Adult & Little Children's Tea Parties

Adult and Children's Tea Party
To some, the idea of hosting a tea party is daunting. If you’ve never participated in a tea, thoughts of the British, blue haired ladies and royalty may come to mind. Taking tea is in fact a custom made popular by the Anna the Duchess of Bedford in the early 1800s.

Since its inception, teatime is an honored tradition of refinement and elegance perfect for many occasions. Easier to give than a dinner party, children’s tea, high tea, afternoon tea and wedding tea are just some of the many themes suitable for your next celebration.

Regardless of the type of tea you’d like to give, understanding the differences is important. Generally teas are given in mid-afternoon, with light fare. Traditionally, an afternoon tea is a “light tea” in the afternoon while high tea is a “full tea” closer to dinnertime and includes a heartier meal.

Little Girl's Tea Party
No matter the occasion, every little girl must have at least one tea party! Whether for a birthday or just because, a tea party offers children a chance to dress up, and enjoy the memory-making tradition.

To make a little girl’s tea party especially memorable, ask the kids to dress up. They can either come dressed in their mother's dresses, hats, gloves, jewelry and heels, or the host can provide an assortment of outfits. To find inexpensive fun dresses, check local thrift stores. Prom dresses, Victorian attire, floppy hats, long strands of beads and boas to the list of items to look for.

Once the kids are dressed up, be sure to have a photo session! Take pictures in black & white as well as color. Have the kids pose in all sorts of positions, both inside and out.

After the photo session, the kids can put on a fashion show! They can each take turns modeling their clothes, telling everyone what piece they are wearing is their favorite and a little bit about themselves.

Once the kids have spent some energy, it’s time to relax for the tea party! Little girls can have their dolls join them! If the dolls get tired, the girls can put them down for naptime in another room. Remember, you don’t have to serve tea. If you do, look up a vanilla tea recipe and be sure to use decaffeinated. Alternatives include juice, punch and hot apple cider.

If the party is for a birthday, and the girls like dolls, consider asking the girls to bring a baby doll for a gift exchange. Each little girl takes home a new doll!

When the party is over, consider sending a photo of the little girls in a thank you note.

Ladies Tea
Once the date and time for your ladies’ tea party is set, consider your invitees. Select a group of ladies that will get along well together. For an intimate affair – and if this is your first tea party – keep the group manageable, invite six to ten ladies. A smaller group works well because it gives everyone a chance to contribute, and fits nicely around a table.

To set the tone, pick an area of your tea party that’s comfortable and elegant. If the weather allows and your garden is starting to bloom, consider hosting the party in our outdoor living area. The more elegant, the better. Use a quality linen tablecloth and pressed cloth napkins. Choose a tasteful, colorful flower arrangement.

When you select the food, remember light fare is usually appropriate. Other than teaspoons, no cutlery should be required at tea. All sandwiches and sweets should be dainty finger-food. Try chicken salad, egg, watercress or cucumber sandwiches. Make sure they are cut into quarters or, for added effect, you can cut them with a glass or cookie cutters.