I spend a lot of time planning parties. Sometimes it's for other people but mostly it's for myself and my friends. I've been known to throw fancy brunches, dressy cocktail parties, cookie-decorating, gift-swapping, and dessert oriented soirees, but my favorite by far is the old fashioned tea party. There's something so delightful about sitting down to a proper tea, complete with tea sandwiches, scones and little cakes or petit fours.
Of course, it all depends on how well you prepare. To start, you need the perfect invitation. I prefer smaller tea parties, no more than 6 people, including myself.
These invitations by Gina B. are perfect for a refined afternoon tea. A delicate but modern floral against a bright background sets the tone for the event and the card leaves enough room to hand-write the invite.

Once your invites are out, you can turn your attention to the table. Tablecloths are traditional but I like to go a bit more modern with just a table runner. This works especially well if you have a nice wood table. When it comes to napkins, stay elegant and traditional with cloth napkins if possible. I like
this table runner from Pier 1 and
these cloth napkins from Pottery Barn.

Flowers are essential for a tea party. And any party for that matter. Make things easy for yourself with a simple arrangement with only one type of flower. If you have a longer table, divide the flowers up into 3-5 smaller arrangements running the length of the table. Stick to flowers in season to avoid spending too much money:
Spring-- Lilacs, Peonies, Sweet Peas
Summer-- Hydrangea, Delphinium, Dahlias
Fall--Chrysanthemum, Zinnias, Asters, Marigolds
Winter--Camellias, Amaryllis, Forget-me-nots
When in doubt, always go with roses- they are always in season and easy to find at your corner deli.

Of course, the most important thing to consider is the teapot and teacups themselves. I like
this one from
Teavana. On a recent jaunt through
Anthropologie, I spotted
these tea cups. I love the idea of using them as both a place card and a party favor for guests.

On to other table necessities. Tea! Good tea is v. important. I'm a huge
Teavana fan, thanks to Hanna, but obviously tea can come from anywhere. I love the loose tea tins at
Pearl River Mart here in NYC. They're cheap, they're pretty and they come in a variety of flavors. Even if they aren't featured at your party, they would make a great addition to the table decor. Also necessary are beautiful cake stands and platters. I found this vintage hobnailed cake stand on
ebay, and these wonderful platters at
Essentials, a fabulous store in Northampton, MA.
Now all you have to do is figure out who to invite!
Images: (from top)
Kate's Paperie,
Pier 1,
Pottery Barn,
Fleurs Bella,
Teavana,
Anthropologie,
Pearl River Mart,
Ebay,
Essentials,
Epicurious,
Bristol Farms
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