How to Host a Tea Party Without Losing Your Whole Week

Every question in here has been asked at my table by somebody standing there holding a spatula. What do I feed people, how far ahead do I start, and what do I do if I don't own a single teacup. I host tea parties around San Antonio for showers, birthdays, churches, senior centers and offices, so none of this is theory. If the planning starts to feel like too much, that's what I'm for, and a box will mail the whole thing to you instead.

Virtual tea party ideas: laptop, kettle and an open mini tea party box on a kitchen table
Host a Tea Party

Virtual Tea Party Ideas for Teams, Alumni and Family Far Away

Ship the same tea, brew at the same minute, and give the hour a shape. My 60-minute virtual tea party run sheet for teams, alumni groups and family far away.

Host a Tea Party

Virtual Tea Party Ideas for Teams, Alumni and Family Far Away

Ship the same tea, brew at the same minute, and give the hour a shape. My 60-minute virtual tea party run sheet for teams, alumni groups and family far away.

Senior living activity room table set for a tea party with teacups, teapots, and hats
Host a Tea Party

Tea Party Ideas for Senior Living Communities and Memory Care

A tea party is one of the few activities that works across every ability level on the floor. Here is my one-hour run sheet, what to serve, and how to bring families into the hour.

Host a Tea Party

Tea Party Ideas for Senior Living Communities and Memory Care

A tea party is one of the few activities that works across every ability level on the floor. Here is my one-hour run sheet, what to serve, and how to bring families into the hour.

Halloween tea party games table with hats on chairs and 4 numbered tasting cups
Host a Tea Party

Halloween Tea Party Games: The Mad Hatter Contest and Four More

5 Halloween tea party games that fill an hour without a script: a Mad Hatter hat contest, a blind tasting of 4 teas, a whodunit, a candy round, and 10 minutes of real talk.

Host a Tea Party

Halloween Tea Party Games: The Mad Hatter Contest and Four More

5 Halloween tea party games that fill an hour without a script: a Mad Hatter hat contest, a blind tasting of 4 teas, a whodunit, a candy round, and 10 minutes of real talk.

Fall tea party table on a Texas porch with teapots, mismatched china and a bowl of apples
Host a Tea Party

Harvest Tea Party Ideas: A Fall Gathering With Apple, Chai and Fireball

3 pots of tea, a dessert board instead of dinner, and 1 round of questions that gets the table talking. How I host a harvest tea party in October.

Host a Tea Party

Harvest Tea Party Ideas: A Fall Gathering With Apple, Chai and Fireball

3 pots of tea, a dessert board instead of dinner, and 1 round of questions that gets the table talking. How I host a harvest tea party in October.

Tea Party Themes for Every Occasion: 12 Ideas From a Host Who Runs Them
Host a Tea Party

Tea Party Themes for Every Occasion: 12 Ideas From a Host Who Runs Them

12 tea party themes I actually host, with what to pour at each one, how much work it is, and what to do when you do not own enough teacups.

Host a Tea Party

Tea Party Themes for Every Occasion: 12 Ideas From a Host Who Runs Them

12 tea party themes I actually host, with what to pour at each one, how much work it is, and what to do when you do not own enough teacups.

Three teapots on a table set for a tea party with mismatched teacups and a tiered tray
Know Your Tea

Which Tea to Serve at a Tea Party: Black, Herbal and Dessert Blends by Guest

3 teas for up to 10 guests, 6 for more, and always 1 without caffeine. Which blend to hand which guest, and how many sachets go in the pot.

Know Your Tea

Which Tea to Serve at a Tea Party: Black, Herbal and Dessert Blends by Guest

3 teas for up to 10 guests, 6 for more, and always 1 without caffeine. Which blend to hand which guest, and how many sachets go in the pot.

Tea party hosting questions

How do I host a tea party at home?

Pick a theme first, because every other decision gets easier once you have one. Set it for mid afternoon. Plan 3 courses: something savory, something with scones or bread, something sweet. Brew 1 caffeinated tea and 1 Caffeine-Free so nobody gets left out. Set the table the night before. What your guests remember is the hour they sat down, not whether the napkins matched.

What food do you serve at a tea party?

Finger sandwiches with the crusts off, scones with jam and cream, and small sweets you can eat standing up. Keep everything to 2 bites or fewer so nobody needs a knife. And you do not have to bake. A good bit of what I serve comes from a grocery store bakery and nobody has ever once noticed.

How far ahead should I plan a tea party?

2 to 3 weeks for a shower or a birthday, and longer if you are renting china or booking a room in December. The day before is for setting the table and portioning food. The day of is for boiling water and opening the door.

What if I do not own teacups or a teapot?

Borrow, thrift, or rent. My own collection started as mismatched cups I found one at a time, and mismatched looks better than matched anyway. If you would rather not own 40 of them, I rent vintage china around San Antonio, delivered in sets, and my team washes and sanitizes every piece afterward so you never touch a sink.

How do I keep the conversation going at a tea party?

Give people something to do while the tea steeps. A question card at each place, a round of tea party bingo, a shared activity. There is a reason every box I pack has something in it besides tea. The tea is the excuse. The talking is the point.

Send Someone a Tea Party

I started packing these boxes so I could send my kitchen table to people I could not get to in person. Every one holds loose leaf tea and something to do while it steeps, because the part that matters is the hour you sit down for. Pick the one that sounds like the person you are sending it to.

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