Tea parties don't have to be stuffy and boring! With the right tea party theme, you can throw a fun gathering for any type of group. We've rounded up tea party ideas for adults and children and show you how to turn a special occasion like a bridal shower into a tea party, as well as tea party decorations and food ideas. Read on for 12 ways to turn your next gathering into an elegant yet entertaining tea party.
Kara from Kara's Party Ideas put together this dreamy, whimsical Mad Hatter's Tea Party with an emphasis on creamy beige and pinks. Pre-party, she saved time and effort by sending out Truly Alice party invitations. She created the stunning flower wall out of faux peony stems and faux floral stem sets. She filled mini cake dome favor containers with toffee, then used a pre-made set of Alice in Wonderland cutouts to accent the space, along with coordinating photo booth props. She rounded out the decor with a Truly Alice drink set, treat stand trio, luncheon napkins, dessert plates, party platters, key tags, teapot vase, buffet stand centerpiece, and vintage-style teacups and saucers. For a fun tea party activity, she invited guests to create their own top hats.
Photo: Kara's Party Ideas
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Celebrate an upcoming "I Do" with an old-fashioned tea party like this one by Missy and Kristen from Sweetly Chic Events & Design. They created a tablescape by filling a vintage-style white birdcage with a DIY ceramic teapot flower planter painted blue, then sprinkled other painted teapots across the table. They placed a white mug inside a white metal lantern, then adorned everything with roses. Each place setting featured a gold charger underneath vintage-style dinner and dessert plates. In addition to other vintage-inspired elements, they wrapped pearls and ribbon around light pink forks. A cocktail table featured gold stem champagne glasses with pink paper straws, desserts and a vintage suitcase in the party's color scheme.
Photo: Sweetly Chic Events & Design
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Whether it's for your daughter and her friends or your very own Galentines, this Valentine's Day tea party from The Crafting Chicks is a delightful way to celebrate the day of love. The Chicks created a gold and hearts theme by decorating the table with a gold table runner, light pink and gold garland, heart plates, chevron plates and heart napkins. They added tissue paper flowers to chairs with ribbon and taped paper fans to the walls for an extra pop of pink. Individual teapot planters (see the DIY) were decorated for each guest, along with DIY slap bracelet corsages.
Photo: The Crafting Chicks
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This Beauty and the Beast tea party by Missy and Kristen from Sweetly Chic Events & Design is the ultimate theme for a child's birthday party...or their mother's, if this was your favorite Disney movie growing up ;-). Yellow satin tablecloths serve as a play on Belle's gown, and the rose concept repeats throughout the decor (they repurposed this pink rose garland along with fresh florals) and food (learn how to make their Royal Rose Candy Cupcakes in gold laser cut cupcake wrappers). They painted DIY ceramic teapot flower planters gold and placed them strategically throughout the table, along with DIY boxwood topiaries. And what's a princess party without tiaras? There's a DIY for that, too. Instead of placing tea on the tables, they set up a DIY tea cart and candy buffet so guests could sip and snack as they pleased.
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Host a true British tea with the help of this flag centerpiece by Missy and Kristen from Sweetly Chic Events & Design. Begin by coating a DIY ceramic teapot planter with white paint and allow to dry. Use painter's tape to create a flag pattern per the instructions. Next, take a foam brush and cover everything with blue acrylic paint (you'll likely need two coats). When the blue paint dries completely, tape again per the instructions for the red portion of the flag and paint. This project uses crackle paint, but red acrylic paint will also work well. Once all the paint is dried, remove the tape to reveal your British flag. Fill with red and white blooms and set the scene with accompanying British flag plates, napkins, confetti, party picks, hanging lanterns and treat bags.
Photo: Sweetly Chic Events & Design
Make the Project
Who says only girls can have tea parties?! Stephanie from Spaceships and Laser Beams showcased a tea party for a group of dapper young gents. Using teal as the base color for the decor (shop teal plates, cups, napkins and lanterns), she incorporated argyle (check out this argyle tablecloth roll) and bowties throughout. She set up a game of croquet on the lawn for a fun-yet-refined activity.
Photo: Spaceships and Laser Beams
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Sara from Dinner at the Zoo threw a princess teatime birthday party for her 5-year old twin girls. Guests were encouraged to wear princess entire, and a real-life Rapunzel made an appearance. Upon arrival, guests were invited to choose a pre-made flower crown (try a felt crown or faux flower DIY crown). They could also choose from rings, bracelets and necklaces, and a DIY station allowed them to embellish their jewelry and add stickers to personalize their very own teacups. Rapunzel also doubled as a face-painter, drawing flowers and butterflies on each girl. A table of easy snacks kept the tea party kid-friendly.
Photo: Dinner at the Zoo
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Kara's Party Ideas showcased an outdoor high tea designed for an adorable group of little girls. The table was set with pink and lace tablecloths for an old-fashioned feel. This table was set with real china, but a faux set may work better for a more rambunctious group. The chairs were adorned with large flowers (try tissue paper flowers and ribbon for an easy substitute). Each child received her own flower crown. A vintage-style dessert cart was home to a series of pastel-colored desserts to match the color scheme on the table.
Photo: Kara's Party Ideas
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Swap your Friendsgiving for a fall tea party. Stephanie from 31 Daily threw this elegant gathering, using fresh pumpkins and a host of seasonal flowers as centerpieces. She served classic fall recipes like pumpkin pound cake, apple recipes, cranberry-walnut tarts and more. See our favorite fall appetizers, drinks and desserts perfect for a tea party.
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December can be filled with late evenings and heavy food. Give your friends and family a reprieve by creating a relaxing afternoon with light sips and sweets inspired by this party from Bliss Victoria. Nestle the food (we suggest mini peppermint mousse and eggnog cupcakes) amongst your existing Christmas decorations, turn on the fireplace and enjoy a warm, cozy gathering.
Photo: Bliss Victoria
See the Party
No matter the theme for your tea party, these too-cute chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies by Elena from Easy as Apple Pie will fit right in. Combine the ingredients per the recipe, then roll the dough, cut into rectanges, remove the corners and poke a hole in the top center to resemble a tea bag. Bake the cookies and dip in chocolate. Meanwhile, print and cut out free tea bag clip part. Once dried, apply the tea bags -- tie kitchen string or baker's twine through the hole in the cookie, then glue the tea bags to the end of the string.
Photo: Easy as Apple Pie
Make the Recipe
Whether you're throwing a tea party for children or are trying to create a fun moms' get-together, keep kids occupied with a free tea party coloring printable. Provide crayons, colored pencils or markers and let little artists create a one-of-a-kind china set.
Get the Printable