How to Host a Tea Party

From high tea menu ideas to planning tips, you're on your way to hosting a tea party Downton Abbey residents would be jealous of!

By: Sara Raffensperger, Editor, AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com

By: Sara Raffensperger, Editor, AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com

For Downton Abbey lovers and other anglophiles, hosting a tea party is the ultimate celebration of your favorite things. An English tea party can be a difficult soiree to pull off, however. In our article, How to Host a Tea Party, you will learn how to throw the best afternoon tea party and the best high tea menu ideas. Your guests are going to be so impressed by your menu and decoration selections. You can scour antique shops for the cutest tea cups and bring out your best tablecloths and decorations.

When you were a child you would play at having a tea party, but now you know how to host a tea party for real! Instead of empty plastic cups and fake food, you are going to have real tea cups and delicious finger foods. We're offering advice on how to host the best tea party and recipe ideas for your high tea menu. If you want your guests to participate more, you can always turn your afternoon tea party into a potluck. Have fun decorating your house and covering your table with an eclectic mix of teacups and teapots. Your guests are going to absolutely love your tea party and will be begging you to host another soon.

How to Host a Tea Party

Hosting a Tea Party

Depending on how elegant and refined you want your tea party to be, you can either send out paper invitations or simply call your friends and invite them. You can also ask yourself what the Dowager Countess Violent Crawley would do in Downton Abbey and do that.

Part of the fun can be making your high tea party very fancy and pretend that you actually are on the set of Downton Abbey. For some fancy invitations to send to the ladies, check out these DIY Monogram Cards.
Set the scene. If you have a tiered cake stand, dust it off and use it as the centerpiece of your table. Otherwise, use your best crockery and make everything look a little bit more special with lacy doilies, folded napkins, and place cards.

Cover your table with your best table cloth. If you don't already have one, go to a fabric shop and by a spotted, floral, or striped yard of material to use.

Pro tip: If you really want to impress, you can make cookies and ice them with your guests' names. Pop them in cute paper bags so they have a little present to take away with them.
For ease and an eclectic style, mix your tea cups and tea pots. You can find a wide variety of beautiful tea cups in thrift, antique, and discount stores. Your table will have a touch of whimsy if everything doesn't match.

Or, as a fun activity, you could ask all of your guests to bring a tea cup to trade with someone else at the party. Everyone will leave with a new tea cup! (Make sure to emphasize that they shouldn't bring a family heirloom, because it won't be going home with them)
Offer a variety of different teas. Not everyone will like the same kind of tea, so it's a good idea to have several different teapots with labels.
You could also have your guests bring different types of teas and the group can decide which teas to brew! It's a fun way to try new teas with your friends.
Offer finger foods and desserts. It isn't a complete meal and the food doesn't have to be overly complicated. Small sandwiches and tasty pastries are all you need to make your guests happy. The thing your guests will be focused on is the tea and the settings.

Pro tip: Hosting a tea party can get expensive so you can feel free to ask your guests to bring a little something to share with everyone. Make sure that you have adequate plates and serving dishes to make everything presentable for the party.

High Tea Menu Ideas

It's not a tea party without some delicious finger foods to enjoy! From sweet to savory, there is something for everyone in this list. You definitely don't have to make all of these on the list, but perhaps make 3-4 recipes for your guests to enjoy.

Afternoon Tea Ideas

It's not just tea and food that's important! The devil is in the details, so have cute tea towels or wear fascinators in your hair. Your guests will have fun getting into the event when you have any of these cute details.

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KathrynAllison

Jul 08, 2016

I used to love throwing pretend tea parties when I was little. Now, as an adult, I know how to throw a proper one thanks to these great tips and tricks!