Posted by Rebecca Malik on May 24, 2010 04:54 p.m.
The new Alice in Wonderland movie has me dreaming of throwing a delightfully quirky tea party. Cocktail parties and wine tastings are old hat; why not have a party that would instead encourage imbibing in caffeine and sugar? Not to mention cute little pastries, scones and maybe even tasty finger sandwiches.
Don’t think of a tea party as boring. In Alice in Wonderland, the tea party is freakishly fun. Any party is as good as its ingredients; it’s a simple recipe of good friends, good food, and some hot beverages.
Get your guests excited about your party. Send out brightly colored invitations. If you’d like to use a theme, here’s where to start incorporating it. Ask that your guests participate by “dressing for tea.” Most of us ladies love an excuse to dress up, so your guests will thank you for creating a reason to wear their Sunday best!
Dress up your table with bright cut flowers or a bowl of lemons or limes. Fresh linens in bright colors will help bring your table to life. Light music in the background is nice but not absolutely necessary; the real music will be in the joyful chatter of you and your guests!
While most of us have basic coffee and tea on hand, it is also fun to try something new. There are many varieties of tea and special types of coffee to sample. Why not surprise your guests with flavors they’ve never tried? Your local grocer or tea specialty store should have a few interesting options; or if you are planning your party well in advance, shop at one of the myriad of online tea retail stores for an even greater selection.
For the food portion of your party, a few cookies or cupcakes from your local bakery will suffice. You will also find many companies online that will deliver fresh treats quickly. If you’d like to make a bit more of a meal out of the occasion, prepare some light snacks, such as cucumber sandwiches. Alternatively, serve some store-bought veggie sushi rolls (the sushi rolls would go particularly well with a selection of Japanese teas).
It is fun to have a pretty teapot and coffee pot to serve your beverages in. There are some very darling sets out there with adorable patterns. Some also have matching cups and saucers; however, your tea party will be just as memorable if you use a mix and match selection of your own tea cups. If you do decide to add to your collection or start one from scratch, some of my favorite places to find unique and inexpensive tableware are at estate sales and flea markets. There you will certainly be able to piece together the perfect set.
If you wish to give your guests small party favors, simply repackage a selection of loose tea or tea bags into a small satchel or a cute cup found at your local flea market. Bought in bulk, the tea will be an inexpensive and fun way for your guests to experiment with different flavors at home.
As you see, a tea party is a great way to get your friends together for a relaxing afternoon; but don’t forget to make every day special by using your favorite tea supplies every morning!