Ok, fine, Spring, you win
Spring used to be my least favorite season. Let’s be honest, on the surface, there’s not a lot to recommend about it.
It starts with all this nonsense around that feckless groundhog. He teases you with the potential of an early spring in your seasonal depressive days of early February only to yank it away. Then you are asked to endure an eternity without a long weekend—the stretch from President’s day to Memorial Day is interminable. The holiday décor is largely saccharine or trite and the gatherings are without memorable food moments. How often can you be served a spiral cut ham before you begin to question the merits of a celebration? And do not get me started on the atrocities of spring break. A hard no thank you.
However, in the last few years, I’ve become slowly seduced by Spring. As I spent a quarantine spring in Eastern Long Island, taking daily sanity walks down the shoreline and along the quietly greening pathways, I was staggered by the speed and beauty by which the earth transforms. I gave into the horticultural frenzy that had gripped generations of my family and built an extravagant cutting/kitchen garden. I had seasonal brunches al fresco. I embraced Chablis before noon with a gorgeous seasonal frittata. I chilled champagne in the early spring creek swell while we picnicked on the back of our tractor. I was a convert.
All of this had me thinking. Perhaps spring just needs a PR adjustment. No more baby ducklings. No more ombre eggs. No white asparagus. May we suggest a few new options to help you celebrate in spring in a new light?
Not Your Mama’s Easter
(Unless you're mama cass...)
Don’t be hung up on the typical pastel palette surrounding an Easter tablescape. Turn the tradition on its head and set the scene with a bright and funky, yet classic acid damask tablecloth or go more subtle and add a hint of joy with colored cloth napkins at every place setting. Create a focal point for your table with a statement-making large heirloom glass cake stand in a soft pink or classic white. Not planning on serving cake? Pile the stand high with donuts, fruit or décor. Stir up a beverage everyone can enjoy, or a spiked version for even more fun, with sweet tea syrup and serve from an iridescent punch bowl set. An Easter to remember.
Duck, Duck, Hunt
Tricks aren’t just for kids. Have some fun with the adults in your life and stage an all grown up Easter Egg hunt once brunch concludes and drinks have been drunk. Fill plastic eggs with mini bottles and hide them around your property and set your guests off to the races. The prize? Winner takes it all and can trade in their minis for the real deal. The bigger and more comically sized the bottle the better. Fun will be had by all.
Picnic Party
(Is anything Roman & Williams does bad? The answer is no...)
Taking your show on the road? Bring the party with you. Just because you don’t actually have a table, doesn’t mean you have to skip out on setting it. Every successful picnic party starts with a picnic basket. Then proceed to stuff it with all the goods. Your choice of food and bev. Add large scalloped all-natural plates to serve it up and disposable yet chic fringed paper napkins to wipe it away. Finally, set the mood with ribbed colored tealight holders that can easily be transported along with you. The great outdoors awaits.
A Classic Passover
Hosting seder at home can be intimidating, but we are here to help set a table that would make your grandmother proud. Start by layering a soft gauze table drape down the center to build the scene around. Accent with a neutral-toned tassel and bead garland and minimal gold taper holders with a pair of ribbed taper candles, creating an intimate and tastefully designed setting. Bring the drama with a vintage ornate lidded serving dish as the centerpiece, filled to the brim with the homecooked meal you spent all day in the kitchen preparing – or takeout. We don’t judge. Just make it pretty.
Hosting adults and need help building a bar? Check out our post on building the ultimate home bar.
Need some event inspo? Here is a post about our event with the Wythe Hotel.
