Tips to Organize a Formal Tea Party

Ideas for tea parties here is a little different. Formal tea parties are often for special occasions like fund-raising, meetings, graduation, reunion...These parties often involve a very large number of people. They require a lot of space so the foods and the tea should be displayed where everyone can get to them.

Sit or not to sit in a formal tea party?

Because there are so many people, it would be inconvenient, not to mention costly to serve sitting, so most of hosts of these events often apply the buffet style to the party. In a buffet, long table is often used. The foods can be placed side by side. The guests don't have to reach over for the foods. Another convenience about the long table is that many people can get access to the foods at the same time. It's easier to move along the sides than going around. With the round table, except it is a very big round table, it's very difficult for many people to stand around it. Not to mention the troubles of getting in and out the circles.

Where should you place the food and the tea in a formal tea party?

The tea pots and tea cups are often placed at both ends of the table. People can take a cup of tea when they enter the line. Or they can take one later once they reach the end of the tables. Napkins are also placed along the tables. People can just take some when they get their foods.
The foods should be dry and clean to handle. They should not be sticky or slimy. The foods in formal tea parties are often sandwiches or cakes. These are often light treat AND can be eaten by hands. The sandwiches and the cakes are often cut into small portion and placed nicely on China plates (Well, any clean and beautiful plate is sufficient). Pleasant presentation can add some comfort into the experience.

A few flowers to bright up the place?

A few flower arrangements would be nice. They add some colors to the parties. Formal tea parties are simple but still retain a sense of elegance and sophisticated. Organization is often the key to the success of these parties. It's a good idea to try imagining how the plates and the tea should be set up so the traffic to and away from the buffet table are easy to navigate. It helps if you can have the foods and tea in one room and the meetings in another room. Tea and foods are great but more important issues are at hand. So try to keep them separately.