Tea Party Planner

Create your guest list Purchase or Make Tea Party Invitations Plan your menu – be sure to think of everything you need to make each food item Gather needed items for serving - you might want to start searching garage sales, antique stores etc for unique serving pieces and linens. Prepare of list of tasks to complete within your time schedule. Whether your table is indoors, outdoors, or a blanket on the lawn, certain items are needed to create a Tea Party mood and to properly serve your guests. For each guest (including yourself) you will need: tea cup and saucer dessert plate silverware napkin placemat For your table you will need: tea pot  (more than one if serving a large group) sugar bowl creamer bowl for lemon wedges serving silverware tablecloth serving dishes for foods centerpiece or other table decoration

Tea Party Supplies Teas, sugar tongs, tea spoons and more... Create a Theme: Attitude of Gratitude is the Theme Click here to see how one organization planned "An Attitude of Gratitude Tea Party and Fashion Show for Shoes4School.  Select Attire and Have Fun With It. Red Hat Society Black Hat & Gloves Society Attitude of Gratitude is the Theme

Make your own Tea Tray

Select a large wooden frame with glass.

If you wish to paint the frame, disassemble the frame and remove any hanger if there is one. Paint and let dry.

Create a collage of teabag wrappers or tea print greeting cards or photos cut from a magazine on a nice background paper cut to the size of the glass. Your collage need not be tea related - use anything that appeals to you or make it even more personal using family photos.

Reassemble To prevent any glass cleaner from getting to your collage, run a thin bead of glue  or aquarium sealent on the back of the frame where the glass sets on the frame and wipe off excess with a damp cloth. Cut and glue a rectangle of felt to fit the back of your frame to prevent scratching your table.

 Tea Party Invitation

Be creative and make it you!

How early should tea party invitations be sent out?

There are many notecards available in stores that would be appropriate for your Tea Party Invitation. Look for delicate florals to compliment the theme of your party or match the tea party invitation to the pattern on your tea china.

You might also purchase single color note cards and floral or tea theme stickers to decorate them. Look in the scrapbook section of a local craft store for stickers for your tea party invitations or an internet search for tea theme stickers.

Many office supply stores also carry blank note card paper that can be designed and printed on your computer to create your own tea party invitation. Be sure you do not use copyrighted images found on the internet without permission.

Use round paper doilies and write your tea party invitation on the center of the doily. Decorate with floral or tea theme stickers if desired.

 How to Make Tea

Fill a tea kettle with fresh water and set on stove to boil. While you wait, run hot water from the faucet into your teapot to warm it up. Your tea will stay hot longer if you do this. When the boiling water is ready, empty your teapot and add your loose tea filled infuser or teabags. Use two or three teabags for four people. You may also put your loose leaf tea directly into the teapot and use a strainer when pouring. Pour the boiling water carefully into your teapot and wait 5 minutes, then remove infuser or teabags.

Serving Tea

The hostess should pour for each guest asking first if they want sugar and or lemon in their tea. If they do, place the sugar cubes in the cup first after asking “one lump or two?” then the slice of lemon, then carefully pour the tea slowly into the cup. Pass the tea cup to the guest and let them stir it themselves.
When serving beverages that do not need additions, the hostess should still pour for each guest.

Apple juice, hot cocoa, lemonade, or other juices may be served instead of tea if desired. The beverage served is not as important as the serving and etiquette of the tea party.

Some wonderful “extras” to add to your tea cup are:
* Tangerine slices studded with cloves (use one slice per tea cup)
* Fresh raspberries (use 3-5 per tea cup)
* Brew your tea with apple juice instead of water
* Place cinnamon candies in tea water with tea (remove any candy that did not melt before serving)
* add dried orange peel to the teapot

Recipes:

Click here to check out all kinds of Recipes for your tea party