Easter Dinner Party
Planning and hosting an Easter dinner party is an excellent way to honor your friends and family while celebrating the holiday. Easter is the perfect time to plan a formal dinner in the spring, long after the more formal Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are over.
Easter Dinner Planning
Planning is paramount to pulling off a dinner party on Easter Sunday. Most Easter dinners are hosted near the noon hour, leaving fewer hours to prepare than a later evening meal. Therefore, making early preparations keeps things organized and running smoothly on the day of the dinner party.
Menu Planning and Prep
The most important part of a dinner party is the dinner. Unlike other, more casual parties that may feature dancing, multiple games or other festive activities, the meal and the table itself are the main focus at a dinner party.
Party menu ideas for Easter might include:
- Salad and Soup Course: Consider making a light salad with strawberries and spinach as the first course, or serving a light vegetable soup if you live in a cooler climate.
- Side Dishes: Whip up an assortment of side dishes like green bean and tomato toss, scalloped potatoes, and wild rice and mushroom casserole.
- Main Course: For many families, a baked ham with a sweet glaze is the typical fare. Roast leg of lamb is another option for the main course.
- Dessert: Serve desserts that you can make ahead of time, like an Easter cake in the shape of a lamb, bunny or chick. While decorated cookies are great for kids, they are not always the best choice for a dinner party dessert. Consider making a berry tart, tiramisu or crème pie if cakes are not your cup of tea.
Make or prepare as many dishes ahead of time as possible. For example, make any chilled salads a day or two ahead of time, and prep vegetables the day before the dinner party. Desserts can usually be made several days in advance, and this leaves you less to do the day of the party.
Additional Preparations
While the meal is the main focus at a dinner party during Easter, there are still a few additional things that can be planned and prepared ahead of the party. One important thing is the table setting and decorations. Pastels are typical during Easter parties, but gold is a lovely and elegant alternative. Accent the gold with a pastel green for a nice contrast. Choose lilies or tulips for centerpieces, and arrange them in low baskets so that everyone can see the guests on the other side of the table.
In addition to figuring out your menu, tablescape and centerpieces, do the following before your dinner party to make things run smoothly:
- Put up some simple inside and outside Easter decorations; you don't have to have much, but a few round out the entire theme.
- Clean several days before hand, so all you have to do is wipe up before the party.
- Plan a few simple activities for children if they will be attending, such as an Easter egg hunt.
- Plan a seating arrangement and make place cards if you have a large group attending.
The final preparation is to write out an event planning checklist for the dinner party that includes things to do and the times to do them. This way, you have plenty of time to complete the meal, set the table and get yourself ready.
Hosting an Easter Dinner Party
On the day of the Easter dinner party, it is important to fulfill all the duties of a hostess. You need to not only greet your guests and mingle, but make sure there are plenty of drinks available and that the meal is being prepared on time.
To plan a stress-free party, consider having helpers in the kitchen and answering the door. This allows you to be a gracious hostess to your guests without having to worry about running around getting things done. Helpers could be hired servers, caterers or even your teenaged children.
Finally, remember to enjoy yourself during the actual dinner party. By preparing for the party ahead of time, you will be ready for everything to go smoothly during your Easter celebration dinner party.
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