Tea parties became a popular social event in the early 1800s, but there are signs of them occurring earlier.Tea parties are still popular today.Tea is important for tea parties, but sometimes small snacks are also served.You can host a variety of tea parties.You can choose to have a tea party for children, or an elegant one.Regardless of the type of tea party you have, you can make it stand out with decorations, costumes, and other elements.
Step 1: Choose your time.
A tea party can be held in the afternoon.It is usually held around noon or afternoon.Any time is good for a tea party.There is a tea party after dinner.When planning a tea party, consider the schedules of your guests.It might be difficult to have a party in the afternoon when people are working.If you plan on having it in the afternoon, a weekend would be ideal.
Step 2: invite your friends.
Two weeks in advance, you can send handwritten invitations.Send an email to your guests if you don't want to send an invitation.The guest list should be around eight people.The host of a tea party should be able to mingle with each of her special guests.It's okay to invite more than eight people.It's important to have enough tea and snacks.Extra tea or desserts can be brought by your guests.
Step 3: Obtain supplies for tea parties.
To serve tea to your guests, you will need a teapot, cups, and saucers.Use a small dish to collect used tea leaves.A pitcher of milk, lemon slices, honey and sugar can also be served.If you are serving food, make sure you have enough small plates, napkins, and utensils.It will be useful to set out tablecloths.If you want to make it easier to clean, you can purchase disposable tablecloths.
Step 4: Buy a beverage.
You don't have to serve more than two or three different kinds of tea.Black tea, white tea and green tea are some of the varieties.You can either ask your guests what they prefer before they arrive or you can buy whatever they want.Iced tea can be served at a tea party during a warm part of the year.You can buy drinks life coffee and lemonade for people who don't like tea.
Step 5: Prepare the food.
You can find tea sandwiches, scone, and pastry recipes online or in a recipe book.You can either purchase the food or make it yourself.Cucumber sandwiches are light, but you also want to serve something sweet, like cranberry scones or fruitcake.You can serve teacakes and buns.Salmon club, crab, smoked salmon and avocado are some of the sandwiches served at tea parties.Lemon drizzle, walnuts, and cherry are some of the classic scone flavors.After sandwiches are served, it's nice to have cookies and cakes.Pair the jams with the scones.Jam flavors can include strawberry, Rhubarb and ginger.
Step 6: Set the table.
A white linen tablecloth is a good choice for a large table.Make sure to leave plenty of room for yourself by placing the tea at one end of the table.The guests will be served tea by you.The lemon, milk, honey, and sugar should be placed next to the tea and the trays for food at the other end of the table.It is normal for guests to serve food at tea parties.You should prepare the tea by setting out pots and cups.The trays and cake stands are for food.Plates and utensils can be picked up next to the food or placed at the tables.If you want people to sit in certain places, place napkins and name signs.
Step 7: The tea needs to be prepared.
The food should be ready ten minutes before the guest arrives.Take the teapot to the table when the kettle is whistling.If you want the guests to make their own tea, you can put a hot water dispensers next to the tea bags.You should set out drinks for your guests.Make sure everything is ready by looking around the room one more time.
Step 8: You have to dress the part.
You should wear clothes similar to what you would wear to a church or casual wedding.Tea parties are casual affairs, but don't be afraid to get a bit dressier than you would for a normal gathering with friends.If you are having a traditional British themed party, you should wear elaborate hats and gloves.If you want your guests to dress a certain way, you can suggest a dress code in your invitations.
Step 9: Please welcome your guests.
greet each of your guests individuallyIf you know them well, greet them with a handshake or hug.Put whatever they brought on the table for them.If you don't have a place to put them, show them where they can choose to sit.As they walk in, you may not be available to greet them.As soon as you can, greet them.
Step 10: Your guests are served.
Once everyone has arrived, serve the tea.If you fill the first tea cups yourself, pass them out or serve them to others.You can let them refill for themselves after that.If you want to have a more casual party, you can have the guests serve everything for themselves.Make sure they have something to drink with the tea, like honey, sugar, and milk.
Step 11: You can choose when to do it.
When planning the time, keep in mind the age of the children.If the party is for very young children, you should keep in mind the parents.Work for the parents and school for children are things that should be considered.A good time is late morning or early afternoon on a Saturday.If you can, ask the parents of the children what a good time would be.If the party is for young children, consider nap times.Children don't like parties at night.
Step 12: A theme is something to plan.
A tea party for children is the most enjoyable.If the party is for girls, you could choose a princess theme.Another option is an Alice in Wonderland theme.A theme based on a country would be educational and fun.A British or Chinese theme is available.You can research the decorations, costumes, food, and music based on the theme you choose.
Step 13: Send invitations.
Send out invites based on the theme.You can either have invitations printed or email them.The best time to send the invitations is at least two weeks before the party.You can email or call the parents of the children if you don't want to send out invitations.There are websites that have invitation templates.Some are free while others cost.
Step 14: Buy some things.
If you are hosting a room full of children, don't worry about buying expensive supplies.Plastic tea cups and plates will work.The theme should be considered when choosing the tea pot, cups, and plates.Plates can be colored or designs based on the theme.Plastic utensils, a tablecloth, serving trays, and napkins are required.There are tea sets for children.Many of them are expensive and easy to break.Supplies can be purchased at Party City.You can buy supplies online.If you purchase the items in time, they will be delivered by the party.
Step 15: Purchase a cup of tea.
Children don't like hot tea, so consider other options.Other options include sweet tea, apple juice, and fruit juices.Even if you don't serve hot tea, you can still serve drinks in the tea pot.When planning the food and tea, it's a good idea to know if parents will be staying.If parents stay, buy hot tea, cold tea and wine.
Step 16: You should buy food.
Depending on the type of food you will be buying, buy it the day before or a few days before the party.Children may not eat the same things you would serve at an adult tea party, so choose some basic foods.Simple cheese, turkey and cheese sandwiches, muffins, and tea triangle sandwiches with simple ingredients work well for food.You can serve sugar cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and fresh fruits with sugar lightly sprinkled on top.Ask the parents if they have allergies when planning the menu.
Step 17: The room should be redecorated.
The room should be decorated based on the theme.The table should have a tablecloth on it.Children can bring small toys home with them if the table is set up with small favors.Hang up streamers with balloons.The room should be colorful and cute.You could set out the book and place figurines from the story on the table.Put out chopsticks and hang up Chinese lanterns for a Chinese theme.
Step 18: The person should dress up in costumes.
If you want the children to come in costume, you can set up some costumes for them to wear at the party.If you ask the children to come in costume, it is a good idea to make a few costumes for children who may not have gotten the memo.If you are asking the parents to bring their children in costume, make sure they are aware of the theme.
Step 19: The tea and food should be thrown out.
You can either serve it after the children arrive or before the party begins.It is a good idea to have some food on the table when the guests arrive so that they can snack or drink while waiting for others to show up.About ten minutes before the children are set to arrive, begin setting out the food and drinks.In case of spillage, make sure to have plenty of napkins.
Step 20: You can plan activities for your guests.
Tea party games include Tea Leaf Pictionary.In this game, the players use their tea leaves to make pictures of objects that are written down on small pieces of paper and drawn by the other team.Have your guests make their own tea bags.Take out tea leaves, tea bags, strings, and a stapler.You should place the leaves in shallow bowls and put out spoons for the tea leaves if you want the guest to make their own tea.
Step 21: The area can be decorated.
You can buy flowers at the florist on the day of the party.If you have a budget, you can buy more bouquets.You can place the bouquets in vases around the area you are having the party in.lilies and daisies are good choices for flowers.If you are having a party outside, hang up some string lights.The paper lights in the shape of flowers look nice.You can light candles to create a nice scent.
Step 22: There is a theme.
The theme isn't just for children.There is a theme for adult parties as well.Adults get a reason to dress up and bring out their inner child with themes.British, Chinese, and Victorian are some of the themes to choose from.You can make an event out of the party with a mystery theme.It's important to plan the food, music, tea, decorations, and dress around the theme.The host of a mystery tea party has a booklet with instructions, script, name tags, and place cards.Each guest has a role to play in the script.The guests solved the mystery.Send out invitations that say "not be late for a very important date with the white rabbit" and decorate the area with tea pots and cups, clocks, paper lanterns, and quotes from the book.Chess and croquet are played outdoors.Ask guests to dress up as their favorite characters.
Step 23: There are costumes that you should wear.
Guests should wear costumes according to the theme you have chosen.You can ask guests to wear costumes even if you don't have a specific theme.The British are known for their flamboyant hats.Asking guests to dress up in formal attire is an option for dressing up without a theme.It's important to specify costumes on the invitation.
Step 24: Enjoy music.
Music to be played at the party.Pick music according to the theme you have chosen.Low, soft music can be played in the background for general music.Smooth jazz is one of the options.You can hire a music group to play.Classical or jazz music can be played by a small group.Ask your friends if they would like to play instruments.You can find tea party songs online.You can connect your iPod or phone to the speakers to play music.