Easter is a time to slow down, soak up those simple family moments, and of course, indulge in a little chocolate (or maybe a lot).
We’re so egg-cited to spend Easter with Alice Donald, the creative force behind She's a Wildflower! She’s sharing her family’s relaxed long-weekend rituals, treasured traditions, and thoughtful tips for creating a truly memorable Easter. From early morning beach walks and matching pyjamas to seasonal flowers and table styling, Alice’s approach is all about embracing the little joys that make the day feel magical, without any of the stress.
Hi Alice, we’re so excited to spend Easter with you and your family. Can you please tell us how you and your family spend your Easter morning? Are there little rituals, secret family recipes, or cheeky traditions that make it feel extra special?
We’re so excited to spend Easter with Kip! Our Easter mornings are pretty low-key but full of those small, feel-good rituals that make the day feel special, we love going down to the beach to catch the sunrise with our dog, have a quick swim before getting coffee at Coffetti.
A couple of days prior to easter I’m usually hunting down the kids easter baskets, each year we gift them a fresh new pair of winter pjs, a book, a craft activity and a couple of chocolate eggs.
My mum makes the most epic carrot cake so I’ll rope her into making one or if time permits I’ll bake it – but it always tastes better when someone else makes it! Easter for us is really about slowing down and leaning into that chilled vibe.
What are your favourite sounds, smells, and tastes of Easter day?
Easter has such a distinct little sensory feel, doesn’t it? For us, it’s the sound of excitement in anticipation for the easter bunny to arrive. The smell is always coffee and toasted hot cross buns with melted butter, and that faint sweet, chocolatey scent that somehow hangs in the air all day.
Taste-wise, it’s that first bite of chocolate way earlier than you normally would (no regrets), and then all the little nibbles that happen in between meals. It’s less about one big moment and more about those cosy, familiar tastes and smells that make the whole day feel relaxed and indulgent.
We’re excited to visit your property in Wallington. Can you share the story behind your place and what makes it feel so special to you and your family?
We purchased our property in Wallington because Tom was outgrowing our warehouse in Ocean Grove, but the property has given us far more than we anticipated. It includes two sheds, one that Tom operates his plumbing business out of and uses for machinery storage, and the other a, rustic old structure that we would love to restore and transform into a functional space in the future.
Set across 10 acres, the land is dotted with old gum trees – one with a small cubby house nestled into it, and another with a large swing that the kids love. We have views across to Barwon Heads Bluff in the distance, and a generous paddock that the kids have turned into their own mini motorbike track. On weekends, they head out with friends for a bit of a hoon, which has become one of their favourite activities.
Looking ahead, I’d love to establish foliage trees and, eventually, flowers across the property. I know growing flowers takes time and a lot of work, so for now it’s very much a long-term dream, but one I love imagining as part of how the property might evolve.
Can you talk us through how you style your easter table, especially including flowers, and how your floristry background inspires these magical arrangements for special occasions?
I love creating a beautiful table scape and usually build it from the ground up. The tablecloth sets the tone for everything that follows – if it’s patterned, I tend to keep the florals simple, using the same flower en masse in a beautiful vase. If it’s a block colour, I’ll go for a more abundant, mixed arrangement featuring the best of what autumn has to offer, paired with a patterned napkin for a bit of contrast. I rarely stick to just one arrangement, I like placing a few vases along the table to draw the eye down the length of it, then layering in fun crockery and cutlery, beautiful napkins and napkin rings, a jug of water, and thoughtful glassware.
I always work with the season, so there’s that natural warmth of autumn tones running through everything, which ties in so nicely with golden hot cross buns and chocolate. I also love playing with fruit as part of the table scape – Bosc pears and figs are my favourites to use in autumn.
How do you make Easter feel magical for your household? Are there special décor touches, homemade treats, or colourful activities that mark this time of year as truly unforgettable?
There’s always a lovely buzz around Easter, it feels a bit like Christmas all over again, but without the pressure of hosting, endless cooking, travelling, or gifts. It’s such a relaxed time.
Autumn is my favourite season for flowers, so I love having a big vase of seasonal foliage and blooms in the kitchen, having fresh flowers in the house instantly brings the room to life and sets the mood. I’ve tried my hand at making homemade hot cross buns and learned the hard way that it’s much easier (and far more delicious) to leave that to the experts, Ketbaker and Born & Bread Bakehouse make the best ones, in my opinion.
Are you early risers on easter morning? Are matching family pyjamas and robes a must for easter morning?
We’re definitely early risers! I can’t remember the last time we slept in. Matching pyjamas are always a bit of fun, and thankfully the kids are still at the age where they genuinely love getting involved too. Around this time of year, we’re usually all rugged up in UGG boots and robes, as the autumn chill has well and truly set in down here in Victoria.
Are there any treasured traditions or spontaneous moments that bring everyone together during the long weekend?
Maybe it’s an egg hunt with a twist, a family game, or just lazy mornings in the sun. It’s definitely more about the simple, together moments for us.
We usually kick off the long weekend by spending Good Friday with friends, enjoying an epic seafood feast down at Ozone Jetty. Everyone brings a plate, and the day always wraps up with a big Easter egg hunt for the kids.
Easter morning is all about family. After our beach dip and coffee we have brunch before diving into another Easter egg hunt, which often lasts a couple of hours. A little family trick we love to play is quickly re-hiding the eggs without them seeing once the kids bring them back, so they think they’re getting even more – I’m sure they’ll figure us out eventually! After that, the kids usually start their own egg hunts, hiding them from each other, and I inevitably find chocolate stashed around the house for weeks to come.
The rest of the weekend is intentionally relaxed, nothing too structured or over-planned, enjoying some beach time if the weather allows, and those spontaneous moments where everyone ends up in the same place at the same time, it’s really about just soaking up that relaxed, long-weekend energy.
Are there outdoor adventures or special places that make your Easter weekend feel like a mini escape?
Yes, definitely! If the weather’s playing nice, we love getting outside. It’s usually something simple but grounding, heading down for a family surf, a lazy beach wander, or even a day trip further down the coast somewhere that feels a bit removed from the usual routine.
Being near the ocean always makes it feel like time slows down and it instantly switches us into holiday mode. Getting outside and seeing friends and family is our way of marking the long weekend and making it feel like a proper breather from everyday life.
