Little ladies and gentleman will love attending an afternoon tea party. Complete with tea sandwiches, bite-size sweets and a chance to get all dressed up, a tea-themed birthday party is fun for kids of all ages.
Decorations
The varieties of teas and snacks you serve should take center stage at your tea party, and you can complement the display with traditional tea-party accoutrements like an old-fashioned tea set.
If you don't have a traditional tea set, head to a thrift shop or flea market to pick one up. You'll want to look for teacups and saucers, teapots, creamers, sugar bowls, sugar tongs and teaspoons decorated in a Victorian style with flowers and golden accents. And don't worry if you can't find a complete set; a mismatched set is just as fun to own.
Really want to go all out with fun and functional tea accessories? Then look for a three-tiered plate stand (for your scones and tea sandwiches), teapot warmers (to keep your tea hot), tea strainers (to keep leaves out of your glass), tea infusers (to flavor a single cup of tea) and teapot bibs (to catch drips out of teapot spouts). All of these special accents will really signal to your guests that it's tea-party time.
A delicate floral tablecloth and small vases filled with bouquets of ivory and pink tea roses make for tea-party decor that's fit for a queen.
Costume Ideas
The ritual of afternoon tea is believed to have begun in the early 1830s, when Anna, the seventh duchess of Bedford, asked for tea and light refreshments one afternoon. She soon began inviting friends to join her, and the tradition spread. Because the elegance of the tea party is part of its charm, tea parties tend to be dressy affairs even today. Floral skirts and dresses make for suitable attire, or you can go all out with formal hats and white gloves.
The varieties of teas and snacks you serve should take center stage at your tea party, and you can complement the display with traditional tea-party accoutrements like an old-fashioned tea set.
If you don't have a traditional tea set, head to a thrift shop or flea market to pick one up. You'll want to look for teacups and saucers, teapots, creamers, sugar bowls, sugar tongs and teaspoons decorated in a Victorian style with flowers and golden accents. And don't worry if you can't find a complete set; a mismatched set is just as fun to own.
Really want to go all out with fun and functional tea accessories? Then look for a three-tiered plate stand (for your scones and tea sandwiches), teapot warmers (to keep your tea hot), tea strainers (to keep leaves out of your glass), tea infusers (to flavor a single cup of tea) and teapot bibs (to catch drips out of teapot spouts). All of these special accents will really signal to your guests that it's tea-party time.
A delicate floral tablecloth and small vases filled with bouquets of ivory and pink tea roses make for tea-party decor that's fit for a queen.
Costume Ideas
The ritual of afternoon tea is believed to have begun in the early 1830s, when Anna, the seventh duchess of Bedford, asked for tea and light refreshments one afternoon. She soon began inviting friends to join her, and the tradition spread. Because the elegance of the tea party is part of its charm, tea parties tend to be dressy affairs even today. Floral skirts and dresses make for suitable attire, or you can go all out with formal hats and white gloves.
