Spring has finally sprung, which means one of our favorite holidays is just around the corner: Easter! Time spent with loved ones, roomfuls of fresh flowers, and pastel everything make Easter easy to love. (The chocolate bunnies don’t hurt, either!) To help you prepare for one of the biggest days of the season, our fabulously-talented friend from Waiting on Martha, Mandy Kellogg Rye, has shared her tips for building a beautiful Easter tablescape. When you’re done reading Mandy’s tips, head over to Waiting on Martha for her recipe for Garlic & Herb Rubbed Lamb Chops and Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges, Sliced Almonds, and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette! What a (delicious) mouthful!
When I think of spring, my mind automatically goes to Easter, one of my absolute favorite holidays to celebrate. I love setting the table for an Easter dinner with family and friends, and find myself always looking for ways to incorporate those sweet pastel tones, floral anything-and-everything, and all around spring feels onto the table.
Like any styled table, this year’s Easter tablescape leans on my secret trick of layering, layering, and more layering. I don’t believe that you have to have a different place-setting for each and every holiday or turn of the season. I mean, who has the space?! What I love doing is leaning on my everyday place-settings and switching out the salad, appetizer, or soup bowls to match whatever we’re celebrating. That’s where the fun pattern play always comes in; varieties in colors and designs of your dinnerware can create just the bright, joyous effect you’re hoping to achieve this time of year.
For example, I started with my traditional, everyday blue and white Sophia Dinnerware and serving pieces from Pottery Barn and mixed in these playful holiday Bunny Bowls, and classic check napkins that can be used all year long. Along with the place-settings, I added in plenty of Easter details like bunnies and baskets full of festive candies, and Majolica Bird Salt and Pepper Shakers and Serving Set.
You’ll also spot some usual suspects on the table: gold flatware, festive drinking goblets, statement Sophia serving pieces, and fresh blooms in the form of pink parrot tulips and green hydrangea. I had fun incorporating the small Easter details too; I added egg cups and small baskets with speckled chocolate eggs to each place setting (I also love these place card holders) and of course candies from Williams-Sonoma around the table. The end result, a home run look that didn’t cost me an arm and a leg.
And because it’s not quite Easter without sweet treats, I ordered these gorgeous, drool-worthy cakes from Sugaree’s Bakery. Thanks to The Southern C Summit, I recently discovered this small batch bakery that’s based out of Albany, Mississippi, and I immediately fell for the classic, not-fussy flavors (I will love strawberry cake forever and ever).
I know what you’re probably thinking; there’s no way these cakes could be shipped to me in Atlanta in one piece! But alas, they arrived perfectly and I was so shocked. Sugaree’s knows what they’re doing because while the cakes did arrive frozen, they don’t freeze them long; the flavors are fresh and vibrant and OH SO GOOD. Not to gush or anything, but the strawberry and the coconut were both so light, fluffy, and moist that I couldn’t believe they came all the way from Mississippi. While I was lucky enough to sample all of the flavors, I would have to say the coconut, strawberry, and caramel were my favorites… all of them were so large, well-priced, and absolutely divine.
Along with the cakes, for the food I decided to try my hand at garlic and herb rubbed lamb chops, fresh asparagus, baby potatoes, and my mother’s favorite spinach salad with mandarin oranges and warm bacon vinaigrette. I’ll be sharing all the recipes tomorrow, but it was the perfect meal and table to welcome spring and celebrate Easter.
Truly, MKR
@waitingonmartha
Photography: Rustic White Photography
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We are so proud of Sugaree’s bakery here in our town!
NEW ALBANY, MS rocks!
Beautiful photos. Thanks.