10 Tips for Hosting an Afternoon Tea Party
Updated: Feb. 08, 2024
You needn't be royalty to relish these tea party ideas! Find inspiration for your menu, decorations and more.
It’s true that tea parties come with a lot of their own traditions: tiered serving trays, specific foods, loose-leaf tea, china, etc. But that doesn’t mean you can’t put your own spin on the classic party with some deliciously different recipes, decor inspiration and smart serving tricks.
Select a theme
The quintessential tea party has delicate embellishments, florals galore and the dainty food to match. But if you want an expressly themed affair, don’t shy away from the grandiose. Your celebration can be an ode to Alice in Wonderland or the Queen of England. It can be a holiday party or a garden party. The choice is yours!
Send invitations in advance
A couple weeks beforehand, specify the time, date, location and, if necessary, theme of your party with some pretty snail-mail invitations. Psst! It’s never a bad idea to ask that guests notify you of any dietary restrictions or allergies when they send their RSVP.
Brew the beverage
No tea-party detail is as important as the tea itself! The secret to preparing a spot of tea that even the poshest partygoers will love: quality black tea and very hot water. We suggest a blend that includes Ceylon and/or Assam varieties. British brands, such as Twinings, Yorkshire Gold or PG Tips, are our go-tos.
Bake scones
English scones, served with an assortment of jams, butter and whipped cream, are an absolute staple. For added authenticity, find a specialty store that sells jars of clotted cream—or make your own mock Devonshire cream.
Pro tip: If you’re planning in advance, bake scones up to a week ahead, then store them in a zip-top bag in the freezer. On the day of the party, place frozen scones on a baking sheet and reheat at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Stack up finger sandwiches
Whether you stick to the classics, such as egg salad, cucumber-cream cheese, and smoked salmon, or do your own thing, finger sandwiches are a fun, playful fundament of the traditional tea-party menu. Make sure to use thin slices of bread, trim the crusts, then cut them into triangles.
For some ideas—both traditional and new—check out our best tea sandwich recipes.
Make tea cakes
Sweets traditionally sit at the top of the tiered serving tray for a reason! Dessert is the most important course, of course. Offer Bundtlets or other one-bit treats, such as macarons, tartlets, petit fours and shortbread cookies. If you want to finish the meal with something slightly more filling, try larger-scale beloved British desserts, such as sticky toffee pudding or a tasty trifle.
Think eclectic
If you’re still ISO that perfect matching china set, don’t fret! Stock up on unique thrift store finds in the meantime. A mix of colored and patterned dishes will lend that much more pizazz to your table. Or, encourage guests to bring a cup and/or saucer of their own to use at the party.
They’re not just for drinking! Discover vintage teacup DIYs.
Build a tea caddy
Tea is tricky in that everyone likes it a different way. A tea caddy makes passing around all the stir-ins a bit more practical. Fill the tray with lemon slices, sugar cubes, cream, honey, teaspoons, napkins and even tea sachets. Your guests will be glad to do up the drink themselves.
Flaunt florals
And we don’t just mean fresh bouquets on the buffet! Trim the table with floral dishes, napkins, runners or placemats. And if you really want to flex your love of flowers, add floral flavors, such as rose or lavender, to your recipes and place edible flowers on top of them. (This violet jelly is gorgeous!)
Play music to fit the mood
Select tunes that are upbeat and as bright as your cheery celebration. Just be sure whatever you choose is suitable for the background—you don’t want to drown out the conversation. You can’t go wrong with some jazz, classical music or instrumental versions of your favorite songs.
Originally Published: June 27, 2018
