Plan a Hopping Good Easter Party

My family loved Easter because the holiday gave us a reason to wear floppy hats and go to church—but, in truth, I loved those years when we skipped the sermon the most. When I was eight, my mother dressed up as a fairy princess, and my two sisters and I put pillows over our tummies and dressed up as clowns. We stood beside the Easter Bunny at the local recreational center (where my mom worked) and handed out candy to bratty kids while making faces at them. The next year, my great-uncle fed me one too many Cadbury Eggs and I huddled over the toilet for the rest of the day until I could crawl into my canopy bed. Neither of these Easter celebrations involved Christ—or ham—but I certainly learned the essentials for a good party: dress up, wear lots of makeup (and a super costume), and over-stimulate yourself until you vomit.

Now I’m all grown up—and I’ve cut out the substances—but I still want to throw a good Easter party for my friends. So I thought back to other Easter events I loved as a child and decided to update them to align with my new values. I can still look good in a hat while I watch my friends’ kids throw up.

Decorate and Prepare
Flowers add beauty to any party. I like to pick up my flowers on Friday, when a man near my office sells them for a dollar a piece. I like lots of color in my bouquets, to welcome in the spring. Try your hand (using whatever flowers you have on hand) at making one or more of these five easy floral centerpieces.

For my holiday table, I go to my local fabric store and sift through their bargain bin, where I find off-yards and remnants of fabric. Make sure to measure your Easter table so that the fabric will cover it completely.