehearsal dinner (its not necessary and the RD is really a thank you to your BP, not wedding reception #2) and skip the brunch if you're not going to pay for it.

Your wedding is not Woodstock. It's one day of fun and music.

Guess what? DW's are "hella expensive" for the guests too.

If you're not footing the bill, then you aren't hosting the brunch. I would not put this on your invitations.

Could you just do like fruit, pastries, juice, coffee exc instead of a full brunch?

Skip it if you aren't paying. A friend of mine was invited to a brunch and had no idea they were all getting checks at the end. It's just rude

It is not rude to ask them to spend time with you (aside from the reception), and ask them to cover their own cost. I would let them know they are invited to join the bride and groom for a non-obligatory, no-host Sunday brunch, and if they would like to attend they can visit www.(restaurant website).com for the menu and pricing.

I went to my niece's wedding where they did the optional "join us for brunch", and those of us who went, loved spending time with the happy couple. Anyone who might have been offended (of which I am not aware of any) could pound sand if all they want is a free meal, or looking for a non-existent reason to be offended.

Lots of "if you invite then you pay" opinions. However, I have been to countless birthday parties where we meet up at a restaurant and everyone pays their own-wouldn't this be the same concept?