Christina Brockman’s fondness for Easter may very well be genetic. “My grandmother Caroline loves it so much, and I think that rubbed off on me,” says the Birmingham creative, recounting family occasions punctuated by brightly wrapped Russell Stover chocolates. Now that she holds her own annual brunch—a tradition that began after the arrival of her first daughter (she now has two)—Brockman pulls from her grandmother’s entertaining playbook, setting the table with handmade sugar eggs and stirring together her trusty punch—a retro refresher that helped spark this scene’s citrusy palette. Here’s how the self-proclaimed “more is more” host marks the happy morning.

Bring the Good Stuff Outside

While it may be tempting to stick to melamine or paper plates for dining on the patio, you won’t find those gracing this table, which she set with mint green china, silver flatware, and gold-rimmed glasses. It’s her winsome rebuttal to anyone wary of pulling precious pieces from their china cabinet or silver drawer. “You can’t take it with you. Make memories with heirlooms and things that are special,” she says. “Wouldn’t you rather something get broken because you used it and enjoyed it instead of keeping it in a box your whole life?”

Welcome the Wild Things

For the whimsical centerpiece, she relied on a combo of blossoms from her local garden shop (including ranunculus, lilacs, alliums, peonies, and sweet peas) as well as foraged clematis, daffodil, and dogwood flowers. “Don’t be afraid to clip things from your yard that are blooming at this time of year,” she says. “Maybe you have a tree that you’ve never thought to snip something off of.” Brockman placed the stems in a florist foam tray, hiding the unsightly mechanics under a lush layer of moss to infuse the arrangement with what she calls “that earthy, new-life, spring vibe.”

Give Them Something Sweet

The place settings came together with an inviting blend of the fancy (glass cocktail coupes and menus hand illustrated by Amber Rosenberg Calligraphy), the festive (a block printed tablecloth from Amazon), and the sentimental (the rabbit-shaped napkin rings). “My grandmother made those,” she says. “I have them for every holiday because that was just something she did!” Another nod to the matriarch’s candy-spangled Easter celebrations: the chocolate bunny gifted to every guest.

Break Out the Punch Bowl

“This is my grandmother’s recipe, but it’s an old, very common one,” says Brockman of the concoction made with pineapple juice, lemonade, and frozen orange juice concentrate. “She served it at baby showers or any kind of party she hosted.” A vintage silver Champagne bucket chills the bubbly nearby for adding a little adult-friendly sparkle to the drink.

Sprinkle In a Few Memories

“My great-grandmother Doris, Caroline’s mom, made these in the eighties,” says Brockman of the delicate sugar eggs, which cradle tiny seasonal scenes inside— a chick in one, a bunny in another. “They take forever. But about six years ago, I thought, ‘I want to create some new age versions.’ That didn’t go so well. It’s a lost art. It’s kind of like peanut brittle—you know how when you make that, the weather needs to be exactly right? Sugar eggs are like that. They have to set up just so.”