Host a Tea Party No One Will Forget!

It's time for tea! Everyone loves attending a tea party, so why not host one for your family and friends. A tea party is a perfect way to invite others into your home for a time of fellowship and refreshment. This article will list some great tips for your own tea party, and your party is sure to be a hit!

The invitations are the first thing that you need to do to get your party rolling! You can buy invitations, or make some personalized home-made invitations. Either way you will want to send out the invitations 2 weeks prior to the party. Choose a date and time that you feel will be convenient for the majority of your friends. A late morning or early afternoon tea party is a great break to anyone's day! If you are scheduling around many work schedules, perhaps the best time may be in the late evening. In the invitation be sure to include your phone number and that you would like a response so you can plan appropriately. Also state the length of the party and try to keep it to an hour so that more people can find the time to commit to attending.

After the invitations are in the mail you will want to plan your menu. Start with your beverage of choice, something warm and tasty. A favorite tea is Indian Chai. Many people have not tried this tea, so be sure to serve some standard tea as well. You can serve juice, milk and coffee as well. Be sure to offer water to the guests also. Keep the food simple. Cocktail foods and appetizers are usually hits. Crackers and cheese, dips, veggies and of course some cookies and chocolate are key ingredients at any tea party! Also consider your table decorations. If you have a fine China set, break it out for the occasion! Flowers create a beautiful and simple centerpiece to complete the look.

It is important to follow a general time line for your tea party. The schedule should be very relaxed, but you will want to keep the event moving so people can depart on time. Start with some fellowship time while the guests are arriving. A living room with sofas is a great place to start. You don't need to offer drinks or food since you will be serving tea very shortly. During this time be sure to introduce everyone in case there are some new faces! After the group is all there, move into the dining room where you have the table set and ready for presentation! Seat the guests and then begin to serve. If you have a close friend, perhaps you could ask for assistance during this time. Once the tea is served and the food is presented, allow for 20 minutes of sipping, eating and chatting at the table. Once it appears the guests are finished, move back to the living room. This is important so that the guests are not tempted to overeat what they had anticipated. Do not start cleaning, other than putting away any perishable foods. This will allow the guests to feel comfortable leaving the table. If you begin cleaning, the guests will feel they must help. Follow with a little more fellowship time and then allow your guests to leave when they feel they need to go!

A tea party is so much fun and allows for some great relationships to deepen. Inviting friends into your home creates an intimate atmosphere that allows for comfort. Follow these guidelines and everyone will be awaiting their invitation to your next tea party!!!