Might you like a cup of tea? Little girls love the elegance of dressing in beautiful clothes and acting like “grown-ups” at a fun and fancy Tea Party. Our Tea Party Ideas include suggestions for everything from invitations to activities that will make all your little guests feel like high society!
Invitations
Decorations
Food
Party Favors
Games & Activities
The History of Tea
As your guests sip on their tea and nibble on their finger sandwiches, read to them a little history.
The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung (28th century B.C.) is usually credited with the discovery of tea. Legend says that the emperor drank boiled water, believing it to rid the water of impurities. Once while traveling, some leaves of a camellia bush fell into the bubbling water. The emperor was intrigued by the aroma of the brew and it grew in popularity.
Tea was introduced to Europe during the 1500’s and 1600’s. Although Elizabeth I chartered the East India Company in 1600, it was the interest of King Charles II that enticed the British to adopt the beverage. Tea reached the height of its popularity during Queen Victoria’s reign. High tea became the last meal of most of the working class and included meat dishes, breads, cheeses, and anything else that might have been found in the pantry. The aristocracy, in contrast, enjoyed an afternoon tea which was more of an elegant, less filling ritual, served several hours before dinner.
Planning & Invitations
You’ve selected your theme, so you’re off to a good start! The next items on your planning list will be selecting a date, time and location for your party. The date and time will most likely be chosen based on your schedule (i.e. will you have a weekend party, or a party after school?), so choosing a location is probably the most difficult.
Hosting a party at your own home is a great option because it eliminates the cost of renting a facility, and is a comfortable environment for your child. However, many parents want to save themselves from the preparation and clean-up that comes with hosting a party at home. Alternative locations for a Tea Party might be a garden, a fancy restaurant, or if you want to go all-out, a ballroom. For additional ideas, see our article on When and Where to Have the Party.
What do I need for the Party?
Basic party supplies include paper tableware, such as plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery, as well as a tablecloth, streamers, and balloons. If you would like to use themed tableware, instead of solids, consider our Tea Party Supplies.
You can stick with the basics, or add other items to fit your theme. For example, you may also want to consider renting or purchasing the following:
- Tea Pots
- Tea Cups and Saucers
- Costume Items
- Extra Tables & Chairs
To help you with your shopping, take a look at our Suggested Party Supply List. You may not need everything on the list, but you can use it as a guide. For additional party planning tips, our Party Planning 101 Guide includes cake ideas, party etiquette tips, a printable guest list, and more.
Tea Party Invitations
The best way to set the mood for the party is by sending your guests fun and unique invitations. If you have the time to make your own, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Cut the shape of a teapot out of white cardstock and color the handle, spout, and lid in your child’s favorite color. Write your party details on the main section of the teapot, which will be left white.
- Take a photo of your little girl sitting at a table that is adorned with a tea pot and several tea cups. Place her favorite stuffed animals at the other place settings. Use this photo as your invitation, writing “Join Us for a Tea Party” on the front and all the party details on the back.
- Punch a hole in the corner of a card-style invitation and attach it to a pair of white gloves. Include in your party details that this is a “white glove event” and your guests should wear the gloves to the party.
- Purchase round white doilies that are solid fabric in the middle. Write your party details directly on the doily and send them in regular envelopes.
- Include creative wording for your party details, such as:
You are invited to a Formal Tea,
In honor of [child’s name] - she’s turning [age], you see.
She’ll wear her Sunday best, so you should too,
She’s very excited, so we hope to see you!
If you would rather not make your own invitations, but would still like a personalized touch, consider our Personalized Tea Party Invitations, which include all the party details for you! We also offer blank invitations that you can fill in yourself.
Whichever invitation option you choose, seal your envelopes with bright and fun stickers to add a final festive touch!
Decorating & Food Ideas
Tea Party Decorations
Set the mood for the party by answering the door in your most fancy clothes! It can be fun for everyone involved in the party, from you as the parent to the birthday girl’s siblings, to dress up for this fun occasion. Here are some other ideas to create the atmosphere:
- Twist together pink and lavender streamers and drape them from the ceiling. You can also use streamers to outline doorways and windows.
- Fill pastel-colored balloons with helium and tie them together in groups of three. Tie each group to the handle of a tea cup and set them around the party area. Add a Tea Party Mylar balloon to some of the groups for added fun.
- Fill a large tea cup with flowers or flower petals and use this as the centerpiece for the table.
- Set out large white doilies at every table setting, and set the table in the traditional fashion. Write each guest’s name in calligraphy on a tent card and place it at their designated seat at the table.
- Cut large daisy shapes out of white fabric, and add the flower center in yellow fabric. Tie one flower to the back of each chair at the table.
- Hang a banner above the entrance to the party area that reads “Please Join [child’s name] for Tea Time” Take a look at our Tea Party Personalized Banners for inspiration!
- Set out small bouquets of pink and white flowers on all tables, and line windowsills with flower petals.
- Make tissue paper flowers to set around the tables or to hand out to each guest. You can make your own with our free instructions, or get everything you need in one package with our Tissue Paper Flowers Kit.
- Play tea party music (classical choices work well) in the background.
Tea Party Recipes
There are no pizza and hamburgers at a tea party! Make this event an intimate affair, where your guests will really feel like grown-ups! Here are some ideas:
- Shaped Snacks - Use cookie cutters in the shape of tea pots and flowers to make cookies. You can also use the cookie cutters to cut out shapes in sliced cheese to serve with crackers.
- Finger Sandwiches - A must-have at any tea party! Make sandwiches in a variety of different flavors, such as cucumber & cream cheese, ham & cheese, peanut butter & jelly, and tuna salad. Cut the crusts off the sandwiches and then cut each into fourths. Arrange the pieces nicely on a platter for serving.
- Linzer Heart Cookies - These elegant snacks are a delicious alternative to the traditional shaped sugar cookies.
- Petit Fours - Serve these dainty sweets on a silver tiered serving tray for an even bigger impact.
- Let each guest make their tea their own! Set out a small bowl of sugar cubes, a squeeze bottle of honey, a small plate of sliced lemon, and a creamer of milk.
- Additional Beverage Options - No need to stick with just tea at your tea party! Along with the warm beverage, try serving fruit punch, lemonade, and sparkling cider as well.
- Chocolate Fondue - Set up a chocolate fondue pot or a chocolate fondue fountain in the center of the table. Give each of your guests a plate of goodies for dipping, including strawberries, marshmallows, lady finders, bananas, and apple slices.
- Tea Party Cake - One circular cake can create two teacup cakes! Cut a circular cake in half. On one side of each half, cut out the shape of the cup handle. Frost each cake in white frosting and decorate with pink and purple decorator icing and candies.
Tea Party Favors
When the tea has all been drank and the little ladies are ready to retire for the evening, send each one home with party favors that fit your theme. You could choose to give one large favor, such as a tea set for each girl to use at home, or you could choose to combine multiple small favors, such as costume jewelry, a selection of flavored teas, lip gloss, a feather boa, and candy in a nice favor bag.
To save time, you may want to consider our complete Tea Party Favor Sets, which include matching favor bags. Or, consider our popular Tea Party Personalized Favors. Choose from bag tags, zipper pulls, magnets, and more, all personalized with your guests’ names or a personal message from you!
Tea Party Game & Activity Ideas
There are many fun and easy games and activities you and your guests can enjoy at your tea party. For example, you could teach your guests the words to “I’m a Little Teapot” and host a sing-a-long before tea time! For additional ideas, see the Games & Activities section below.
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