Bridal Shower Tea Party

Planning a bridal shower? Then you might be trying to come up with a fun and unique way to celebrate. Maybe you want the traditions of a bridal shower, like gift giving and mingling, but you want to jazz it up a little and add a new twist. Why not consider throwing a bridal shower tea party?

A Look at the History of Tea Parties

Most people see tea parties as an upscale, posh affair. In a lot of ways, this is true. Over time, the tea party has evolved into a tradition that is both elegant and refined. However, the original tradition of setting aside a special time to enjoy tea was, however, established by the working class citizens of Britain who enjoyed taking in tea during their evening supper. Over time, teatime slowly moved up in the day from the evening to mid or late afternoon.

Now, “Afternoon” Tea is used to describe when tea and a snack are enjoyed in the afternoon. “High” Tea, on the other hand, is used to describe when having tea in the evening and with a larger meal. Both men and women now enjoy Afternoon Tea between meals and High Tea in the evening. Some even use Afternoon Tea as a way to entertain business guests.

Decorations

Because Afternoon Tea is intended to be a somewhat elegant affair, you should be sure to cover the tables with linens. If possible, you should also use silver and china to add to the atmosphere of refinement. A silver three-tier tray also adds a touch of class and is an excellent way to put your snacks on display and within easy reach to your guests. Teapot warmers are also a fantastic decoration, which adds the practical benefit of keeping your tea warm.

If you choose to have your bridal shower tea party in the evening and outdoors, try hanging small white lights around the area of the party. Then, place several votive candles in clear glass holders on the tables. The dim lighting and pleasant atmosphere is perfect for a bridal shower tea party, particularly one with a small group of friends.

Foods to go with Afternoon Tea

All food for an Afternoon Tea should be prepared before the guests arrive. It’s fine to set this up as a buffet style snack or to pass various plates of treats around the table. However, do go around and in fact serve the tea yourself. Sugar cubes, milk, and lemon slices should also be available to your guests to include in their tea.

The foods associated with afternoon tea should not be heavy and overly filling. They should include bite size pieces of biscuits or scones, sandwiches, and sweets. Some examples of traditional Afternoon Tea snacks include_

• cucumber sandwiches
• clotted cream
• lemon teacakes
• Madeleines, which are cake-like cookies
• asparagus and prosciutto sandwiches
• for large gatherings: chicken salad sandwiches

Miniature chocolates, white chocolate dipped strawberries, and pastel Jordan Almonds should also be included on your snack table.

For an extra fancy touch, provide a white frosted cake for your bridal shower tea party. Decorate it with edible flowers, such as pink roses, pansies, nasturtiums, carnations, and calendulas. Your guests will be sure to admire the final outcome.

Bridal Shower Tea Party Favors

There are several excellent favors you can create for your bridal shower tea party. Small bouquets made of fresh flowers make a great decoration and favor for your guests. Or, try filling a jar with tea for each guest. Then, decorate the top of each jar with something special to symbolize your bridal shower or wedding, such as a miniature veil or a white hat with flowers decorating the brim.

Activities

In addition to other traditional bridal shower games, a bridal shower tea party lends itself naturally to a more intimate type of activity. One activity that is great for a bridal shower tea party is to ask each guest ahead of time to come prepared with a great love story or poem to share. These stories can be shared with one another while drinking tea, and will provide for wonderful inspiration to the bride-to-be. If possible, have each guest writer her love story or poem down and create a book as a keepsake.