Afternoon tea is a proven formula, enduringly popular for a whole host of reasons. Whether traditional and quintessentially English, with a continental twist, or upscaled with elegance, the format remains a firm favourite for all kinds of celebrations. As experienced private party planner and corporate event organisers, TLC has arranged many celebrations with afternoon tea at their centre. It’s a sociable and versatile style of catering and one that has strong associations with aristocracy – it’s very hard to put on a down-market afternoon tea! Here are four afternoon tea event ideas and theme suggestions that make any occasion feel special.
ALICE IN WONDERLAND CHILDREN’S PARTY
The first of our four afternoon tea event ideas is one filled with colour an fun! Go down the rabbit hole and into a fantastical, extraordinary, world of amazement. This literary theme is ideal for a children’s party with afternoon tea style catering. Unleash your creativity!
Create tiny biscuits labelled ‘eat me’ and little bottles of ‘potion’ (mocktails to you and me) or soft drinks labelled ‘drink me’ then have little ones enter your party via a slide or Helter Skelter if your budget allows.
Throw a Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea party. Colourful cakes and finger sandwiches are always a hit with children. Cut them into teacup, turtle, or rabbit shapes to keep with the theme. Arrange it all on beautiful cake stands with a huge cake for a centrepiece and colourful ‘pick and mix’ on the table. This isn’t a party to scrimp on the sugar. But if you’re worried then fruit platters can bring just as much joy to the table. Serve them ‘tea’ – juice or a fruit punch from a teapot.
When it comes to décor – the more outrageous and nonsensical the better! The table can be decorated with eclectic teapots and clocks, lanterns, cake stands, fairy lights, decks of cards, bright, clashing colours and gingham tablecloth or napkins.
Dress up as characters from the story. The Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the white rabbit – there’s lots of choice! Garden games can make your entertainment. Do a Mad Hatter’s version of the Price is Right with a huge deck of cards with prizes to win. Or of course – flamingo croquet – you can easily buy a themed set from a variety of online stores.
1920S PROHIBITION TEA PARTY
A 1920s Prohibition Tea Party is the perfect theme for a birthday party. Throw a raucous cocktails and tea event themed around the roaring 20s! Elegant, sophisticated, and more importantly – lots of fun an Art Deco and Gatsby inspired party is perfect with afternoon tea – upscaled.
Of our four afternoon tea event ideas, this one exudes glamour. Make the event as luxe as possible. Perhaps a little covert as it would have been in the prohibition era when parties were kept under wraps. Have your guests enter through a back door or hidden entrance with a password given on entry.
Include miniature scones, jam and cream with delicate finger sandwiches and beautifully made miniature cakes displayed elegantly on tall stands. Keep an air of sophistication but with a devilish undertone. Serve up tea, yes, but remember that during the prohibition era, alcohol was banned. Some people turned to serving fabulous cocktails in teacups, so why not do the same. Have your waiting staff give guests the options, but in a clandestine manner.
Keep it dark and decadent. Decorate with lots of black, deep greens. Add huge ostrich feathers and strings of pearls on the tables. Gold, silver, and art deco touches and don’t forget to have some fabulous jazz music. A big band on stage is sure to get the party started.
GARDEN PARTY PICNIC AFTERNOON TEA
A beautifully manicured lawn dotted with pretty lace parasols, bunting, pea lights and mismatched vintage tea sets; afternoon tea is the perfect accompaniment to an elegant garden party.
Set out picnic tables or give each guest their own personalised embroidered picnic blanket and ask them to find a sunny spot.
Depending on how formal you want to be you can set out the afternoon tea beautifully on a big table with crisp white linens and a beautiful floral display. Aim for an upscaled grazing table with cake stands, finger sandwiches and a whole host of delicious treats for them to help themselves. Fizz is an afternoon tea staple so you can add a twist by creating a mimosa bar with fruits syrups and garnishes.
The alternative is to give each guest their own picnic basket, complete with a personal afternoon tea. A miniature teapot and China cups are a must though. No afternoon tea should be served with plastic cups!
For entertainment choose lawn games or fairground stalls. You could have pony or donkey rides if children are attending, along with a slight of hand magician who can roam the crowds to surprise and delight.
LUNCHTIME WEDDING WITH AFTERNOON TEA
As well as being one of the most romantic of our four afternoon tea event ideas, it is an ideal wedding catering option if you are looking to swerve the wild party in favour of something a little more civilised. A lunchtime ceremony is nothing new. But what you do afterwards doesn’t have to follow tradition.
Take a leaf from the royals and hold an afternoon tea wedding breakfast which can go on for as long or as little as you like. Private dining rooms, hotels or even a marquee setting work well here. Add some light Jazz or a contemporary string quartet to soften the atmosphere. You can still enjoy speeches, cake cutting and all the traditions of a wedding breakfast. And, afternoon tea can be created in so many styles to suit all. Savoury tea. Gluten free. And a kids afternoon tea complete with mini burgers, Vimto jelly shots and mini ice cream cones.
AFTERNOON TEA WEEK
During Afternoon Tea Week, a host of venues will offer deals and events to celebrate one of the UK’s favourite past-times: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/afternoon-tea-week-2023/
Here are three of our favourite places to have afternoon tea in our HQ city of Manchester:
Cloud 23. Afternoon tea with the best views out across the city.
http://www.cloud23bar.com/
Grand Pacific. A high society setting with stunning 19th century architecture to match the era that afternoon tea was born.
https://grandpacific.uk.com/manchester/
Richmond Tea Rooms. Beautiful, bonkers, and packed with personality. This venue was created as a homage to afternoon tea with a unique Alice in Wonderland twist. Enjoy high teas alongside high tease burlesque shows.
https://richmondtearooms.com/
DID YOU KNOW?
That afternoon tea dates back to 1840, when the Duchess of Bedford introduced the ritual as a means of staving off hunger before her evening dinner.
Learn all about the history of Afternoon Tea here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/tea-rific-history-victorian-afternoon-tea#:~:text=It’s%20the%20seventh%20Duchess%20of,was%20becoming%20later%20and%20later.