8 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Easter Lunch at Home
Entertaining at home needn't be a hard egg to crack. Follow these steps for an Easter lunch everyone can enjoy
Whether it’s your turn to host the family or you’ve decided to invite friends over for a special brunch, making a few simple prepartions can mean the difference between a frantic or a fun get-together. Read on and get ready for a seamless Easter lunch that will leave you just as happy as your guests.
2. Make it intimate
Limiting the guest list to a handful of close friends and family will take a lot of pressure off playing host, not to mention easing the strain on your time and budget. Make a list of who you’d like to invite (including partners and children) while keeping in mind the size of your entertaining area – an expansive deck calls for different space considerations than a small dining room.
Limiting the guest list to a handful of close friends and family will take a lot of pressure off playing host, not to mention easing the strain on your time and budget. Make a list of who you’d like to invite (including partners and children) while keeping in mind the size of your entertaining area – an expansive deck calls for different space considerations than a small dining room.
3. Keep the menu fuss-free
While experimenting with new recipes is a fun idea for not-so-busy occasions, at Easter less is usually best when it comes to menu planning. Stick with what you know and love to cook – your favourite salad, potato bake, corn fritters… Set up a buffet-style table where guests can help themselves, being sure to include plenty of water jugs and other drink options.
While experimenting with new recipes is a fun idea for not-so-busy occasions, at Easter less is usually best when it comes to menu planning. Stick with what you know and love to cook – your favourite salad, potato bake, corn fritters… Set up a buffet-style table where guests can help themselves, being sure to include plenty of water jugs and other drink options.
4. Prepare ahead of time
One of the easiest ways to make hosting as stress-free as possible is to prepare as much as you can a day or two beforehand. This includes food prep (checking for any dietary requirements at least a week ahead), setting the table, folding and laying out napkins and any other cleaning and organising tasks that can be done prior to the day.
Beautiful ways to style your table
One of the easiest ways to make hosting as stress-free as possible is to prepare as much as you can a day or two beforehand. This includes food prep (checking for any dietary requirements at least a week ahead), setting the table, folding and laying out napkins and any other cleaning and organising tasks that can be done prior to the day.
Beautiful ways to style your table
Tip: A platter with cheese, crackers and easy finger food is perfect to start – bring it out and leave on the table when guests start arriving so they can nibble, while you make any final preparations for lunch without worrying about hungry tummies.
5. Choose DIY decorations
While grass bunnies and ceramic eggs look lovely, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on Easter-specific decorations that will only be discarded a few days later. Set a celebratory mood with candles, bunting, string lights, colourful cushions and any other decorations you already have at home.
While grass bunnies and ceramic eggs look lovely, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on Easter-specific decorations that will only be discarded a few days later. Set a celebratory mood with candles, bunting, string lights, colourful cushions and any other decorations you already have at home.
Tip: Empty jars always seem to come in handy and are ideal for recycling in table settings – pick some seasonal blooms and use them as vases, pop a tea light candle inside, or decorate with glitter and twine and use them to store utensils along the table.
6. Set the mood with music
Creating a playlist takes time, but you’ll agree it’s well worth it once your guests have started arriving and you can enjoy greeting them without having to think about music stopping and starting. Keep it age-appropriate and begin with something mellow and relaxing, perhaps saving the dance tunes for later in the afternoon.
Creating a playlist takes time, but you’ll agree it’s well worth it once your guests have started arriving and you can enjoy greeting them without having to think about music stopping and starting. Keep it age-appropriate and begin with something mellow and relaxing, perhaps saving the dance tunes for later in the afternoon.
7. Plan activities for kids
An Easter get-together is likely to involve little ones of all ages, so it’s important to make sure they have something to keep them entertained. Plan an Easter egg hunt where children are given a paper bag to embellish with colourful markers and stickers before collecting their treasure, or hand out hard-boiled eggs to be decorated and used in a basket as a table centrepiece.
Plan the perfect Easter egg hunt
An Easter get-together is likely to involve little ones of all ages, so it’s important to make sure they have something to keep them entertained. Plan an Easter egg hunt where children are given a paper bag to embellish with colourful markers and stickers before collecting their treasure, or hand out hard-boiled eggs to be decorated and used in a basket as a table centrepiece.
Plan the perfect Easter egg hunt
8. Keep things cosy
Bringing out the cushions and blankets might not be top of mind when planning an Easter lunch, but a few soft touches can be very useful if things turn chilly, or if little guests tire and need to take a nap – keep a few on hand just in case.
Tell us
Let us know what entertaining you have in mind for this Easter by sharing your plans in the Comments below.
More
Read more fun seasonal stories
Bringing out the cushions and blankets might not be top of mind when planning an Easter lunch, but a few soft touches can be very useful if things turn chilly, or if little guests tire and need to take a nap – keep a few on hand just in case.
Tell us
Let us know what entertaining you have in mind for this Easter by sharing your plans in the Comments below.
More
Read more fun seasonal stories
The weather can be a little unpredictable this time of year, but if you’re lucky enough to see some blue skies over the Easter break, moving your crew outdoors is a great option. Not only will you get to enjoy the fresh autumn air and have more space to mingle, the clean-up job is bound to be easier, not to mention stain-free.
Bar trolleys: let the good times roll!