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.

Reasons for Tea Parties: Women’s Social Interaction and Business Growth
Host a Tea Party

Reasons for Tea Parties: Women’s Social Interaction and Business Growth

Tea parties have always been where women gather, talk, and get things done. Here are six reasons to host one, for your family, your friend group, or your organization.

Host a Tea Party

Reasons for Tea Parties: Women’s Social Interaction and Business Growth

Tea parties have always been where women gather, talk, and get things done. Here are six reasons to host one, for your family, your friend group, or your organization.

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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