Spring is a time for renewal and gathering with friends. Springtime and Easter are great excuses to invite dear friends over for a special tea party, just for fun or for a holiday celebration.
Easter time lends itself to many tea party themes, be the theme eggs and baskets, religious ideas, or the joy and colors of spring. Enjoy these idea, meant to give you ideas for personalizing your own event.
Planning an Spring Easter Tea Party
One place to begin planning is by thinking of the number and type of guests will be invited. Will it be tea for two or four, will there be a larger group, or will children be included? Once general decisions are made, begin planning specifics.
- Invitations may be purchased at a party store or online. Scrapbooking supply and craft shops will have plenty of ideas should homemade invitations be desired.
- Be sure to let guests know the date of the tea well ahead of time, so they can leave the date free.
- Attire may be specified on the invitations. Should guests wear spring dresses and Easter hats, more casual clothes or something else?
- Pick out music to play. Find nice classical music or burn a CD of favorite Easter or spring themed songs. A pretty background music album is the soundtrack to the movie Somewhere in Time.
- Plan the menu and any activities well in advance so as to be free to relax and enjoy the party day. Look for make-ahead recipes or find a reliable caterer.
- Hunt around the house for china, tea cups, serving items, etc. Ask friends if you might borrow items to fill in what is missing.
- There are many beautiful seasonal Easter and spring party good in the stores far before the holiday. If it is in the budget, it can be fun to buy some special Easter decorations for the front yard for friends to enjoy as they arrive.
Decorating the Tea Table
An Easter tea party calls for pretty and/or whimsical decor. Either pastel or bright floral colors will help set the tone of your special tea. Consider what type of event you wish to have and begin your decor planning there. A few simple ideas follow.
- Twisted crepe paper streamers in pink and yellow, orange and yellow, or light green and violet will make a big impact, especially if made into a canopy above the tea table.
- Small bouquets of flowers (low enough to allow for socializing) or nosegays are beautiful.
- Heirloom Easter decorations, such as porcelain bunnies or eggs, vases or bowls, can bring a vintage look to the table. Older chenille linens often have the same pastel colors and may be used as a covering for a side table or such.
Activities for an English Afternoon Tea Party
What would you like to do at your tea? Socializing is just fine or think about trying any of these ideas.
- A cute game is "Bunny Tails in the Basket." The supplies needed are simple: an Easter basket, a bag or two of cotton balls, a blindfold, and a medium to largish spoon. Each guest takes a turn (blind-folded), scooping up (she hopes – it is impossible to tell because of the light weight) the cotton balls in the spoon and depositing them in the basket. This usually hilarious as often people are scooping merely air amongst the "oohs" and "aahs" of the folks onlooking. The point is to get the most cotton balls into the basket. Have a little prize for the winner (maybe some nice Easter soaps or candies).
- If the guests are up for a bit of fun, how about a round of croquet? This is a lovely old-fashioned game that most people can easily learn and play.
- If the group is not the game-playing type, one more small activity is to tape a little note under someone's chair. Whoever sits in that chair wins a treat.
- Sometimes just chatting and eating is plenty to do. With old friend needing to catch up on each others lives, a lot of picture-passing of family and friends may be going on. Perhaps invitations can suggest this for a group that rarely gets together.
For more information on teas and Easter holiday fun, see Afternoon Tea Party Planning 101, English Afternoon Tea Etiquette, A Girlfriends' Afternoon Tea Party, and the websites Easter Tea Party Ideas and the Entertaining all Year Site
Happy Easter, One and All!
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Article updated 2011
Janienne Jennrich - Janienne Jennrich, Topic Editor for Kids & Teen Parties and for Hair, is an award-winning freelance writer & webmaster.
