Summer Afternoon Tea Party
Party ideas to get you started.

If you are like most of us, we’re always looking for something new to do. With spring here and summer fast approaching my thoughts take me outside.

Being outside and on the patio underneath an umbrella relaxing with a cup of tea or a glass of iced tea, sounds like a perfect combination for a ladies only patio tea party.

Traditionally tea parties kept invitees to a minimum, say no more than ten invited. This way your party is kept intimate and you can make it as elegant as you want to. Formal afternoon teas call for shiny silverware, fancy napkins, and bring out your fine china.

Iced tea can be served in fancy goblets, and hot tea in fancy china cups. Bring out your crystal to put sugar cubes in and your table can be set with bouquets of fresh cut flowers. Use your finest crystal serving dishes for the sweets or finger sandwiches that you will serve. Use pedestals of different heights to make your table presentation just beautiful.
For a finishing touch you can play soft music.

Your party can be a themed party, such as mothers and daughters tea, your writing group, or just simply your best friends. Whether your invitees are your ladies bowling team, PTO, or Homeowners Association Board you can gear what you serve to their tastes.

If your tea is going to be an informal party with any of the above ladies attending you can extend the theme from the food to themed take-home gifts. If you are having your writers group along with a small writing session you could serve sweet treats and fancy fabric wrapped journals with pens as a take away gift should do. Some examples for mothers and daughters depending on the ages of the daughters, little girls love brownies and rice krispie treats and cute identical tea spoons make a great little take home gift. For say the bowling team, they may want Tex-Mex fare, and the take away gift could be hand towels that you personalize for use on the lanes. For a bit more of a formal affair with say, the PTO or the Homeowners Board attending you may want to serve cucumber sandwiches and small luncheon meat croissants should leave a nice impression, and the take-home gift could be a fancy wrapped votive candle or tiny flowers planted in tea cups.

Using some of these ideas should get you started to planning your spring time or early summer afternoon patio tea party. To come, please continue to look for recipes and craft ideas on my web-site. Enjoy your tea party.