I’m so excited to bring you our wind blown, shabby chic Easter Party! There were moments when I thought I’d have to cancel the entire party — so I’m thrilled that we stuck with it and it all worked out! (Read about the drama here.) Did you know that something will always go wrong at your party? It’s 100% true. It’s also true that you can overcome most any problem with the right attitude — I promise! So here’s how to plan a shabby chic Easter Party!

Pick your party style

It all started with foil-wrapped bunny statuettes. To me, they said “vintage Easter.” And since Nicolle of Libby Lane Press had volunteered to create some free printables for us, I asked her to design an Easter collection inspired by the bunnies and using blues and yellows. I adore what she made — don’t forget to pick up your free printables here. The collection includes these darling Easter basket tags.

Since the wind demolished our backdrop, our little guests modeled Nicolle’s “Hoppy Easter” banner.

I suppose working with Libby Lane Press and remembering her ripped fabric backdrop gave me the idea to use torn fabric as one of our unifying decorative elements. I used fabric left over from other parties, and supplemented it with a few new fabrics. Just make a small cut about every 1.5 inches and rip.

Renting party furniture

I tried renting vintage furniture for the first time and it was a blast to find just what I needed at Woodstock Antiques. Furniture rental isn’t inexpensive, but it’s also not outrageous. Just don’t forget the added cost of delivery (both ways). If you have a vision you are really committed to, I’d vote for exploring furniture rental. Our table, chairs and sideboard were all rental pieces. The green beverage cart I found on Craig’s List for $15 and the white tea table was a $2 garage sale find. (See how I painted it here.)

Style your dining table

Decorating this table may have been the most fun part of the planning. It was so small that I had to think about tall elements. I filled my biggest apothecary jar with plastic eggs, added foil bunnies, and wrapped Izze soda in torn fabric. The idea for the framed egg came from J and J Home. The polka dot egg plates are from WalMart and the table runner fabric is the backdrop left over from my Wizard of Oz party.

Party activities

Our guests had a bunny hop race and egg roll before breaking for lunch, treats and our egg hunt. I’ll have the bunny tail tutorial for you on Monday.

This frame is from Michael’s and is only about $6! How great for a photo op? The ears are from the Target dollar spot.

After lunch, the girls filled their eggs. They played a little more on their own while I hid the eggs and then the hunt was on! The eggs either had candy or a ticket to the Bunny Store. At the “store,” the girls could pick up inexpensive little prizes that wouldn’t have fit in the eggs. Sweet Reagan found the golden egg.

Easter party food

Don’t you love this menu that Nicolle designed? We had oodles of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes topped with miniature cookies, Nicolle’s party circles, and robin’s egg candy … that is, before they were felled by the wind. More about the food tomorrow.

Easter party favors

Our Easter party favors were one of my favorite children’s books, The Country Bunny. It’s a story from 1939 of how a kind, wise and brave mama bunny becomes an Easter bunny. It seemed really perfect for our vintage take on Easter.

Vendor Credits

• Party styling: The Party Teacher
• Photography: Viridian Images Photography
• Printables: Libby Lane Press
• Furniture rental: Woodstock Antiques
• Easter pails: Brodders Tubs
• Cookies: Crafted Cookies
• Flowers: Kroger