Host an Easter Celebration: Tablescape Ideas & Party Tips

Hosting an Easter brunch is celebratory in several ways. For some, after a solemn 40 days of reflection and spiritual renewal, it awakens us to what can be. It allows us to see the beauty around us, as the earth presents its gifts to us.

It is during this time we start to see spring flowers and baby animals. Trees start budding, birdsongs erupt, longer days and warmer weather beckon us. What else can we do but engage with as much enthusiasm as the world is showing us?!

Why not show our appreciation by designing a matching setting, sharing traditions, and maybe initiating some new ones? We hope you find these Easter celebration ideas helpful for this year's festivities!

Tablescape Ideas

1) Tablecloths When there is a special occasion, it is time to use the things you have been saving! Use your fancy tablecloth and matching napkins if you have them. Because it is spring, lighter colors or pastels might be preferable. Think of nature for your color palette. A placemat can also add depth to the setting. A cloth table cover definitely takes it up a notch, BUT is not necessary. Some may prefer the beauty of the natural table. If that is the case, each setting can have a placemat, and a runner can be an option down the middle of the table. During the season you may also find some plastic or paper covers that catch your eye with pleasant designs. It is up to you and the look you want to achieve.

2) Napkins and Utensils This is the time to utilize the cute ideas you see on Pinterest. Get heavy duty colored plasticware. One option is to get all lime green utensils and stack one set on top of each other with the fork prongs showing prominently. Wrap them in orange napkins, and tie loosely with green curling ribbon. The effect looks like "carrots." Another option is to get green napkins, and colored plasticware (i.e. pink, purple, yellow, red). Stack the plasticware so that the spoon is in the front. Place in napkin and then tie with green curling ribbon or small strips of tulle. These look like tulips!

If you are using cloth napkins, dress them up with a flowery napkin ring, or loosely tie with ribbon. You may even want to try your skill at folding the napkins into something ornate.

3) Centerpieces A stunning but simple design is small clear vases or perfume bottles with colored water in each. You can opt to use one color or a rainbow of colors. Cut fresh floral stems just a little longer than the vase, and place one in each vase. You can also use colored glass bud vases if tinted water sounds like an accident waiting to happen! Whatever you choose, the effect will be appreciated.

Another option is to lay flowering branches that you may have from your yard, down the middle of your table. Placing painted eggs, miniature birds nests, or other Easter reminders among the branches adds interest to the display. Nature is beauty in itself, but if you want to dress it up more, think ribbons weaving in and out of the branches, or tying tiny bows intermittently throughout.

Cherry on Top idea: With the items you have on the table, have a mini scavenger hunt! Write down clues like, "how many bird nests?" or "how many blue foil eggs?" etc...

Games

1) Egg Hunt or Scavenger Huny Egg hunts are somewhat easier than a scavenger hunt, as the players search for plastic eggs filled with candy. Oftentimes the eggs are not hidden and are in plain view. This is great for any age group. As children get older, sometimes finding an egg with cash in it is an egg-citing surprise! If you have different ages, you can elect to have certain colors for each age group. This way the littlest ones get the thrill

of finding eggs, too.

A scavenger hunt often takes a little more planning, but is always worth the effort! It is fun to see kids talking over the clues to decide where to go next. Give yourself time to write clues beforehand. Sometimes rhyming clues make it feel more official and it gives you, the clue maker, a place to start! You can hide each clue in an egg, or it can be on colorful pieces of paper in egg or Easter shapes, that they will see with ease. Clearly label each clue that is found. (i.e. CLUE #2, etc.) You can have some "prizes" along the way for encouragement to continue! At the end of the scavenger hunt, there has to be a grand finale. It can be anything you want it to be, but make it exciting to look at or dig through.

2) Guess How Many This is an easy game for any party. Why not put pastel M&M's in a jar and have guests guess how many? Or you can even try this with marshmallow Peeps for a change.

3) Egg Match For this game, take apart plastic eggs, and put all pieces in an Easter basket. Set a timer for

30-60 seconds and have each person take a turn to see how many eggs they can put together in the allotted time.

4) Spring Categories This game can be played a couple of ways. You can write S-P-R-I-N-G across the top of piece of paper. Then down the left side make 4 or 5 categories to do with spring. (i.e. Easter egg color, a flower, etc). People can take turns calling out an answer to the corresponding category and letter. If people are feeling competitive, each can have their own paper and see who can fill in the most answers.

Traditions

One of my favorite traditions that we did while growing up, was reciting the poem, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," by William Wordsworth. This was something our Mother requested of us, and we all took turns reading sections of it. It always made my mom happy, as we passed her poetry book around and looked at either blooming daffodils or a silk flower arrangement. It didn't matter who you were, if you happened to be visiting when it was time to read, you had to take part. And you might have been honored by being asked to read a line or two.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

by William Wordsworth

"I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle in the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

in such a jocund company:

I gazed-- and gazed-- but little thought

What wealth to me the show had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

We hope you enjoy these fun ideas to help host your Easter celebration this year! Share some of your favorite Easter traditions with us and tell us how you're adding the Cherry on Top to your celebration, too!