It's that glorious time of year when we get a four-day weekend. Use the time and this quick and easy guide to invite your dearest friends for dinner.

• The setting

  Give in to the pastels of Easter and decorate the table with pale blooms gathered in glasses and vases. Try bunching mismatching glassware of different heights and try soft coloured roses (scented if you can get them!) Make sure they're not so tall that people have to duck around them to talk over the table. And of course, emphasise the Easter theme with eggs. Either scatter foil-covered eggs along the centre of the table or get your hands on some pretty hand-painted eggs and leave one on each place setting. Be sure to set the table before the guests arrive as you'll feel much more organised and don't want to be laying cutlery when you're trying to socialise.

• The music

  Don't forget to switch tunes on before the guests arrive. Forget chill-out CDs, they'll just put you all to sleep. If you're after a compilation, pick something like a bar or lounge album or some Miguel Miggs or Kascade to set a cruisey mood.

• The food

  Choose a simple menu! Everyone appreciates a home-cooked meal so don't feel pressured to become a celebrity chef. Cook something simple that can be prepared ahead of time. A roast is a good idea as you can leave it in the oven for an hour or more while spending time out of the kitchen with everyone. Pre-dinner, offer something simple like a few cheeses, including soft and hard. Serve your meat of choice with roast potato and pumpkin and simple vegetables that take just a few minutes to cook, like blanched asparagus spears with store-bought hollandaise sauce.

  For dessert, go truly simple and Easter-inspired by serving chunks of divine Callebaut chocolate with coffee. Or give affogato a go — serve each guest a shot of espresso coffee, a small glass of a sweet dessert wine and a scoop of ice cream. Beaut!

• The drinks

  Rule number one: any wine a guest brings to dinner should be opened and served while they are there. It's rude not to do so. Keep some champagne chilled for guests' arrival. To step up your game, drop a sugar cube soaked with a bit of Angostura bitters in each one. As you sit down to dinner, have the option of both red and white wine and it's a good idea to keep a few beers and soft drinks handy for those who might not like vino. Be sure to have water jugs and glasses available too. As the meal winds down, offer dessert wine.

  YOUR SAY: Will you be throwing a dinner party this Easter? Share your dining and entertaining tips with us below!