We talk through how to throw the perfect afternoon tea with our top tips.. read more
If you’re looking to plan a summer soiree for a certain occasion, why not throw your very own afternoon tea party? Quite the fancy affair, no one enjoys a tea-party more than us Brits! Dinky finger sandwiches, homemade scones and an array of delicious cakes, an afternoon tea is a scrumptious option that can easily be created in the comfort of your own home. Kindly showcasing snaps from her roaring twenties themed afternoon tea, we take a peek at Buyers Assistant Emily’s delicious spread…
The Basics
In our opinion the centre piece of any afternoon tea is a beautifully decorated cake stand. Housing all your delicious cupcakes and dainty sandwiches, the darling Honeysuckle Trail Three Tier Cake Stand is the perfect way to display all of your scrummy cakes. For such an elegant occasion, dust off your finest china crockery and set the table with matching tea-cups and saucers. Why not tap into your crafty side and create table settings for each of your guests? We love the idea of using lace-like doilies to create a vintage theme!
The Spread
A typically British afternoon tea is comprises of a layer of petite sandwiches, scones accompanied with a large dollop of cream and jam of your choosing, and finally, a layer of mouthwatering cakes. When it comes to choosing what tasty bites to serve, you can follow the traditional menu of cucumber sandwiches (seriously underrated) with a slice of batternburg; or why not mix up your spread with a modern twist? Treat your guests to teacup filled jellies with ice-cream or chocolate coated strawberries, mmm!
A tea party wouldn’t be complete without the nation’s favourite tipple, tea! Entertain your guests with a variety of flavours including Earl Grey, peppermint, camomile and of course, English Breakfast. For a refreshing twist come the summer months, forgo the tea and serve pink lemonade or chilled ice tea in a teapot for a retro touch.
Setting the Scene
With the food all prepped, next it’s time to decorate your humble abode for the fancy affair. A neatly pressed table cloth is a must, make sure to choose a colour theme that works well to compliment your tablewear. A top tip would be to opt for an oil cloth table cover, they are easy to wipe clean and there is no ironing involved (serious brownie points). When it comes to laying the table, nothing beats a fresh bunch of freshly cut blooms in an elegant vase. We love the idea of teacup flower displays (as shown here), why not invite your guests to have a whirl at creating their own? Make & do with afternoon tea sounds right up our street.
If you have a particular theme in mind, we recommend having a look on Pinterest and peek at what other fabulous ideas you can bring to the table. Inspired by a mixture of decades, Emily’s vintage themed tea party played host to a number fun decor touches. Softly lit candles created an romantic ambiance, perfectly fitting for the roaring 20’s; whilst the retro bunting was very reminiscent of the 50’s, all complete with a jazzy 40’s soundtrack with hits from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
Our top picks for a delightful afternoon tea…
Polka Dot Duck Egg PVC Fabric / Peony String Lights / Domed Cake Stand / Peony Garden Amethyst Teapot / Rose Hill China Cup and Saucer / Hydrangea 3 Tier Cake Stand
Have you ever thrown your very own afternoon tea party? We would love to know all about it in the comments below!