It’s never too early to start planning your Easter celebration and all that “en-tails.” With a few of Ashley’s tips on how to host the perfect Easter, you’ll be on your way to creating your own magical traditions (and ridding yourself of lackluster holidays ruts.) Guests will think you’re a magician when your Easter ideas come to fruition. And bonus: Peter Rabbit will be so proud!

Easter Party Ideas

You’ll definitely want to plan a delicious array of sweet and savory Easter delights, but for an unbeatable Easter Day, be sure to plan some Easter activities and unique table decor as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Easter Table Decor and Centerpieces

Flowers are a hallmark of the most beautiful Easter decorations and table decor. With the advent of spring, there are lots to choose from in a variety of colors. Tulips, of course, are always a favorite and an icon for Easter and spring. Try these ideas to add both color and Easter pizazz to your table.

  1. Keep it simple – A clear, round vase or egg-shaped container with flowers offering a burst of spring colors will brighten any table without obstructing guests’ face-to-face conversations. Try a mix of daffodils, purple and white tulips, and purple fleur-de-lis. For larger tables or buffet-style dining, try making several and placing them throughout the dining area.
  2. Easter basket centerpieces – Buy extra or break out all those Easter baskets you’ve collected over the years and fill them with plastic or decorative Easter eggs. Place long-stem roses of various heights using the eggs as an anchor. You now have a gorgeous and sentimental creation!
  3. Mason jar bunnies – Buy some short mason jars and paint the exterior with white chalk paint. Use a paint marker to add the bunny’s nose and whiskers, then add two googly eyes. Once the paint dries, fill them with almonds and place them around your table and entertaining area for guests to enjoy.
  4. Hobnail Milk Glass from Dollar Tree – For an easy DIY, Dollar Tree offers beautiful hobnail milk glass containers that are perfect for Easter centerpieces. Add some Easter grass and a few colorful eggs to create some serious festive flair.

How to Decorate Outside for Easter

Indoor Easter dining can be elegant, but outdoor dining is where all the fun can be found. Ashley offers a beautiful selection of spring table decor with style and colors that will make your table sparkle! And, when the kids are out hunting Easter eggs, it can be a great time for adults to have a glass of something refreshing and sit outside on beautiful and comfy outdoor furniture sets and chairs from Ashley. From sectionals to single chairs, we have it all. You can also choose from outdoor dining sets that have the perfect spring feel for Easter entertaining.

Fun Easter Activities

Whether you’re entertaining adults or a mix of different ages, you’ll want to plan some activities to make your event memorable. Easter egg hunts are a family favorite, and a tradition passed down through generations. But here are a few others you can incorporate to keep your Easter festivities fresh:

  1. Play Pin the Egg on the Rabbit – Just like the donkey version, only “Easterfied,” this game will let the younger ones burn off a little Easter basket energy. Plus, the grownups are sure to get a few laughs as well. Look for kits online.
  2. Egg and spoon race – A traditional favorite, except this version uses Easter-colored wooden spoons and Easter eggs. Be ready with some cool prizes for the winner.
  3. Easter balloon race – Another great game for letting the kids burn off some energy. Everyone gets an inflated balloon (we’ll call it an egg for Easter purposes). The “egg” balloon is held gently between the knees, and the first one to the finish line with a still-inflated balloon wins.

Easter Party Food Ideas

Before you set the table or plan the activities, you’ll want to get the menu set and collect all the Easter recipes you’ll need to create your Easter Extravaganza. Whether traditional or more eclectic fare is on the menu, here are a few recipes to get the Easter ideas rolling.

Copycat Honey Baked Ham recipe – Dishes can vary depending on the area of the United States you’re living in, but you can’t go wrong with a traditional Easter ham. The ham was originally chosen because it was easier to source than lamb or beef.

  1. Combine butter, brown sugar, honey, and all the delicious spices in a saucepan.
  2. Bring the whole thing to a boil, just until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Using a basting brush, spread most of the decadent sauce all over the ham, making sure to brush inside each slice.
  4. Then, baste the ham once more about halfway through the baking time.
  5. Finally, broil the top of the ham in the oven at the end so that the sauce caramelizes and bubbles. It’s SO delicious!

Homemade Dinner Rolls – These are always a favorite, and any Easter table would look incomplete without them!

  1. First, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Then in a large bowl or mixing bowl, combine scalded milk, softened butter, sugar, salt, and egg. Stir to combine, and add your yeast mixture.
  2. Add all-purpose flour — bread flour will work as well — and a half cup of flour at a time and mix at medium speed.
  3. Let the dough rise.
  4. Use a bench scraper or dough knife to cut smaller pieces and form them into rolls on a lightly floured surface. Grease a 9×13 baking pan, place rolls in rows, let them rise again whilcovered with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray or a clean kitchen towel.
  5. Bake, butter, and serve!

Creamy Coconut Cake – This moist and delicious cake is perfect for after the Easter meal or after the Easter egg hunt. Add a few Peeps for color, and you’ve got an Easter classic.

  1. Prepare white cake mix according to package directions. Bake in a 9×13-inch pan. Cool completely.
  2. In a small bowl, combine cream of coconut and condensed milk.
  3. Poke holes in the cake with a straw. Pour the milk mixture over the cake and spread it with whipped topping. Sprinkle coconut over the cake.
  4. Serve chilled.

A Guide for Setting the Table for Easter

When it’s time to set the table for Easter, you can choose a more casual layout or a more elegant and traditional place setting. It all depends on the style of Easter meal you’re preparing. For more casual settings, a few simple utensils and napkins will do. But for a more traditional place setting, here are some tips for setting it correctly so that Aunt Marge doesn’t call you out on your placement of the salad fork.

As a general rule of thumb, here is the placement for a traditional Easter place settings:

  • Center placemat on the dining table in front of each chair
  • Place the dinner plate in the center and the salad plate on top of that
  • Lay napkins on top of salad plates OR fold and place them to the left of the plates under the forks.
  • The place card can go either in the salad plate or to the left of the setting just above the plates and to the right of the entrée fork
  • Place the flatware as follows: far left, small salad fork; inner left, entrée fork; far right, spoon; inner right, knife.
  • Place glasses above the place settings, just between the top of the dinner plate and to the left of the knife

An Easter to Remember

Once you go through these steps, you’re free to set your imagination free and create your own traditions that can be passed from generation to generation. Make it an Easter to truly remember with furniture and decor from Ashley. We promise our showrooms are much easier to find than Easter eggs!