If you’re searching for a unique way to celebrate the joys of Spring, a backyard tea party is an occasion worth considering. From crumpets to croquet, there’s plenty of tea party staples for your guests to enjoy while basking in the warm Spring weather. Gather inspiration from these delightful tips to help you host the most charming tea party of the season.
Prep Your Yard
A backyard tea party calls for a clean, well-manicured space in which to host. After cultivating the perfect Spring garden, it’s time to hold your yard to the same standards and transform it into tea party central.
Start by clearing out all debris, including fallen tree branches, leaves, and rocks and hauling them away with the help of storage bags. Any holes in the ground should be filled in and trees and shrubs should be properly pruned.
It’s also a good idea to mow the lawn the day before your tea party for the freshest cut grass on the block. While trimming, be sure to have your custom covers on to protect from flying grass clippings.
Use the Fine China
An occasion as elegant as a tea party calls for fancier servingware than the paper plates and plastic cups found at a backyard barbecue. Now is the time to open the china cabinet and make use of your special occasion dishware.
If tea pots and cups are not a part of your china arsenal, consider searching for a tea set at your local consignment store. Not only will second hand tea sets come at a lower price point, there’s a chance you’ll come across a vintage set that’s truly unique.
Dress Your Best
Your afternoon high tea calls for a higher caliber dress code than what you would wear at a casual get together. On the invitations, encourage your guests to don their Sunday best for your tea party.
You can even give a small prize to the guest with the most charming tea party get up or most unique high tea hat. And don’t neglect your own digs- you’ll need to dress up as well in order to capture the spirit of Spring tea.
Fun With Florals
Nothing encompasses the joy of Spring quite like fresh flowers and greenery. Adding floral arrangements, bouquets, and floral patterns to your tea party decor will help set the Spring scene- not to mention giving your tea party some lovely aromas.
Some of the most popular choices for tea party florals include roses, hydrangeas, and pink peonies. Be sure to add greenery like eucalyptus as well. You can even choose flowers that will match your tarps and umbrella covers.
While it’s certainly possible to handle all of the floral arrangements yourself, it may be worth contacting a local florist to take care of all your flower needs.
Choose Your Brews
What would a tea party be without a wide selection of the titular beverages? Offering your guests a handpicked menu of delicious teas will allow them to experience the full range of flavors, from uplifting greens to earthy blacks.
Take your tea selection to the next level by creating tea menus detailing each brew’s flavor profiles, benefits, and whether or not it is caffeinated. These specifications can help your tea party guests choose the best teas to fit their tastes.
Decide on a Delightful Menu
Of course, you will need to dream up the perfect food menu to go along with the tea. Finger foods such as tea sandwiches are ideal for a tea party, as their lightweight nature allows guests to indulge in the full variety of flavors offered.
Stick with fresh flavor profiles that reflect all the brightness of Spring. This means utilizing fresh fruit, light dressings, and just a hint of sweetness in your menu.
Paired Perfectly
It’s important that you choose foods that pair well with the teas you’re serving. Much like beer, each blend of tea has a specific flavor profile that will be amplified when paired with the correct snack.
Here’s a quick guide for some delicious flavor pairings:
- Black teas and traditional scones
- Green teas and avocado finger sandwiches
- White teas and fruit salad
Entertain With Outdoor Games
In between sips and snacks, your guests should have a variety of activities to choose from to keep themselves entertained. Backyard games are a simple way to provide some fun for your guests with little effort on your part.
Croquet is a classic tea party game that’s as simple to play as it is to set up. Croquet sets can be found at most sporting stores or even a secondhand store if you’re lucky. Some other backyard games to consider setting up include horseshoes, bocce ball, and badminton.
Grateful Goodie Bags
Sending your guests home with goodie bags in tow is the sign of a gracious host. While there’s no need to shower them with elaborate gifts, a simple selection of tea party favors will go a long way. Fill up colorful mesh baggies with candies, small tea light candles, and a sample of the teas they enjoyed at your afternoon pouring.
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