This post contains affiliate links. We may earn money from the products mentioned in this post, but this is at no cost to you
Selection of easy cute tea party ideas that will help you coordinate the food, decorations and even the music.
Serve a relaxing afternoon tea party with a group of girlfriends or for a special occasion. If you are looking for some timeless entertaining then a tea party is the perfect option for you.
Related articles:
Tea parties are simply the ultimate party if you want to enjoy some time with friends whilst relaxing and enjoying some delicious food.
Tea parties are generally organised for a small group of people, where you can sit down together and enjoy conversation over afternoon tea.
This is the kind of event that is perfect whether celebrating a birthday, baby shower, bridal shower or a simple kids dress up tea party.
The tea party can be held in a backyard or in your living room. Both options are easy to organise and will be enjoyable for all guests.
These cute tea party ideas will ensure that you have everything you need to easily prepare for the perfect afternoon, leaving you ready to host the party with ease.
From choosing some simple table decorations, to organising the tableware, food options and music. This will ensure that you can easily create the perfect party.
What Do I Need For A Cute Tea Party?
Invitations: The first thing you need to do when organising your tea party is to send out some invitations. Ensure that these invitations are simple but elegant to appropriately set the scene for your tea party.
Tea Party Decor: After a date has been set and friends have been invited, you can start to decorate. You will want to purchase any decorations and tea sets required.
Keep decor simple and elegant. Go with pastel tones, flowers, mason jars and vases. Crisp white linen and napkins.
Tea Stands: Traditionally the food at an afternoon tea is served on 3 tier stands. Having some 2 or 3 tiered stands available will give a more authentic tea party experience.
Set a menu: It wouldn’t be a tea party without the food. In fact, this is the star of the show. Ensure that you really think about the menu you want to serve and ensure that it is well balanced between sweet and savory items.
How Do You Decorate For A Tea Party?
A tea party is a calm casual event, therefore the decorations need to accommodate this.
However the ONE thing that is really important with a tea party is the table. This needs to be stylish and inviting.
Some great ideas for decorating the perfect table are:
- Use flowers. For a delicate feel, choose pastel colors with white. Think pretty bouquet of roses, peonies or anemones. Style them in glass vases or mason jars.
- Use tea sets. They can be a complete set or mixed and matched. If you don’t have a tea set, then have a look in some op shops. Creating a set with different pieces can also look incredibly stunning. The mis-match will create interest in the decor.
- Use a nice clean white or lace tablecloth.
- Have napkins for everyone.
- Use decorative spoons (again op shops can be a great source for old gorgeous cutlery).
- Ensure you have teapots, teacups, cutlery and serving slices.
- Use dessert racks to serve the food.
What Should I Serve At A Tea Party?
When coordinating the food for a tea party you need to be thinking of sweet AND savory options. You will also need tea.
Lots and lots of tea!
In fact tea really is the main focus of a tea party!
How To Serve The Tea
There are two ways that you can serve the tea at your tea party. The first is to have the tea made up in teapots using loose tea leaves.
The second option is to have hot water available (in a tea pot) and allow guests to make their own tea using tea bags in their tea cups.
Tea straight from a tea pot using loose tea leaves is guaranteed to taste better, but your chosen method may depend on how many guests you have coming, and how many tea’s you wish to serve.
What ever option you choose, ensure that you have mini jugs of milk and bowls of sugar available so that guests can make their tea according to their own taste preferences.
There are lots of variety of tea that are suitable for an afternoon tea party including:
- English Breakfast
- Earl Grey
- Peppermint
- Camomile
- Green Tea
- Fruit herbal teas
See these herbal teas for more ideas.
Whilst you can serve pretty much anything at a tea party, traditional food options include sandwiches, pastries, scones, tea cakes and bite sized biscuits.
The following food ideas have been broken down into savory and sweet options, to help you layer up those tiered food stands!
Savory Tea Party Food Options
Sandwiches are the most traditional choice of food to serve at tea parties. They can be cut into triangles, circles, squares or fingers to make them look delicate. They should be no more than 2 to 3 bites to eat.
There are so many sandwich varieties that could be made, including:
- Cucumber and cream cheese
- Ham and mustard
- Egg and mayonnaise
- Cheese and chutney
- Smoked salmon and cream cheese
For more delicious ideas, check out these English tea sandwiches. This is definitely not a time to be thinking that sandwiches are boring. They are the savory base of your tea party and they will be delicious.
Whilst you could just serve sandwiches, if you want to branch out, some other delicious savory tea party food ideas include:
- Mini quiches
- Mini chicken or beef pies
- Party sized sausage rolls
- Classic devilled eggs
Sweet Tea Party Food Options
Just as sandwiches are the base for the savory option at a tea party, scones are the base for the sweet option.
Plain scones can be served with separate dishes of jam and fresh clotted cream. This will allow guests to make up their own cream tea.
Other delicious sweet tea party food ideas include:
- Small fruit tarts
- Mini cupcakes. The emphasis here is on “mini”. You don’t want giant cupcakes starting at you, but mini ones are simply divine.
- Mini brownie bites
- Selection of petit fours such as mini eclairs, cream puffs etc.
- Tea cake cookies
You have probably noticed a theme running through these food ideas. They all incorporate the word “mini”.
Thinking the food in terms of “mini” is incredibly important.
The food all needs to be bite sized (or 2 -3 bites). You are not serving a main meal or picnic lunch. The food needs to be delicate and inviting.
What Music Should Be Played?
It is always a good idea to have some music playing in the background. However unlike at other parties, the music at a tea party should be mellow and in the background.
You want something soft that can easily be talked over.
You could opt for some classical or soft jazz music. If choosing music with vocals, ensure that the vocals are not too overpowering.
If you have Spotify, search for “high tea or afternoon tea” for some good playlist options.
A tea party can really be thrown for any reason. They are perfect to celebrate special occasions like mothers day, a baby shower or birthday’s.
But they are also great for simply no reason at all! If you are looking for some quality time with friends, then a tea party is the perfect way to spend time together whilst enjoying an afternoon of delicious food and fabulous tea!
Let’s stay in touch. Did you love these cute tea party ideas? Sign up to the weekly newsletter to be kept up to date with other easy party, decoration and recipe ideas. You will also have access to a ton of free printables. See you there!
You can also stay up to date on all our posts, by following Smart Party Planning on Pinterest.
Leave a Reply