These ideas come from a different party planning site - and the results will be a less sedate party than those posted last week, I should think.
Remember to take pictures of your guests, or film some of your Tea Party, upload them, and give us a link to your upload to be entered in our contest for Steeped Tea's 5 best sellers!
Plan an over-the-top adult tea party
Sure, tea parties have a certain shabby chic, Queen Elizabeth-meets-your-former-five-year-old-self appeal but sipping tea, pinkies out, and acting prim and proper grows old real fast. With spring approaching, why not celebrate warm weather, blue skies, and little white rabbits with a rousing, wild version of afternoon tea?
The vision: Imagine what Martha Stewart might create on crack. I’m not suggesting that you take “high tea” literally, but use your imagination. Rent Alice in Wonderland if it helps!
The plan: Invite friends to your abode on a Saturday afternoon, post-lunch, pre-dinner. Light eaters can continue on their merry way and be fulfilled well into evening. Your ravenous friends can have a light dinner later.
This is not necessarily a ladies-only luncheon, although it can be. But with the boozy tea and kitschy party snacks, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is man-friendly for sure.
Drinks: No matter how far you stray from a traditional tea party, this is still a tea party so teapots and cups and saucers are musts, as is the beverage itself. But the affair wouldn’t be called “mad” if you just drank orange pekoe with milk and sugar. Be creative and definitely consider spiking the brew. Blueberry tea with amaretto and Grand Marnier is delicious as is English breakfast with Bailey’s and apple cinnamon with peach schnapps. The key here is to mix your tea with sickeningly sweet liqueur for a disgustingly delicious sugar high reminiscent of elementary school birthday parties.
Food: Finger sandwiches are customary at tea parties as are sweets and there’s really no need to stray from that theme. Try to recreate the look of the sugary delights in Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, if you can. And that doesn’t mean baking and icing and slaving all day in the kitchen. Buy pre-made cupcakes and mini brownies and decorate them yourself. Fill sugar bowls with candy and chocolate eggs. To offset the sweet, be sure to serve scones—with jam and Devon cream, of course. If you can’t find Devon cream, buy whipping cream and whip it yourself so it’s good and thick. And prepare a mix of traditional finger sandwiches like cucumber and cream cheese and off-the-wall snacks like mini pizza pockets. Everything should be finger food. It not only looks cute and festive but it cuts back on dishes you have to clean.
Décor: Again, the idea is shabby chic gone wild, like your crazy great aunt’s house. A slightly tacky floral tablecloth is a must. And if you can get your hands on doilies or, even better, crocheted place mats and coasters, you’re set. Paper napkins in a rainbow of pastels and brights will work as well. Buy big floral arrangements but not the real fancy stuff. Pick up lots of greenery and the biggest, cheapest flowers you can find. Combine them into vases around the room and add flair with out-of-place elements like peacock feathers, fake birds, and playing cards.
Guest requests: If you’re feeling greedy, or it’s a special occasion, ask invitees to buy you a cup and saucer. There’s something charming about a mismatched tea set—and that way, you know you’ll have enough cups for everyone.
A tea party is much more fun when everyone is dressed appropriately. Request that your guests show up in Wonderland-appropriate attire. Tuxedo vests, satin gloves, crinoline, and bow ties are very much encouraged as are top hats, of course.
The artist, Kenneth Rougeau, who created the print used in the photo in this blog has the prints for sale here. I didn't want to infringe on intellectual property without giving due credit.
