Posts filed under 'Tea Party Themes'
If you came to Tea Party Girl because you are planning a tea party and need more info, I recommend you start with the question I answer in this article: Is it a Party with Tea or a Tea Party? . For the following article, I offer up some ideas for Parties with Tea.
Spring is a time to celebrate the gifts of new life like babies, brides, mothers, and graduations. But even if you and yours are not celebrating a milestone this spring, warmer sunshine makes the flowers and our souls begin to explode with color. And when we experience warmth and color in our souls, we often want to share with others. Are you planning a spring tea-related event? Here are some ideas for you.
I compiled this list with some help from the following books:
- Bless This Food:Four Seasons of Menus, Recipes, and Table Graces
- Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions:Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort and Joy
- Tea Party: 20 Themed Tea Parties with Recipes for Every Occasion, from Fabulous Showers to Intimate Gatherings
- Fairy Tales–These classic stories awaken children’s imaginations. The Flower Fairies have made a strong comeback in recent years; they’re my hope for children whose imaginations are fed Webkins these days. For ideas how to incorporate fairies into a children’s (or adults’) party, I refer you to my associate Dawnya Sasse, who wrote this article on her Tea Business Dreams blog.
- The Secret Garden–If classic literature is more your style than fairies, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett would provide an enchanting tea party theme. Consider inviting a local Master Gardener to answer your guests’ questions about their gardens and your local area. Favors can include seed packets or small potted plants. Spring bulb flowers like daffodils and tulips provide simple and beautiful decorations. Allow your guests time to plan their own summer gardens through catalogs, scissors, paste, and paper. Hold a contest for the best designed garden. Encourage guests to dream about the joy the beauty of working outdoors can bring.
- Spring Celebration–What represents new life and fresh beginnings to you? Some of the traditional decor include colored eggs and young farm animals. This might be the best time for a Beatrix Potter-themed tea. Beautiful egg ornaments can be made (using blown eggs) or purchased and hung from the light fixture above your table or on a flowered branch for a centerpiece (don’t forget to keep it low). You can also use wheat or rye grass tucked in baskets as part of your decor. And if your group is particularly crafty (or young and uninhibited) a spring party can be a fun time to decorate hats to be worn during the following tea party, of course!
- Arbor Day–Gardeners among us, consider how much it would mean to reach out to a single parent, shut-in, or someone else who could really use your green thumbs and plan a party to bring the garden to them. It can be as simple as everyone bringing a spring flower picked up at the local garden center. Assemble a pot together and leave it on an unsuspecting doorstep. (Just don’t make it too heavy!). Or, with permission, plant a tree in their yard. Even better, help clean up the yard and trees they already have! Be sure to award your guests hard work with a simple picnic you can quickly pull out when the work is done and cool drinks, like iced tea. And present them with some new, colorful garden gloves as a party favor.
- May Day–If you are planning a party for children in the spring, this theme lends itself to bouquets or garlands of wild flowers and erecting a simple Maypole as the grand marshal of outdoor field games. But be sure to hold a parade with the Maypole held high first! For an adult party, the Maypole could be assembled tabletop height for the centerpieces. The book, Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions: Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations Of Comfort & Joy provides all the instructions you need including miniature maypoles, may day baskets, and daisy crowns.
What spring event will you plan or attend? Do these themes inspire you? Which one?
April 4th, 2008
But does it matter?
Lovers of the tradition of afternoon tea mimic a custom that began with Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford. Faced with a fainting feeling mid-afternoon because of England’s late dinner hour, she is said to have asked her butler to bring her bread, butter, and tea around 5pm. She then asked her friends to join her and the social practice spread among the upper-class until its practice was widespread.
What may be even less known than this is that Anna Russell was a contemporary and friend of Queen Victoria who began her reign in 1837. Hence, many tearooms choose a Victorian theme for their decor and ambiance. I will sheepishly admit, I did not connect the historical dots until very recently. For many lovers of afternoon tea are also Jane Austen fans, probably the most well-known individual from the England’s Regency Era. And just in case you didn’t know, the Regency Era came BEFORE the Victorian Era. Most likely, while Jane Austen drank tea (see the book Tea with Jane Austen for more information) she didn’t practice the custom of afternoon tea so many of us have come to enjoy.
I once tried to plan a Jane Austen themed tea based on the book Tea with Jane Austen. The author includes a number of recipes written as they were in the 19th century along with an updated version. But I abandoned the idea because I wanted a menu filled with more traditional afternoon tea fare which was not included. Now I know why. And I know some of you want to try this theme as well, as my search terms show.
So for the historical purists among us, an authentic Austen-themed afternoon tea would be difficult to reproduce. However, your afternoon tea can take on any theme you want. Some of the ways you could incorporate Jane Austen into your theme could be:
- with fashion. The empire silhouette is back in style, with a woman’s waist falling directly below her bust. Regency women did not wear corsets or hoop-skirts, smart girls! Now, one would wear hats and gloves and remove the gloves when dining.
- with the language of the fan. It is my understanding that the secret messages sent with the fan women carried began before the Victorian era. And it’s just fun.
- with music. Mozart was already around!
- to provide your guests with a copy of one of Austen’s novels as a party favor. Dover Thrift Editions are extremely reasonable, such as this copy of Mansfield Park.
- to invite a dance instructor and ask for instruction in the Cotillion, the dances we see in the Austen-based movies. Even with only girls, this could be great fun.
So while Jane Austen was only eight years older than Duchess Anna, she died forty years before her. It’s possible Ms. Austen was never invited to afternoon tea. Now, Beatrix Potter’s life, on the other hand, was most likely filled with appointments for afternoon tea. And a Beatrix Potter-themed tea would be extremely easy to recreate. Blackberries and chamomile tea, anyone? I was in awe of the number of beautiful tea-related scenes in the recent movie, Miss Potter. This was accurate, since Miss Potter came of age when the Victorian Era and the tradition of afternoon tea were in full swing.
Do you think it matters? How would you incorporate Jane Austen into your afternoon tea party?
February 12th, 2008
If you came to Tea Party Girl because you are planning a tea party and need more info, I recommend you start with the question I answer in this article: Is it a Party with Tea or a Tea Party? . For the following article, I offer up some ideas for Parties with Tea.
Winter is a time to celebrate the gifts only winter brings. It’s often a time to take stock and focus on what really matters to you. For some, yearly obligations with family is a relief to have behind them and in winter they can cozy up with ones they feel the closest to. In Tea Party Girl’s life, this means simplifying down to focus on only the five of us who live under the same roof. Winter is about starker decorations like bare tree limbs, the beauty of white and cream, and firelight. Here’s a few ideas for celebrating the last weeks of winter.
I modified this list with some help from the following books:
- Bless This Food:Four Seasons of Menus, Recipes, and Table Graces
- Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions:Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort and Joy
- Redeem Groundhog Day–Celebrate Candlemas Instead-Traditionally celebrated on February 2, this day marks winter’s halfway point. In the past, candles had to be made instead of picked up at store. Candle-making, however, can still be a simple handcraft for a group. If there are children involved, it is recommended to use sheets of beeswax to roll around the wick instead of dipping them. Even if you don’t want to make the candles, this is the day to light as many as you can (non-scented are the best choice for this). If it’s a stormy day, all the better! At the very least, eat dinner with your family only by candlelight on this day of the year.
- President’s Day-One of my very favorite simple suggestions in Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions: Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations Of Comfort & Joy is to add a Lincoln Log structure to your table decorations and serve cherry pie on President’s Day. Isn’t that a great idea? Since the Fourth of July is America’s most celebrated patriotic holiday, but smack dab in summer, why not go patriotic in the middle of winter? Plan your winter event around red, white, and blue, or celebrate some of the best America has to offer in February. Some ideas I have are to include vintage candy or toys made here in the U.S. either as decorations or favors.
- Mardi Gras–Fat Tuesday is on February 5th this year, traditionally marking the end of revelry between the Twelfth Night of Christmas and the start of Lent. Mardi Gras can represent many levels of decadence and tackiness, but the colors of green, yellow, and purple with costume jewelry galore can still provide a great party theme for even the more sober among us. Use your imagination and find a reason to celebrate “just because” you can.
- Ash Wednesday/Lent-Do you have a few friends who spur you on to “love and good deeds?” Who are your kindred spirits you can share the good, bad, and the ugly with? Why not gather an intimate group together for some true confessing? Then pray for or encourage one another in the small steps needed in your lives for real change. There’s a reason those wooden boxes with priests sitting in them have stayed in style over the centuries and psychologists get paid so well. Confession often frees the soul for true freedom. If you share friendship that can accommodate transparency, celebrate it!
Why didn’t you include Valentine’s Day as a theme?-A complete Valentine’s Day themed tea will be available for download very soon! If you’re interested in receiving it, be sure to sign-up for my email updates in the top right corner of this website.
Of course, all of the above parties need to include tea, if for no other reason than to invite this wonderful beverage who has been often discriminated against in the past.
What winter event will you plan or attend?
January 14th, 2008
Christmas and the tea party naturally go together. The weather finally settles down to a consistent chill and the days are short. Christmas helps us celebrate all the cozy gifts of winter. When planning your Christmas tea, keep your favorite treats and gifts of the winter season in mind.
But first, here’s a few key tips for decorating in general. Pick a focal point in the room and on your table. It can be your centerpieces (keep them short!), brightly-colored napkins tucked in the water glasses, or all the food on one table buffet-style with themed decorations. For Christmas, think of colors apart from the traditional red and green. I suggest picking one of them, adding silver, gold, or white and adding a third non-traditional color like purple. Think how your colors can relate to your party’s theme.
Here’s a list of Tea Party Girl’s favorite winter treats and ideas to build tea party themes and decorations around them.*
Peppermints and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite–Play the music, of course. This theme is wonderful for children. They associate The Nutcracker with candy. Play up peppermints. They’re cheaper than fudge, and certainly better colored! Use red and white stripes wherever possible. Have a pretty glass jar or vase filled with old-fashioned peppermints on the tables. See if you can find inexpensive nutcracker or ballet shoes ornaments and offer them as favors to take home. Borrow the larger nutcrackers for decorating the room your tea will be held in. Put raspberry jam on the tables with a little teaspoon for the guests to stir into their tea, in honor of the Russian Mr. Tchaikovsky. Play up the candy theme as much as you like.
Christmas Bling–Bling is a slang term for elaborate jewelry and lifestyle, but used in taste, can turn into a great theme for a sparkly tea party. Encourage your guests to wear their diamonds, rhinestones, or whatever is appropriate. Use mirrors anywhere you can. Add large wire ribbons with sparkles to the backs of the chairs. Visit thrift stores and look for ostentatious pieces of costume jewelry. They can be attached to simple napkin rings or given as favors. Or use small potted trees for your centerpieces and add sparkly ornaments your guests can take home as favors.
St. Nicholas Day (December 6)–Use this theme to celebrate generosity, benevolence, and gift-giving. Consider how you can turn your Christmas tea into an opportunity for your guests to help provide for the needy and then reward them with a little surprise gift. Provide a large stocking and ask them to bring a gift of money or another you determine for a charity of your choice. Hang stockings from the backs of their chairs and add a small gift of chocolate-covered coins (St. Nicholas traditionally provided money to the needy), or other little luxury like candles or special hand lotion. Victorian children traditionally set out their shoes filled with something for the saint’s horse and found presents in them the next morning. Think creatively how you could use this idea for your centerpieces.
Candles and Firelight–This is one of the easiest themes to pull together, especially if your event takes place in the later part of the day. Strands of white lights with tulle can drape through your buffet table. Use candles (unscented!) everywhere that’s safe. Build a fire in the fireplace. This is another theme to incorporate mirrors into, as well as any gold or silver serving pieces you have available as they will reflect the light.
Christmas Carols–Below I’ve listed three of my favorite Christmas carols I would choose for a tea party theme. Be creative with your favorite carol or choose one of mine. For all, I would look for a pretty copy of the carol which includes the traditional chorale/instrumental music to incorporate somehow into my theme, possibly as the favor. A place to look would be old hymnals or online.
The Holly and the Ivy–If you are looking for a strong Christ-centered event, this beautiful hymn speaks not only of the Christ child, but the gift of his sacrifice as an adult. And if your leanings are more toward a country-style Christmas, this theme can help you bring in the outdoor gifts of winter. Use holly and its berries (with caution! Not recommended with children who might get stuck or put things in their mouths) with small ivy potted plants (ask your grocery store florist) for your centerpieces. Tie strings of ivy to the backs of the chairs and add these plants to your buffet table. Provide the lyrics and play the music.
The Carol of the Bells–I love bells at Christmas time and would use them everywhere if this was my tea party’s theme. Tie little bells to the handles of the teapots, the chairs, doorknobs, and servers. Find a good balance between the fun and the nuisance of this option! Play the song, and for fun, hold a contest to see which table can sing it the best, as this is not an easy task!
In the Bleak Midwinter–Winter Wonderland is an often-used theme because it’s so beautiful. Use white, off-white, glass, and silver everywhere you can. Incorporate snowflakes and doilies into your decorating. Tracy Stern’s “Tea Party” book outlines everything you need to know to plan a Winter White tea. Some of my favorite ideas of hers include snowflake-shaped invitations, fake snow or coconut scattered on the table under your flowers (white, of course), and the use of white chocolate with the food.
I trust this gives you some ideas to start your Christmas Tea Party planning. Continue to brainstorm and make these themes your own. And please refer to The Best of Tea Party Girl in my sidebar for continued direction about planning your event.
Be sure to tell us about your Christmas Tea, ask your questions, and add your own ideas for the above themes in the comments.
And please subscribe to my RSS feed by pressing the orange button below so you won’t miss any of my Christmas-themed tea party planning help this season.
November 5th, 2007
September’s number one read article/post on Tea Party Girl was Six Possible Party Themes for Your Autumn Event. This post won by a landslide! But the post didn’t specifically tell you how to plan an Autumn Tea Party. This one will. It’s been uploaded to my articles page and reprinted here as I dash off to the afternoon’s activities. Please let us know in the comments if you are hosting any autumn tea party events. We’d love to cheer you on!
To begin planning your tea party event, no matter what the season, you need start by answering a few questions:
- How many people will you invite?
- Who will they be?
- What is your budget? How much does that give you per person?
- When will your event take place?
- What will be your theme? Some ideas for your autumn event are available through my post, “Six Possible Themes for your Autumn Event”. Other possibilities are:
- Halloween/Reformation Day/All Saints’ Day
- Election Day
- Thanksgiving (both America’s and Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday take place in Autumn)
- a Costume-Planning Party (thank you Sarah Ban Breathnach…I love your book! If you own it, be sure to check out her Autumn-themed party for Martinmas…so inspiring!). What a great idea for you crafty/seamstress types! Why not plan an afternoon to gab over tea and your handiwork in time to prepare your children’s costumes?
- All Soul’s Day–November 2nd. A great theme for a tea party. Really. Have you lost someone dear to your family? Why not set aside time to share memories over tea with your children and tell them stories about your loved one. Has a friend lost a loved one in the past year, maybe even in a season of grief? What if you planned a tea and invited a small group of some of her friends that may have struggled to help through this time. Allow her to share freely and “weep with those who weep”.
Once you make these decisions, you need to send out your invitations. These can be done a number of ways. Remember, keep your budget in mind. I’ve listed some options below.
- E-vites (free)
- Snail-Mail Invitations with
- fall-themed papers and your computer
- preprinted Hallmark invitations you pick up at your local store and handwrite.
- handmade, scrap-booking materials
- Telephone Calls (personal, but take up your time. depending on the number of people you are trying to coordinate).
Next, you need to plan the menu. Remember to keep your budget, theme, and time of day in mind. And DON’T forget to plan the tea. I’ve written a thorough article on The Steps to Creating a Tea Party Menu to help with your planning. Specific ways to incorporate flavors of fall in the traditional tea menu are with:
Tea flavors I suggest to serve at an autumn-themed event, depending on your menu, are:
Once you’ve decided on your menu, think through how you will set your table. I’ve written some about setting the tea table already. Now is the time to think through what you already own, what you need to purchase, and what you can borrow. How many tables and chairs will you need? Remember, intimate is never more than eight, so take that into account when you think through your seating arrangement. What will be your centerpiece(s) and how you will incorporate your theme? Some ideas for autumn centerpieces are:
Part of setting your table means polishing any silver pieces and ironing any linens. Will you include a printed menu for your guests benefit? This is also the time to make/purchase some place-cards and decide what you want to give as a favor. Some ideas for autumn-themed favors are:
- hollowed-out pumpkins as vases filled with chrysanthemums as they are prolific in fall.
- large-pillar candle surrounded by mini-pumpkins and unusual gourds.
- beautiful bowl filled with fall fruits like pomegranates, apples, pears, or a combination of all.
- colored leaves from your neighborhood with unscented and protected tea-lights.
Take time now to decide what to wear and what music to play. How can these two elements add to your theme? Warm colors of red, orange, yellow, and peaches are associated with autumn. Can you wear one of them to your event? Some ideas for autumn-themed music are:
Once these decisions are made, you will see your theme come together with all the elements that help us celebrate autumn’s beauty. Be sure to spend some more time perusing Tea Party Girl’s archives for further details you might need to plan your tea party event. As always, feel free to email me or leave a comment with your questions.
May your event bring blessing to all who attend, and to you as well.
October 1st, 2007
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