Though the refined elegance of the afternoon tea party is almost a thing of the past, it remains an ideal setting for honoring a special bride in a sophisticated but relaxed manner. Warm tea, feminine décor, and light refreshments set a festive mood, and are surprisingly inexpensive.
Invitations: Any pretty, floral note cards, post cards, or invitations will do. A crafty option is buying or making note cards in the shape of teacups, cutting slits in them with a knife, and inserting a tea bag, as if it were steeping in the cup.
Refreshments: The most essential element is, of course, tea! Plan to serve punch, several different kinds of hot tea, or, if the weather is very warm, a variety of hot and iced teas. A large carafe full of hot water and an assortment of tea bags offer plenty of variety. For a more traditional and elegant look, serve tea in China pots. Don’t forget the sugar cubes, lemon slices, a cream pitcher, and honey. Tea sandwiches, though dainty-looking, are very easy to make. Salads like tuna, chicken, egg, or seafood are very popular, and can simply be spread on white bread with the crusts cut off and cut into 4 triangles, or with cookie cutters. Cucumber sandwiches, quintessential tea party fare, make a great-looking snack when I follow my grandmother’s recipe:
DILL-CUCUMBER SANDWICHES:
1 package cocktail rye bread squares
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 packet ranch seasoning
1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
Fresh dill
Mix the ranch seasoning into cream cheese, spread mixture onto bread. Top with one slice of cucumber and a sprig of dill. Makes 15 sandwiches.
A tea party is the perfect opportunity to serve a cake complete with cake pulls, or an assortment of pretty tarts and mini-pastries. Crudities, a fruit platter, and cheese and crackers can round all of the above into a meal. For a more substantial luncheon, or fancier spread, try adding a few of the following:
Deviled eggs sprinkled with caviar
Smoked salmon
Shrimp cocktail
Mini-quiches
Baked brie
Sliced ham or turkey breast
Pate
Spanakopittes (mini spinach pies)
Mini-spring rolls
Strawberries dipped in chocolate
Décor: First and foremost, if you don’t have a tea service, you must find one. But before you go out and splurge on China, remember that a mismatched tea set is easily the most charming option for an informal shower, and if you plan to serve several different kinds of tea, you’ll be using different pots anyway! Look carefully through antique shops, flea markets, thrift stores, and sales at home stores and department stores for a few pretty, quality teapots with no cracks. If teapots aren’t “you,” they can be your gift to the bride. Consider buying a teapot that goes with the bride’s China pattern and surprise her by pouring from it at her shower. To ensure enough cups and saucers, a friend suggests this lovely tradition: have each guest bring a different teacup (new, antique, or from a family collection) to the shower to drink from. After lunch, wash and pack all the cups (don’t forget to have some newspaper handy) and present them to the bride as a gift.
The tea service and refreshments will be the focal point of the party, so take your cues from the patterns and colors you find in the China. White or floral linens are perfect. A 3’x3’ floral tablecloth can be made easily by purchasing a yard of floral calico and trimming any frayed edges. Fresh and dried flowers are important, too, and look great grouped in teapots, pretty bowls, baskets, and glass or ceramic pitchers, as well as ordinary vases. Some upbeat classical background music completes the ambiance.
Gift ideas: Even if the couple has registered, you may want to help bring the tea party atmosphere into their new home with some of the following:
Embroidered linens
Flavored teas and coffees
Tea spoons, strainers, balls
A tea chest
Espresso cups
Tea cozy or tea towels
Lacy handkerchiefs
A wreath of dried flowers
Recipes for party refreshments
Cake plate
Trays or platters
Many of the above would make lovely favors.
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