Hosting the Perfect Bridesmaids Tea Party

A bridesmaids tea party is usually held two to three weeks before the wedding, a beautiful tradition where the bride hosts a tea party to honor and thank her bridesmaids. It's a wonderful way for a bride to show her bridesmaids how much she appreciates them, and also a lovely way for the bride and her attendants to gather in a last intimate moment before the wedding. Hosting a bridesmaids tea party is very simple to do - for some tips and ideas on making it perfect, see below.

Invitations. Since a bridesmaids tea party is a small, elegant affair, your invitations should be personal, handwritten notes. Choose a cream or ecru colored paper and write a heart-felt invitation to each of your attendants. Scalloped paper is also a nice touch, too. You can use pre-printed invitations and a printer if you are pressed for time, but a personal invitation will always be treasured. Be sure to purchase extra paper for your thank-you notes.

Decorations. Start with the perfect spot for your bridesmaids tea party, a secluded spot if possible, and in the open air even more perfect (a private gazebo or garden, a small patio at a restaurant.) Decorate with lots of greenery and flowers - miniature roses and ivy are a lovely, romantic mix. Traditionally a bridesmaids tea party is elegant and feminine, but this of course can be tailored to the bride's taste and personality. A vintage tea set and silver trays for serving hors d'oeuvres and desserts are also lovely touches.

Menu. Focus on a simple, elegant menu for your bridesmaids tea party. Serve peppermint tea and lemonade for beverages, and fruit salad for an appetizer. A platter of crudités, assorted breads and butters, and maybe a pasta salad all work well, too. If you'd like to offer something a little heartier, try croissant sandwiches - tuna and chicken salad, sliced ham and roast beef all work well. For dessert, a tray of petite fours is a lovely choice, or try a small lemon cake.

Gifts. A bridesmaids tea party is the perfect time to prevent your bridesmaids with their gifts. Traditionally, the bridesmaids also present the bride with a gift from all of them at this gathering. Often times the gift represents everything the bride needs - something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The bride's gift to her attendants should be something personal - a piece of jewelry such as earrings to wear in the wedding is one very nice idea.

Thank-you notes. Use the same paper you used for your invitations to write your thank-you notes. This is another elegant, personalized touch your bridesmaids are sure to appreciate and remember, yet another way to thank them for being your attendants.

Source list:

Personal experience
Hosting Wedding Parties, created by Publishing International (no author credited)