What is involved with an English tea party, one may think. Very simple aspects that are all easy to bring together is the answer. The first thing to keep in mind is the timing. Traditionally, for an English tea party, tea should be served in the afternoon. That is traditional tea time in England and to make the party seem genuine as possible it is best to plan it to begin around 3:00 pm. Once the time is set, the day must be chosen. Ideally for a party, it may be best to hold the event on a weekend, although if party guests are available, a weekday will do just fine.
In the next step of your party, tea is not quite on the menu yet. You must first carefully choose the location of your English tea party. If you have the amenities to provide for it, it is quite lovely to hold the party outside. If you are planning on pleasant weather and you have an outside location, it will lend an extra appeal to the party. Even if the day is very warm, you can throw this type of party, tea can be sipped no matter how hot it is outside. Alternatively, you can offer iced tea to guests who would prefer it. Looking to the menu momentarily be sure to have a nice spot chosen for the party. If outside, you should have table and chairs set up. If you are to invite more than five people, you will want to offer a couple tables, all small and placed close together, to allow for the tea party feel and so that guests can easily converse with each other.
If for whatever reasons, you must have the party indoors that can work as well. Just as you would do outside, try to find a room in which you can set up tables and chairs. It may help to move extra furniture out of the room temporarily. Whether you choose to have it indoors or out, you will want to set the tables with fancy tablecloths, beautiful tea cups, and cloth napkins. White is a good color to choose and you may add splashes of a more solid color; it is best to stick to a light and complimentary color such as pink or light blue.
The next aspect to consider is the food. For this type of party, tea is a must and you can have a bit of fun with the rest of the menu. The only thing to keep in mind, the only word you should remember is: small. Food should be served in bite sized pieces. Sandwiches, biscuits, crackers and the like should be cut and served in pieces that a guest will find to be bite size. This all lends to the idea that at an English tea party, tea and all food is served to be elegant and classy. For your party, tea of course is expected and you do not need do more than serve than a regular brew if you wish. Also, be sure to offer sugar in the form of sugar cubes, as this is considered fancy.
To finish off the look and feel, a person should do their best to provide a background of flowers. Whether you are indoors or outside, you can decorate the area with fresh or silk flowers. Add vases to the tables, and pots of flowers surrounding the area. This will give the party a feel of an English garden. You now have the knowledge to throw a fantastic English tea party.