Easter Hosting Guide

Ideas for how to decorate, what to serve & what to gift

Welcome! You’re At Isabelle’s—home to all things tasteful and tasty.

I’ve always thought Easter has the potential to be one of the most fun holidays. It’s almost like a springtime version of Christmas, just without the pressure of gifts. There’s still a distinct colour palette (red and green vs. pastels), familiar crafts (ornaments and gingerbread houses vs. painted eggs), and rituals (gathering around the tree vs. an egg hunt). The framework is all there, just more relaxed and leaning into the freshness of spring rather than the coziness of winter.

Writing this out is giving me serious FOMO for what I could have planned this year (spoiler: I am not hosting anything). But if you are hosting next weekend, here are a few ideas for how to set the table, what to serve, and some thoughtful hostess gifts to pull it all together.

Colour Palette & the Vibe:

Colour is one of the first things I think about when having people over. It influences not only the decor, but also the food on the table, and without it, I always feel a little lost. A defined palette gives me a set of rules, a clear direction to build from. The default for Easter is, of course, anything and everything pastel. While I do love the whimsy of that, if I were hosting Easter, or even just for spring hosting in general, I would lean into something a little different.

Carrot & Rhubarb Colour Palettes

Seasonal produce is exciting year-round. I love seeing what starts to appear at farmers’ markets, but that shift feels especially exciting in the spring. As much as I love beets, cabbages, and cold storage apples from winter, I find myself counting down the weeks until delicate leafy greens start to arrive, like a kid waiting for summer vacation.

I like to carry that same energy from the menu onto the table. Use creams and greens as the base and anchor, then layer in vibrant pops of colour. My favourite is that stunning pink you see in radishes and rhubarb, or orange if you want to highlight the Easter vegetable, the carrot. When using actual vegetables in the decor, I find less is more, and I always choose ones with their greens still attached, otherwise they can feel a little too supermarket. From there, double down on those colours across the table through linens, candlesticks, flowers, and name cards so everything feels considered and cohesive.

easter tablescape accents

While I’m all for a less conventional palette, I do think an Easter table needs some kind of egg moment. My favourite way to incorporate this is with egg cups, filled with whole or cracked eggs, or even repurposed as miniature vases with a flower frog to hold a stem or two. They strike that balance of whimsical and elegant perfectly. If you don’t have egg cups, a single egg placed on the plate with a bow tied around it is simple, sweet, and effective.

past spring tablescapes

Flowers:

Tulips | Daffodils | Branches | Muscari

Something you may not know about me is that I hate buying cut flowers. I always feel a little sad about how quickly they fade. But when I do buy them, I almost always stick to simple, single-variety arrangements. Partly because I am not the best at arranging flowers, partly because it can be more cost-effective, but mostly because I love how it looks. Effortless and chic.

Because of that simplicity, I like to choose something a little more unusual. The standard tulips and daffodils are nice, but once you start looking into the different varieties, WOW. If you ever feel like going down a rabbit hole of beautiful flowers, Floret Flower on Instagram is one of my favourite accounts to follow, and the flower library on her website is incredible.

These more interesting varieties are not always available at grocery stores, but your local flower shop will likely carry at least double tulips this time of year. If you want something a little more sculptural, flowering branches also make a stunning centrepiece.

What to Serve:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, springtime means brunch in my books, and Easter is no exception. Below, I’ve pulled together some of my favourite recipes, from brunch staples to mains, sides, desserts, and a few drinks to round everything out.

Key produce items:

• Vegetables: Carrots | Radishes | Sugar Snap Peas | Asparagus | Artichokes | Leeks | Spring Onions | Fennel | Baby Gem Lettuce | New Potatoes

• Herbs: Tarragon | Mint | Chives | Dill | Parsley

• Fruits: Rhubarb | Strawberries | Oranges | Lemons | Grapefruit

Brunch

• Carrot Cake Waffles

• Orange Poppy Seed Crepe Suzette

• Ham & Dijon Quiche

• Braided Black Pepper Leek Buns

• Spinach, Coriander, and Goat Cheese Eggs

• Ramp & Egg Toast

Drinks

• Rhubarb and Elderflower Spritz

• Lavender Honey Bees Knees Spritz

Sides & Mains

• Shaved Radish and Spring Pea Salad with Pink Peppercorns and Goat Cheese

• Smashed Cucumbers over Yogurt & Dill

• Steamed and Seared Artichokes with Tarragon Aioli

• Green Beans with Crispy Almonds and Shallots

• Zucchini Miso Black Pepper Pasta

• Lamb Chops with Anchovy Fennel and Garlic Oil

• Pickle Crunch Cutlets

• Buttermilk & Tarragon Brined Chicken Thighs with Olive Gremolata

Dessert

• Morning Glory Loaf Cake

• Rhubarb Strawberries and Cream Cake

• Orange & Earl Grey Loaf

• Fig & Frangipane Bars (can substitute figs for rhubarb batons!)

• Blueberry Coriander & Orange Buttermilk Scones

• Salty Honey Rhubarb Trifle

Hostess Gifts:

If you’re heading to someone else’s Easter gathering, you probably want to show up with a little something. There are plenty of hostess gifts that sound great in theory, but it’s easy to forget who you’re actually shopping for. It can be tempting to choose something you’re excited about, but it’s worth taking a step back and asking whether the host would actually enjoy it. For example, I would personally love to receive a bunch of local farmers’ market asparagus, but a friend who doesn’t love to cook and is hosting a pizza night? Probably not as much.

The bottle of wine:

In my opinion, this will always be a perfect gift. It may be the go-to, but I love receiving a bottle of wine because I don’t wanna buy wine. No need to splurge on anything fancy, but take a little extra time in the shop to find something with a fun or quirky label, bonus points if it reminds you of them. I also like to go a little less conventional, like a Lambrusco or a chilled red, a funky cider bottled like wine, or a non-alcoholic option like Ghia or Non.

Fresh produce:

In the spring especially, fresh local produce can feel like such a luxury. If your host enjoys cooking, a thoughtful selection from the farmers’ market makes a beautiful gift. Think a bunch of local asparagus, French radishes with good butter, rhubarb, or pasture-raised eggs (bonus points if they’re different colours, very Easter). This is definitely a know-your-crowd kind of gift, so it works best for someone who already has an interest in cooking or ingredients. To make it feel more intentional, you could thrift a small basket or pair it with a simple bouquet of tulips. Asking the farmer about the variety or how the season has been can also add a layer of thoughtfulness. I always appreciate knowing a little more about what I’m serving.

Beeswax candles:

We all know a scented candle is the go-to “I don’t know what to get” gift. Scents are very personal, so my preferred route is beeswax tapered candles. I always gravitate toward the classic beeswax colour, but a cream is also a great, safe option that will pretty much guarantee it actually gets used.

That’s all for now! See you next time At Isabelle’s.