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Home » Recipe Type » Kid Friendly

How to Throw a Tea Party

By: Pamela Reed
Posted:1/15/21
Updated:6/14/23

How to throw a tea party on a budget! Ideas for food, tea, decorations, tableware, music and more are included to make it the best tea party ever!

donuts, tea cups and plates on table for tea party

How to Throw a Tea Party

Do you love tea parties? Me too.   You’re with your friends, you get to eat yummy pastries and veggie dishes, you use floral China plates and cups and if you’re feeling bold you wear a fancy hat.  It’s just a magical afternoon for everyone!

In this post I’m going to show you how to throw a tea party!  We’ll cover food, decorations, tableware, music and more to make it a perfect party!

food and tea cups on lace table cloth for a tea party

What do I need for an afternoon tea party?

We’re going to break it down into a couple sections. These are all must haves for a memorable tea party! Not only do these work for adult tea parties, but they’re fun for kids parties too (me and my daughters love having tea parties!).

  1. Tea & Food
  2. Tableware
  3. Decorations
  4. Music

What foods are served at a tea party?

Besides good times with friends, you also want to serve up some yummy food and a great selection of teas.

Have a selection of teas from green to white to dark so everyone can try different kinds.  You can even try making some homemade tea like parsley tea and mint tea. Also make sure to have cream and sugar nearby.  

rose spoon in tea cup on table

If you’re feeling adventurous investigate milk tea which is a more creamy style tea.  In lots of Asian tea houses they serve milk teas in flavors from Earl Grey to Rose to Lavender (by the way are a beautiful pink and purple shade!) and more.  

For food serve sweet pastries and a few lighter options.   Bake or buy donuts, cakes, pies and homemade scones (with clotted cream).  For recipe ideas try my Mini Banana Muffins, Mini Blueberry Crumble Muffins, Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Confetti Cake Brownies, Strawberry Donuts and Blueberry Buckle Crumble Cake! 

Think about your tableware when buying pastries if you want them to match.  I love pastel and light tableware, so I chose donuts with soft colors and sprinkles.

paper bird cage with donuts in it

If you want to serve something besides sweets, look for soups, sandwiches or vegetables.  Ricotta and Tomato Tea Sandwiches are perfect because they are small, light and can be cut up into cute shapes.  Vegetable dishes like roasted carrots or Brussels Sprouts, or a Cauliflower soup are perfect brunch partners.  

Tableware for Tea Party

When your friends arrive you want to wow them!  Tableware is one of the keys to making a beautiful display.  You’ll need plates, tea cups, a pretty kettle, napkins, spoons (I love these gold spoons) and serving plates for larger dishes. You’ll also need a dessert rack which when placed in the center of the table makes everyone smile!

For my tea party, I went the traditional route of floral mix matched patterns.  And even though it might look like a expensive setup, it’s not!  Can you believe my plates that look like fancy China are actually paper plates? I love them!

floral tea kettle on lace table cloth

Here’s what I used:    White Lace Tablecloth /  3-Tier Birdcage Patisserie Cake Stand /   Scrumptious Dessert/Cake Plates / Vintage inspired Tea Cups /  Gracie China Rose Porcelain Tea Cup and Saucers  /  Porcelain Butterfly & Dragonfly Teapot Trimmed In Gold  / Floral Truly Scrumptious Napkins /  Gold Plated Rose Demi Spoons  

Looking to include children? Here’s my suggestions for the best tea sets for children.

Tea Party Decorations  

If you’re a DIY queen make pom poms from tissue paper.  If you’re not a DIY queen (like me) then buy them from Martha Stewart.   I got a set of giant pom poms and small pom poms to place above the table and on the walls, as well as a small garland set to decorate the table with.    

pink pom poms hanging from ceiling

A simple lace tablecloth sets the table and makes everything look brighter.    Buying fresh flowers and putting them in pastel mason jars would be pretty too!  If you cut out heart shapes from card stock you can make some simple and inexpensive name tags.  

tea party set up on table with food and tea kettle, tea cups

Best Music for Brunch

You want something mellow and soft that can play in the background.  The party is about friends catching up so you don’t want something too overpowering.  I recommend Koop’s “Koop Islands” album which is jazzy with vocals, but is soft enough that you can actually hear each other talk.

If you have Spotify, you can do a search for “brunch” that will give you good playlists.  For the ultimate fancy tea party, put on some classical music.

I hope you liked my guide on how to throw a tea party! I hope you have a fun time and eat plenty of donuts! 

Pin for later:

How to throw a tea party on a budget! Ideas for food, tea,  decorations, tableware, music and more are included to make it the best party ever!

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  • How to Make Mint Tea
  • The Best Childrens Tea Sets for Toddlers
  • How to Make Parsley Tea

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  1. Annie Ralph says

    March 10, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    I loved all the tea display and set up. Floral display and colors are my favs.

    Reply
  2. Lisa says

    June 19, 2019 at 7:05 am

    pretty china and fancy pastries are a must for any tea party

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      June 19, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      I agree Lisa!

      Reply
  3. Marissa says

    November 13, 2018 at 11:39 am

    So cute and easy using a Tea Party theme for my Bridal Shower and using this a reference.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      November 13, 2018 at 1:53 pm

      Congrats Marissa – hope you have a great tea party! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Melanie Jo Vogelzang says

    April 20, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    Where did you get the tea cups from?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      April 20, 2018 at 1:50 pm

      From right here: https://amzn.to/2Hh8Qbi

      Reply
    • Jasminne says

      September 1, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      I bought mine from yard sales and thrift stores. TJ MAX sells them too.

      Reply
  5. Brittany says

    April 10, 2018 at 11:48 am

    This is the freaking cutest thing I have ever seen!!! LOVE!!!!

    Reply
  6. Kathy thompson says

    January 17, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    Love this. What kind of cats? I had a Persian for 17 years that was beautiful like yours. She kept getting reoccurring urinary tract infections. I miss my Chloe girl. Sometimes I think I might get another. However I spent tons and tons of money at the vet. That’s why I would like to know the breed of your grey beauty. Any health problems? Sooooo pretty!

    Reply
  7. Donna J Shepherd says

    October 28, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    I’m wanting to try milk tea after reading your post. Lovely ideas. Thanks! *Pinning 🙂

    Reply
  8. Fabby says

    August 11, 2017 at 11:31 pm

    Beautiful dishes for tea time and the food looks awesome!
    I’m pinning this loveliness on my “Everything for Tea Time” board.
    I have the same sweet teapoat and rest of the tea set, plus 12 teacups and 12 cake plates.

    Fabby

    Reply
  9. Deborah Ford says

    April 21, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    I love your tea party and your beautiful cat, Goblin. I, too am a cat lady with 6 cats, 5 longhaired and 1 tabby. I would love to do something special like this for my spoiled little angels.

    Reply
  10. Emma @ Bake Then Eat says

    March 22, 2016 at 8:06 pm

    I’m glad the kitty’s got to join in. I love those paper plates that look like fancy china, I use them for when I am serving cakes in the garden, love a smash prof plate for outdoors. This is such a cute party 😀

    Reply
  11. Mason Canyon says

    March 22, 2016 at 3:24 pm

    The tea party looks beautiful and so much fun. As for a tea party for cats, Traveler would love the Fancy Feast treats, that’s his favorite.

    Reply
  12. Jamie | The Kitchenarium says

    March 21, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    Oh Pamela I would love to join you for a donuts + tea party. You set up is gorgeous and those paper plates are perfect. My daughters would love to cuddle all the kitties 🙂

    Reply
  13. Ashley says

    March 21, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    This tea party is just so fun!! I’ve never done anything like this! I do love me some tea!

    Reply
  14. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says

    March 21, 2016 at 8:17 am

    We are big on our tea parties here in the UK and it always has to involve pretty china and table clothes.

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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