Think Spring
Whether you use a pale yellow tablecloth with fresh white plates/china, or just using pastel colored napkins on a white tablecloth - for the Easter season, using pastels is a sure way to make your table look fresh and Spring-like.

If you want to give your plain white plates new life, purchase small dessert plates in different pastel colors or whimsical printed plates to place on the white plates for a whole new look.

Add fresh flowers to a vase for the center of the table. Tulips always look like Spring. A mixed bunch of pastel daisies and carnations can be nice too.

Decorated eggs with your guests' names painted on them can be a nice substitute for a placecard. And for the children, use a plastic egg and fill it with treats, stickers or something fun.

An easy way to add a Spring touch to your napkins is to take a small sprig of silk ivy and wrap it around the napkin, instead of a ring.

Pastel ribbons running down the center of the table will also add a festive touch.

Food can be fancied up too!
Rainbow sherbet and 7-up make a fun & festive looking drink for the day (and tasty too). If you’re having a brunch, mimosas for the adults are a treat, and for the kids, add 7-up instead of champagne to the orange juice.

Your surplus of hard boiled eggs can be made into delicious deviled eggs for an appetizer. You can make it fun – decorate them to look like bunnies, using celery and carrots for ears and eyes, and chives for whiskers. The kids can help too. You can nestle them on a platter of Easter grass or coconut mixed with a bit of green food coloring.

Yummy twice-baked potatoes can be made to look like Easter eggs when you cut off both ends and stand it up long ways. Fill the top with the potato mixture and garnish with chives – fun to make and eat! And don’t forget the butter lambs for your table! Most supermarkets sell them for the holiday.

The thrill of the (Easter Egg) hunt
And don’t forget the Easter Egg hunts! Whether just for the kids or the whole family, hiding and finding the eggs is a fun part of the day. And sprinkle a bit of Spring around the house…baskets of eggs, jelly beans and a bunny or two around will surely make all your guests think Spring and have a ‘hoppy’ Easter!

A few tips in preparation of the big day:

• Select the dinnerware, stemware, flatware and tablecloth you would like to use.
  
• Gather your decorations and begin placing them around the room to get a feel for the look you are trying to create.
  
• Check to make sure you have serving pieces to accommodate all your planned dishes. If you don't have enough, you can always borrow from a friend, mom, or neighbor.
  
• Iron your tablecloth and napkins.
  
• Polish your flatware.
  
• Double-check your food-shopping list.
  
• Color the easter eggs up to 2 days before.
  
• A week before the big day, paint porcelan or plastic eggs with guests names on them for use as placecards.
  
• Buy tulips 1 or 2 days before if you don't want them to open, keep them in a dark room. Or if they are not open enough make a small slit in the top of the stem near the petals.

Helpful hints for setting the table:

• Keep in mind when setting your table don't put too many décor items in the center, leave plenty of room for the stars of the show….your food.
  
• Stay away from tall candles and flower arrangements that may block the view of your guests and make it difficult to hold a conversation across the table.
  
• Don't use scented candles near the table, it can compete with tastebuds and your guests appetites.