These traditional celebrations offer terrific restaurant opportunities to pack the house and enhance your brand with creative promotions and hospitality. By organising a range of special menus, themed events, and unique experiences, your Mother’s Day restaurant marketing can reach a wider range of families and their friends.
Mother’s Day is always one of the biggest days in a restaurant’s calendar- now, let’s make it more impactful across multiple days, and increase the average customer spend.
In Australia, New Zealand and USA, Mother’s Day is on Sunday 11th May 2025, and in the UK on Sunday 30 March 2025.
Key Areas to Consider for Mother’s Day Restaurant Marketing
Special Menus: Create unique, themed menus for Mother’s Day. Include dishes that appeal to families and have a touch of style or elegance.
Pre-booking Incentives: Offer discounts or special packages for those who book in advance. This helps with your planning and ensures customers commit early.
Family-friendly Promotions: Highlight family options with child-friendly dishes and consider offering free meals for mothers or children.
Gift Packages: Promote gift cards, vouchers, and special packages that can be bought as gifts for mums. These can be promoted with the bookings and even for people who won’t be dining with you – a separate opportunity. We’ve seen promotions for Mother’s Day Gift Cards sent out the evening before the big day – it’s too late for table bookings but never too late for e-commerce sales! Promote a special Mother’s Day Gift Guide, that could include: – Vouchers/Gift Cards of different values – Event tickets to your next special dinner or entertainment – Merchandise – your t-shirts, caps, mugs etc – Wine or cocktail mix – bottles or delivery – Gift pack of cookies or brownies – Gift box or basket of mother-related items – Catering pack for lunch at home or later
Decor and Ambience: Decorate the restaurant with flowers and a soft colour scheme to create a welcoming and festive atmosphere.
Social Media Campaigns: Promote your events on social media. Run contests, share behind-the-scenes content, and encourage customers to post their experiences.
Email Marketing: Send out newsletters with special offers and reminders about booking for Mother’s Day. Personalise these emails for a better response.
Collaborations: Partner with local florists, boutiques, or other businesses to offer combined deals. This can make your restaurant more attractive to customers looking for a full experience.
Gently Play on the Guilt Factor: For kids or partners who haven’t acknowledged or seen their mother as often as they should or want to compensate for something in the past… a splendid lunch or a Mother’s Day gift may make them feel better. Hey, it’s all sales!
What Are the Marketing Differences Between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day?
1. Audience Targeting: Mother’s Day: focus on appealing to families and individuals who want to treat their mums. Highlight the sentimental and nurturing aspects of the event. Use soft, warm tones and imagery in your promotions, such as flowers, family gatherings, and heartfelt messages. Father’s Day promotions often focus on fun and experiences.
2. Tone and Messaging: Mother’s Day: emphasise themes of appreciation, love, and pampering. Messages should be heartfelt and emotive. Use slogans like ‘Celebrate Mum’ or ‘Show Mum You Care.’
3. Promotions and Offers: Mother’s Day: Offer elegant brunches, high teas, and special dinner menus. Include options for spa packages or flower arrangements. Create offers such as ‘Mum Eats Free’ or ‘Complimentary Dessert for Mums.’
4. Social Media Campaigns: Mother’s Day: use platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to share visually appealing content, such as beautifully plated dishes and family gatherings.
Encourage customers to share photos of their Mother’s Day experiences with hashtags like #MothersDayAt[YourRestaurant].
5. Email Marketing: Mother’s Day: send personalised emails with a warm, appreciative tone. Include offers and reminders to book early. Use subject lines like ‘Treat Mum to a Special Day’ or ‘Celebrate Mum with Us.’
6. Collaborations Mother’s Day: partner with florists, spas, and boutiques to create packages that offer a full day of pampering for mums. Offer combined deals like ‘Dinner and Spa Package’ or ‘Brunch and Flowers.’
By tailoring your marketing strategies to the unique characteristics and preferences of mothers and grandmothers, you can effectively engage your target audience and boost your restaurant’s appeal.
Extra Ideas for Mother’s Day Restaurant Offers
Mother’s Day Gift Bags: Offer complimentary gift bags with small items like chocolates, mini perfumes, or discount vouchers for future visits.
Photo Booth: Set up a photo booth with Mother’s Day-themed props. Encourage families to take pictures and share them on social media. Or arrange for a photographer to take family photos that can be taken home as a memento.
Special Desserts: Create unique, limited-time desserts for Mother’s Day, like flower-shaped cakes or heart-themed pastries. Red fruits work well – strawberries, raspberries and cherries.
Mother’s Day Brunch: Host a special brunch with live music or a harpist to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Recipe Sharing: Share the recipes of your popular dishes served during Mother’s Day on social media or your website.
Charity Tie-ins: Partner with a local charity supporting mothers and donate a percentage of the Mother’s Day sales.
Extended Hours: Extend your opening hours on the weekend to accommodate more bookings and walk-ins – breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and even late supper, in addition to lunch and dinner.
Wine Pairing Dinner: Host a wine pairing dinner with a sommelier to guide the experience, which is ideal for mums who appreciate fine dining.
Breakfast in Bed Kits: Provide takeaway kits with all the ingredients for a perfect Mother’s Day breakfast.
Partner with Local Boutiques: Collaborate with local shops to offer exclusive discounts or gifts with a purchase.
Mother’s Day Cards: Provide complimentary cards for children to write personal messages to their mums.
Social Media Shoutouts: Encourage customers to share their Mother’s Day experiences at your restaurant on social media, offering a chance to win a free meal.
Seasonal Flower Arrangements: Each table should include a beautiful seasonal flower arrangement that guests can take home.
Mother’s Day Stories: Invite customers to share their favourite memories or stories about their mums on social media. Highlight the best stories on your restaurant’s social media pages.
Mother’s Day Quiz Night: Host a fun quiz night with questions about famous mums, TV shows, and movies focusing on mothers. Offer prizes for the winning teams. This could be earlier in the week.
Charity Partnerships: Partner with a charity supporting women or mothers and donate a portion of the proceeds from Mother’s Day sales.
Mother’s Day Spa Package: Collaborate with local spas to offer a combined dining and spa package, providing a complete pampering experience.
Mother’s Day Cocktails: Create a special cocktail menu with drinks named after famous mothers or with ingredients mums love.
Live Art Performances: Hire a local artist to paint or draw live portraits of mothers and their families while they dine.
Encourage Bookings and Restaurant Visits Beyond Just One Day…
1. Pre-event Promotions: Early Bird Discounts are available for bookings made in the week before Mother’s Day, especially the day before. This can encourage families to celebrate earlier and avoid the rush. Week-long Specials: Create a special Mother’s Day menu that is available throughout the week. Highlight different specials each day to attract repeat visits.
2. Themed Events: Host a mother-daughter (or mother-son) afternoon tea earlier in the week. This could be a smaller, more intimate gathering that adds a special touch.
3. Extended Celebrations: Promote special brunch menus on Saturday and Sunday. Include free-flowing beverages or special brunch cocktails. Family Packages: Offer packages that include meals, drinks, and perhaps a small gift for mum, valid all through the weekend.
4. Loyalty Programs and Gift Cards: Offer discount vouchers for a future visit when customers dine with you during Mother’s Day week. Gift Card Bonuses: Offer bonuses on gift card purchases, such as ‘Buy a $100 gift card, get an extra $20 free,’ which can be used after Mother’s Day, or even by the purchaser and not the recipient.
5. Collaborations and Partnerships: Partner with local florists, spas, and boutiques to offer combined deals or packages throughout the week. This not only adds value but also promotes your restaurant through their channels.
6. On Mother’s Day, take bookings for Father’s Day! It’s a few months away, and if you know people enjoyed the event, there’s every reason why they will at least make a tentative booking for Father’s Day.
It’s Important Not to Look Patronising or Out of Touch
For Mothers: Avoid typecasting mothers only as caregivers or homemakers; recognise their diverse roles and professional achievements.
Avoid Gender Assumptions: Use terms like ‘parent’ to include all family dynamics and structures. Make sure the messages are genuine and not overly sentimental or overly humorous to the point of being trivial. Include imagery and messages showing fathers and mothers in affectionate and caring roles equally – both can enjoy a variety of activities and gifts. Also, be mindful of those who may find these holidays difficult, such as people who have lost parents, can’t see their kids, or have strained relationships. Some of your team may also have a difficult relationship with their parents.
These traditional celebrations offer terrific restaurant opportunities to pack the house and enhance your brand with creative promotions and hospitality. By organising a range of special menus, themed events, and unique experiences, your Mother’s Day restaurant marketing can reach a wider range of families and their friends.
Mother’s Day is always one of the biggest days in a restaurant’s calendar- now, let’s make it more impactful across multiple days, and increase the average customer spend.
In Australia, New Zealand and USA, Mother’s Day is on Sunday 11th May 2025, and in the UK on Sunday 30 March 2025.
Key Areas to Consider for Mother’s Day Restaurant Marketing
Special Menus: Create unique, themed menus for Mother’s Day. Include dishes that appeal to families and have a touch of style or elegance.
Pre-booking Incentives: Offer discounts or special packages for those who book in advance. This helps with your planning and ensures customers commit early.
Family-friendly Promotions: Highlight family options with child-friendly dishes and consider offering free meals for mothers or children.
Gift Packages: Promote gift cards, vouchers, and special packages that can be bought as gifts for mums. These can be promoted with the bookings and even for people who won’t be dining with you – a separate opportunity. We’ve seen promotions for Mother’s Day Gift Cards sent out the evening before the big day – it’s too late for table bookings but never too late for e-commerce sales! Promote a special Mother’s Day Gift Guide, that could include:
– Vouchers/Gift Cards of different values
– Event tickets to your next special dinner or entertainment
– Merchandise – your t-shirts, caps, mugs etc
– Wine or cocktail mix – bottles or delivery
– Gift pack of cookies or brownies
– Gift box or basket of mother-related items
– Catering pack for lunch at home or later
Decor and Ambience: Decorate the restaurant with flowers and a soft colour scheme to create a welcoming and festive atmosphere.
Social Media Campaigns: Promote your events on social media. Run contests, share behind-the-scenes content, and encourage customers to post their experiences.
Email Marketing: Send out newsletters with special offers and reminders about booking for Mother’s Day. Personalise these emails for a better response.
Collaborations: Partner with local florists, boutiques, or other businesses to offer combined deals. This can make your restaurant more attractive to customers looking for a full experience.
Gently Play on the Guilt Factor: For kids or partners who haven’t acknowledged or seen their mother as often as they should or want to compensate for something in the past… a splendid lunch or a Mother’s Day gift may make them feel better. Hey, it’s all sales!
What Are the Marketing Differences Between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day?
1. Audience Targeting:
Mother’s Day: focus on appealing to families and individuals who want to treat their mums. Highlight the sentimental and nurturing aspects of the event. Use soft, warm tones and imagery in your promotions, such as flowers, family gatherings, and heartfelt messages. Father’s Day promotions often focus on fun and experiences.
2. Tone and Messaging:
Mother’s Day: emphasise themes of appreciation, love, and pampering. Messages should be heartfelt and emotive. Use slogans like ‘Celebrate Mum’ or ‘Show Mum You Care.’
3. Promotions and Offers:
Mother’s Day: Offer elegant brunches, high teas, and special dinner menus. Include options for spa packages or flower arrangements. Create offers such as ‘Mum Eats Free’ or ‘Complimentary Dessert for Mums.’
4. Social Media Campaigns:
Mother’s Day: use platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to share visually appealing content, such as beautifully plated dishes and family gatherings. Encourage customers to share photos of their Mother’s Day experiences with hashtags like #MothersDayAt[YourRestaurant].
5. Email Marketing:
Mother’s Day: send personalised emails with a warm, appreciative tone. Include offers and reminders to book early. Use subject lines like ‘Treat Mum to a Special Day’ or ‘Celebrate Mum with Us.’
6. Collaborations
Mother’s Day: partner with florists, spas, and boutiques to create packages that offer a full day of pampering for mums. Offer combined deals like ‘Dinner and Spa Package’ or ‘Brunch and Flowers.’
By tailoring your marketing strategies to the unique characteristics and preferences of mothers and grandmothers, you can effectively engage your target audience and boost your restaurant’s appeal.
Extra Ideas for Mother’s Day Restaurant Offers
Encourage Bookings and Restaurant Visits Beyond Just One Day…
1. Pre-event Promotions: Early Bird Discounts are available for bookings made in the week before Mother’s Day, especially the day before. This can encourage families to celebrate earlier and avoid the rush.
Week-long Specials: Create a special Mother’s Day menu that is available throughout the week. Highlight different specials each day to attract repeat visits.
2. Themed Events: Host a mother-daughter (or mother-son) afternoon tea earlier in the week. This could be a smaller, more intimate gathering that adds a special touch.
3. Extended Celebrations: Promote special brunch menus on Saturday and Sunday. Include free-flowing beverages or special brunch cocktails.
Family Packages: Offer packages that include meals, drinks, and perhaps a small gift for mum, valid all through the weekend.
4. Loyalty Programs and Gift Cards: Offer discount vouchers for a future visit when customers dine with you during Mother’s Day week.
Gift Card Bonuses: Offer bonuses on gift card purchases, such as ‘Buy a $100 gift card, get an extra $20 free,’ which can be used after Mother’s Day, or even by the purchaser and not the recipient.
5. Collaborations and Partnerships: Partner with local florists, spas, and boutiques to offer combined deals or packages throughout the week. This not only adds value but also promotes your restaurant through their channels.
6. On Mother’s Day, take bookings for Father’s Day! It’s a few months away, and if you know people enjoyed the event, there’s every reason why they will at least make a tentative booking for Father’s Day.
It’s Important Not to Look Patronising or Out of Touch
For Mothers: Avoid typecasting mothers only as caregivers or homemakers; recognise their diverse roles and professional achievements.
Avoid Gender Assumptions: Use terms like ‘parent’ to include all family dynamics and structures. Make sure the messages are genuine and not overly sentimental or overly humorous to the point of being trivial. Include imagery and messages showing fathers and mothers in affectionate and caring roles equally – both can enjoy a variety of activities and gifts. Also, be mindful of those who may find these holidays difficult, such as people who have lost parents, can’t see their kids, or have strained relationships. Some of your team may also have a difficult relationship with their parents.
See also: Fresh Ideas for Father’s Day Restaurant Marketing
12 Months of Restaurant Promotions and Special Events
Check the other useful blog posts on the Foodie Coaches website…
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