How To Host A Grown Up Tea Party
Today I am going to share with you how to throw a successful & stress free tea party.
A few months ago when my little (sorority lingo)/best friend announced her engagement, I knew I had to plan the perfect shower for her! So for the past month, I put together a small, quaint tea party that I knew she would enjoy. The shower was this past Saturday and only consisted of 7 guests -the smaller the guest list, the more intimate your setting will be.
Once you have your table setting, you will want to create a buffet table filled with sweets, tea, sandwiches and salad. I chose to stick with a simple menu so that conversation could be enjoyed over fuss. Once the guests sat down, we passed around fruit, hot water and an assortment of tea bags. Next came the salad and the choice of chicken salad tea sandwiches or an egg salad tea sandwiches (which I can thank my loving husband for helping me assemble right before the guests arrived).
I placed an advice for the bride card on each plate so that the guests could fill them out while waiting to be served. The bride to be read the cards aloud just before she opened her gifts.
A few months ago when my little (sorority lingo)/best friend announced her engagement, I knew I had to plan the perfect shower for her! So for the past month, I put together a small, quaint tea party that I knew she would enjoy. The shower was this past Saturday and only consisted of 7 guests -the smaller the guest list, the more intimate your setting will be.
Menu:
Assorted Fruit
Chilled Water
Caesar Salad
Vanilla Cupcake with Butter Cream Frosting
Once you have your table setting, you will want to create a buffet table filled with sweets, tea, sandwiches and salad. I chose to stick with a simple menu so that conversation could be enjoyed over fuss. Once the guests sat down, we passed around fruit, hot water and an assortment of tea bags. Next came the salad and the choice of chicken salad tea sandwiches or an egg salad tea sandwiches (which I can thank my loving husband for helping me assemble right before the guests arrived).
I placed an advice for the bride card on each plate so that the guests could fill them out while waiting to be served. The bride to be read the cards aloud just before she opened her gifts.
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Tea Station:
honey, sugar, spoon, cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, tea cookies
Make sure to prepare your sandwiches right before your guests start to arrive and cover with serran wrap so that they remain fresh. I made the spreads the night before and left them in the refrigerator to chill. Once the morning came, I cut the crust off of the wheat bread and assembled the triangle cut sandwiches.
As for the salad, cut the lettuce, grate the Parmesan cheese and sprinkle your cranberries in the morning and cover/chill. I then added the croutons and dressing just before serving. The tea began at 11am and lunch was served around noon.