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Our Favorite Vintage Style Teacups

It will come as no surprise that we love vintage style teacups and saucers here at How To High Tea. We love finding the prettiest, daintiest and most colorful teacups for any occasion.

We have found for you the best of the best for your shopping pleasure. Go ahead and treat yourself to some new vintage-style teacups and saucers.

The Royal Albert New Country Roses Teacup Set is a classic favorite. In pretty pink with polka dots and roses, this teacup set makes any occasion special. Check out also the matching side plates.

Royal Albert New Country Roses Tea Cup Set

The Royal Albert Sitting Pretty Mug comes in a range of colors and sizes. We love love love the smallest size when used to deliver a sweet treat to your guests!

vintage tea cups
Royal Albert Sitting Pretty Mug

Staying with the Royal Albert range we cannot go past their Candy Teacup. This teacup and saucer come in Dusty blue with pretty floral accents and gorgeous gold edging. Make your tea time special with this perfect set.

vintage tea cups
Royal Albert Candy Teacup

Or pick another color such as this Royal Albert Candy Tea Cup in pinks and gold.

tea cups for tea party
Royal Albert Candy Tea Cup

For a perfectly mismatched teacup set, it is impossible to go past the Royal Albert Miranda Kerr Tea Cup Set. With floating butterflies, peonies and a perfect mix of blues, yellows, pinks and greens this set is fantastic for an afternoon tea party with friends.

tea cups for tea party
Royal Albert Miranda Kerr Tea Cup Set
vintage teacups
Royal Albert Miranda Kerr Blessings Tea Set

Royal Albert Mismatched Sets are a quick and easy way to ensure you always have a set of beautiful vintage-style teacups and saucers ready for guests. They also make fabulous gifts.

tea party tea cups
Royal Albert Mismatched Sets

There is currently a very special Royal Albert 100 years teacup set available. With the best of Royal Albert teacups from the last 100 years.

vintage tea party
Royal Albert 100 years teacup set

Moving onto our favorite classic style teacups and saucers the Royal Doulton Old Country Roses Tea Cup and Saucer reminds us of the very best of our Grandmother’s china cabinet. These teacups were only allowed out for the most special occasions. Re-live those special feelings with a set of your own and use them every day!

Vintage tea cups
Royal Doulton Old Country Roses Tea Cup and Saucer

Royal Albert Tea Sets and more Royal Albert Tea Sets – Have as much fun as we have picking and choosing your favorite and mixing them up in perfect vintage mismatched style.

vintage teacups
Royal Albert Three Piece Tea Cup Sets

This stunning set is a replica 1910 Royal Albert Teacup, Saucer and Side plate set that was released in 1910. Royal Albert rereleased this set as part of their 100 years of teacups promotion.

Royalty Rose also have a beautifully dainty tea set with matching plates.

vintage tea party tea cups
Royalty Rose Tea Setting

We love the elegance of this Wedgewood Hibiscus Place Setting. It is an excellent example of vintage elegance in the royal blue and gold.

vintage tea cups
Wedgewood Hibiscus Place Setting

If you are looking for a full set of elegance this Wedgewood Renaissance Gold set would make the most amazing impact at a small dinner party or a large wedding party.

vintage teacups
Wedgewood Renaissance Gold Set

No post about vintage-style teacups would be complete without a few extra trimmings. Like this Kate Aspen Tea Box party favors. Our guests love love this little tea box filled with sweets! Yours will too.

And we love the fantastical look of this vintage style Flitz and Floyd English Tea Pot. It reminds us of an old fashioned garden tea party and is so pretty to pour tea from.

vintage tea pot
Flitz and Floyd English Tea Pot

There is no point in having the most beautiful vintage style teacups if you are filling them with bland tea. Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend Tea comes in a gorgeous blue tin and smells divine.

vintage teacups
Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend Tea

Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea is the perfect blend of black tea with orange and cloves.

royal tea
Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea

Royal Palace Tea is another fabulous option of black tea with lemon and grapefruit.

For a classic English tea, Harney & Sons Royal English Breakfast Tea or Harney & Sons Tower of London Blend Tea offer the best of the best. Also packaged in delightful tins these teas are great for treating yourself or others.

royal english tea
Harney & Sons Royal English Breakfast Tea
royal english tea
Harney & Sons Tower of London Blend Tea

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Looking for more ideas for hosting a tea party? We have lots of inspiration and ideas in these posts:

A brief history of tea cups can be found here and Afternoon tea here.

The Classics – We explore the classic tea party tea flavors

In the world of tea, each sip can send us on a journey of flavors, aromas, and sensations. Tea calms our senses and soothes our soul. With an endless choice of teas, finding the perfect blend can be an adventure in itself.

Today we wanted to explore some of the classic teas we serve at a tea party. We will share with you the best tea flavors available and where to buy them.

Earl Grey Tea:

A timeless classic, Earl Grey tea is known for its distinctive flavor; the citrusy notes of bergamot oil. This aromatic blend of black tea leaves and bergamot creates a harmonious balance of boldness and brightness, making it the perfect choice for any time of day.

We love Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey Tea which comes in individually wrapped tea bags.

Lady Grey Tea

There is a lesser known twist on the classic Earl Grey Tea, called Lady Grey Tea. The main difference between the two is that Lady Grey also contains lemon peel and orange peel. Lady Grey is a more recent invention, and is trademarked by the tea company Twinings.

Jasmine Green Tea:

Jasmine Green Tea has a delicate floral fragrance. This fragrant blend combines the natural sweetness of green tea leaves with the exotic aroma of jasmine blossoms, creating a refreshing and rejuvenating brew that transports you to a tranquil garden oasis.

Midnight Bloom Jasmine Green Tea is one of our favorite teas to serve.

Chamomile Herbal Tea:

Relax and unwind with a soothing cup of Chamomile Herbal Tea. Known for its calming properties and mild, apple-like flavor, chamomile tea is the perfect choice for winding down after a long day or preparing for a restful night’s sleep. We recently tried and loved Wild Bliss Organic Chamomile Tea and will be using this a lot more now.

Peppermint Infusion:

Refresh your senses with the invigorating flavor of Peppermint Infusion. This cooling herbal tea offers a burst of minty freshness with every sip, making it an ideal choice for revitalizing your mind and body any time of day. We love Taylors of Harrogates version of Peppermint Tea the best.

Masala Chai:

Sometimes the tea you need is bold and spicy, then we suggest Masala Chai, a traditional Indian tea blend that combines black tea with a blend of aromatic spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. This rich and flavorful brew is perfect for warming up on chilly days or indulging in a cozy afternoon treat.

We recommend Golden Masala Chai with tumeric and maca.

Fruit Infusion Teas

For a burst of fruity flavor, we love to serve a variety of fruit-infused teas such as Raspberry Hibiscus, Peach Apricot, or Blueberry Acai. These refreshing blends make vibrant brews that are perfect for enjoying hot or iced.

We love to serve an iced Blackberry Raspberry Hibiscus Tea

With these classic tea flavors you are sure to have a fabulous tea party. Your guests will be delighted whether they prefer the bold richness of black tea, the delicate sweetness of green tea, or the soothing comfort of herbal infusions, there’s a tea flavor to suit every taste and occasion.

Happy sipping!

What to Serve At A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

A Mad Hatter’s tea party is the chance to be extra creative in your menu. Your guests will expect a touch of madness! We answer your questions about what to serve at a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. We have created a successful tea party menu includes sweet and savory choices, as well as fantastic tea and other drinks.

Food Options

Heart-Shaped Finger Sandwiches

Dainty sandwiches are perfect for any tea party. With an Alice in Wonderland-inspired tea party, you can be extra playful with your sandwich fillings and shapes.
We suggest using cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into hearts, stars, or even teapots. Use classic fillings like cucumber and cream cheese or smoked salmon, as these are always popular. And feel free to experiment with other combinations too. We have more ideas for sandwich fillings here.

Heart Shaped Sandwich Cutters from Amazon

Scones:

What Tea Party would be complete without fresh scones with clotted cream and jam. All our scone recipes are here https://howtohightea.com/fabulous-scones-vintage-high-teas/

Fabulous Pastries and Cakes:

Think whimsical and colorful! Offer an assortment of mini cakes, cupcakes, and pastries decorated in bright colors and unusual designs. Consider adding edible flowers, colorful frosting, or even fondant decorations shaped like teapots, hats, or playing cards.

Edible Wafer Butterflies and Flowers on Cupcakes – Sold via Amazon
Wilton Gel Frosting makes incredible colored cupcakes
Colorful cookies by Empire Delights

Cheshire Cat’s Grin Fruit Platter:

Arrange a fruit platter in the shape of the Cheshire Cat’s grin, using sliced fruits like strawberries, oranges, and kiwis to create the stripes.

Disneyland Paris bons plans Facebook (Credit: Sarah Lescrauwaet-Beach)

Caterpillar Fruit Platter:

Create a platter of colorful, segmented fruits like grapes, strawberries, and melon balls arranged in the shape of a caterpillar. And, add candy eyes to one end for a playful touch.

Mad Hatter’s Pocket Watch Cookies:

Bake cookies in the shape of pocket watches and decorate them with icing to resemble the Mad Hatter’s iconic timepiece. You can use edible silver or gold dust for the watch face. We love the instructions from The FlourBox

Photo credit – The Flourbox

Delightful Desserts

Jabberwocky Jello:

Serve colorful fruit jello in small cups labeled as “Jabberwocky Jello,” named after the mythical creature from Lewis Carroll’s poem. This sweet treat is great to add fruit slices or gummy creatures for added whimsy.

Mad Hatter’s Hat Cake:

Make a centerpiece cake in the style of a Mad Hatter’s hat. Decorate it with bright colors, fondant decorations, and perhaps even a tag saying “Eat Me”

Mushroom Meringues: Make meringue mushrooms by piping small mushroom caps and stems onto a baking sheet. After these are baked and cooled, you can easily turn them into mushrooms with a little melted chocolate. Dust the caps with cocoa powder for a realistic touch. We love the recipe by Food52

Tea Party Cake Pops: Dip cake pops in colorful icing and arrange them in a teacup or saucer for a whimsical twist on traditional cake pops. Get inspired by these cakes pops by CatchMyParty

Playing Card Treats: Use edible playing cards to decorate cakes, cookies or cupcakes. We love how easy these make an impact.

Drink Ideas

Tea:

Serve up some fantastical teas for your guests. We love to add wonderful names to classics and unusual tea variaties.

Tea Party Timeless Earl Grey: We love to use Earl Grey Surpreme by Harney&Sons

Cheshire Cat’s Chai Surprise: A classic Chai tea by Taylors works well for this one

Mad Hatter’s Chococate Mint: We love the smell of this chocolate mint tea by Harney&Sons

Queen of Hearts’ Hibiscus Hysteria: Fanastic Hibiscus tea offers a fabulous color and smell. We suggest Handpick Hibiscus tea

Alice’s Adventure English Breakfast Tea: The best option for this classic is one by New English Teas. It come in a classic tin too.

Tweedledee’s Topsy-Turvy Raspberry and Lemon Tea: Disney Parks offer this amazing tea and you can order for home too.

Mock “Drink Me” Tea:

Get creative by serving a special blend or concoction labeled as “Drink Me,” reminiscent of the potion Alice drinks to shrink. You could create a blend of different teas or add unique ingredients like edible glitter for an extra magical touch. Or, use colorful fruit juices or flavored syrups served in small bottles with “Drink Me” labels.

We hope we have answered your questions about What to Serve At A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party? And, we wish you all the best with your whimsical and creative Mad Hatter’s tea party menu! And don’t be afraid to go down the rabbit hole, thats where the adventure begins!

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A Guide to Perfect Tea Pairings

Tea parties are designed to be exquisite affairs where every sip and bite matters. Tea Pairings take your tea party to the next level by matching the right tea to your tea party menu. This is the perfect way to impress your guests by tantalizing their taste buds with complementary flavors and aromas.

In this post we take you on a short journey into the art of tea pairings, and together we will explore the perfect combinations for a memorable tea party.

Savory Delights Pairings:

Add a new dimension to your savory course, by suggesting paired teas that will bring out the best of your beautiful menu choice.

Our menu suggestions:

Finger Sandwiches: Light and delicate cucumber sandwiches or savory smoked salmon can be beautifully complemented by a floral and refreshing green tea, such as Jasmine or Sencha.

You can find our tea party sandwich recipes here.

Quiches and Tarts: The buttery richness of quiches and savory tarts pairs wonderfully with a classic Earl Grey or a bold Assam tea, to add a hint of citrus or maltiness.

A Classic Early Grey adds a delightful citrus aroma and taste to your menu

Cheese Platter: Whether it’s a creamy Brie or a sharp Cheddar, cheese lovers will appreciate the balanced complexity of an oolong tea like Tieguanyin (Oolong tea) or a lightly oxidized Darjeeling, which cuts through the richness with a floral and fruity profile.

Sweet Treats Tea Pairings:

Pairing teas with sweet treats at a tea party is a joy. Here are our menu suggestions:

Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam: The quintessential tea party indulgence, English scones are elevated when paired with a traditional English Breakfast tea or a robust Ceylon tea, whose malty notes compliment the richness of the cream and sweetness of the jam.

Pastries and Petit Fours: Delicate pastries and petit fours find their match in a fragrant and slightly sweet tea like Moroccan Mint or a floral Jasmine Pearl tea, enhancing the intricate flavors without overpowering them.

Chocolate Desserts: For chocolate lovers, a rich and robust black tea such as Keemun or a smoky Lapsang Souchong creates a harmonious balance, bringing out the depth of flavor in decadent chocolate desserts.

Our other favorite pairings:

Fresh Fruit: Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and melons pair beautifully with a delicate white tea like Silver Needle or Pai Mu Tan, allowing the natural sweetness of the fruit to shine.

Nuts and Dried Fruits: The nutty and earthy flavors of almonds, walnuts, and dried apricots find harmony with a smooth and mellow tea such as a Golden Monkey black tea or a nutty Hojicha green tea.

The secret to good tea pairing lies in experimentation and discovering combinations that delight your guests. By offering a selection of teas and food, your tea party will surely be a resounding success, leaving guests enchanted and eager for more.

Recipes

Tea Party Essentials – Our Top Choices

Creating the perfect tea party experience involves more than just brewing a delicious cup of tea and serving a delightful spread of cakes; it’s about selecting the best tea party essentials. Your tea party deserves to have the finest teas, teapots, accessories, and beautiful speciality items that will ensure your tea party is perfect.

In this post, we share with you our top-rated Tea Party essentials that will elevate your tea party experience. We review exquisite teas, stylish teaware and everything in between.

Tea Brands:

We have a few favorite tea brands that we love to use. These teas are top quality and never disappoint. Our guest raves over them and they make wonderful take-home treats.

Harney & Sons:

Renowned for their exceptional quality and diverse selection of teas, Harney & Sons offers a range of blends to suit every taste preference. And, we love the classic tea tins these teas come in.

Our pick from their selection of classic black teas are Earl Grey Imperial, and Victoria London Fog.

We also love their fragrant herbal infusions like Chamomile or Mulled Plum Cider Tea. Harney & Sons teas are sure to impress your guests.

Tea Forte

When we are looking for a tea to add impact, we choose Tea Forte. With a focus on innovation and creativity, Tea Forte delivers unique and flavorful teas that push the boundaries of traditional blends.

Our favorites are Peach Blossom Tea

Explore their wide array of loose-leaf teas, tea bags, and signature blends for a truly memorable tea party experience.

Taylors of Harrogate Classic Tea Variety Box:

If you prefer to let your guests choose their favorite brew, this selection of classic tea blends from Taylors of Harrogate, including English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Green Tea, is perfect for serving at your tea party.

Teapots:

Brew To A Tea Tea Pots:

We are a big fan of Brew To Tea items; their Rose Garden Collection teapot is one of our favorites. Their elegant and durable teapot is perfect for brewing and serving tea in style. Crafted from high-fired ceramic and featuring a wide handle and drip-free spout, it ensures a smooth pour and even heat distribution for a perfect cup of tea every time.

Royal Albert Old Country Roses Teapot:

Add a touch of vintage charm to your tea party with this exquisite teapot from Royal Albert. Decorated with their iconic Old Country Roses pattern and accented with 22-karat gold trim, it’s a timeless piece that’s as beautiful as it is functional.

Pinky Up Charlie Iced Tea Pot

We have found this Iced Tea Carafe by Pinky Up makes brewing loose-leaf iced tea a breeze. We love this stylish carafe on the table to delight our guests.

Tea Accessories:

Tea Infusers: For convenient and mess-free brewing, its a good idea to invest in high-quality tea infusers like the Finum Brewing Basket or the OXO Good Grips Twisting Tea Ball. These stainless steel infusers are easy to use, clean, and maintain, ensuring a perfect cup of tea with every brew.

Tea Cups and Saucers:

Elevate your tea party table with elegant tea cups and saucers like the Wedgwood Butterfly Bloom Teacup and Saucer Set or the Lenox Butterfly Meadow Tea Cup and Saucer. These beautifully designed sets add a touch of sophistication to any tea gathering.

Wedgwood Butterfly Bloom Teacup and Saucer Set in Fine, Traditional or Modern

Specialty Items:

Tea-Inspired party favors: Surprise your guests with tea party favors here are our two most successful ones: Kate Aspen Tea Party Favor Boxes which we filled with tea bags and sweets, Filled loose leaf Tea Tubes and Spoons in organza drawstring bags.

Tea Party Accessories:

Enhance the ambience of your tea party with special items like these floral tea party decorations, this lovely vintage-inspired tea cozie to keep your tea warm, these whimsical tea-themed napkins and this vintage shabby chic style table runner. These charming accessories add a touch of whimsy and elegance to your tea party setting.

Vintage-inspired tea cozies to keep your teapot warm
Add whimsical tea-themed napkins to your table

We hope you have enjoyed our list of ideas for creating a memorable and enchanting experience for you and your guests. So brew a pot of your favorite tea, set the table with your finest teaware, and let the tea party begin!

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Love and Lace Tea Affair

Hosting a tea party in February allows you to infuse the gathering with a cozy and romantic atmosphere, especially considering Valentine’s Day. Our Love and Lace Tea Affair creates a warm and romantic atmosphere, making it a perfect theme for a February tea party. Guests can enjoy the cozy setting, delightful treats, and the company of loved ones or friends.

Love and Lace Tea Affair Invitations:

Design invitations featuring lace patterns and soft pastel colors, inviting your friends to a celebration of love and lace tea party.

Vintage Lace Invitations by the Picky Bride Store

Love and Lace Decorations

Ensure the theme of your tea affair is expressed to the full extent by adorning the space with lace tablecloths, floral arrangements, and candles. We suggest using a color palette of soft pinks, creams, and gold for a romantic ambience.

Pretty Lace Table Cloth by ARTABLE

Place small vases with fresh flowers at each table setting.

Clear bud vases by ZENS

Use heart-shaped lace doilies as placemats or under teacups for added charm.

Love and Lace Tea Selection:

A Love and Lace Tea Affair is the perfect event for serving romantic and floral teas like Rose Tea, Jasmine tea, and lavender-infused blends such as our favorite Earl Grey Lavender Tea.

Serve in delicate teacups and saucers with gold or lace patterns. See our favorite selection of tea cups here.

Add a surprising extra by providing heart-shaped tea infusers for guests to use.

Heart-Shaped Tea Infusers by BERON

As this event is based on indulgence and love, it makes sense to also serve luxurious hot chocolate with various toppings like whipped cream, sprinkles, and cinnamon sticks.

Savory and Sweet, Love and Lace Menu

Serve pretty Heart-shaped sandwiches with cucumber and cream cheese or smoked salmon.

For the sweet selection, we suggest – Strawberry shortcakes with whipped cream, Red velvet cupcakes adorned with lace-patterned frosting and of course Chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Love and Lace Tea Party Favors:

Heart-shaped love potion jars filled with your personalized tea blends or sweets.

Love and Lace Tea Affair Dress Code:

We love it when guests dress for the theme. So we would suggest that guests wear romantic, lace, or vintage-inspired tea party dresses.

We wish you much enjoyment in creating your own Love and Lace Tea Affair.

If you are looking for more ideas and inspiration for tea party themes have a look at our most popular theme posts:

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Tea Party Decorations

Tea party decorations help you set the mood for your tea party. They can range from delicate and whimsical to elegant and sophisticated, depending on the theme and your personal preferences.

When you are planning your next tea party event, here are some popular tea party decoration ideas to consider:

Table Settings

Start by setting an enchanting table with crisp tablecloths, lace doilies, or vintage-inspired linens.

Place individually folded cloth napkins and embellish them with napkin rings or decorative bows.

tea party decorations on the table
Pastel Pink Napkins and Tablecloth by O’Lucio

Use fine china or delicate teacups and saucers with matching plates. Incorporate floral patterns, pastel hues, or elegant designs that evoke a sense of refinement. Take a look at our Shabby Chic Tea Party page for more vintage-inspired ideas.

tea party decorations
Pretty Pastel Tea Set by Gracie China

Centerpieces

Create captivating centerpieces for your tea party tables. Fresh flowers, such as roses, daisies, or peonies, arranged in vases or teapots, add a touch of natural beauty.

Alternatively, consider using vintage teacups or teapots filled with small flower arrangements as unique and charming centerpieces.

Teacup Vases by Kate Aspen

You could also place decorative birdcages, candles, or elegant figurines as focal points. If your tea party is outdoors, we have many more ideas on our Garden Tea Party page.

Bunting and Garlands:

Hang bunting or garlands across the party area to add a festive touch. Choose pastel-coloured fabric or paper bunting adorned with floral patterns, lace, or decorative elements like teacups or teapot cutouts. Garlands made of paper flowers, ribbons, or delicate fabric can also be draped along walls, door frames, or around tables.

tea party decorations
Vintage-style Bunting by Talking Tables

Tea Party Props

Add lots of tea-related props to enhance the tea party theme. Vintage teacups, teapots, or tea party-themed accessories like miniature hats, gloves, or decorative fans can be placed as decor items. Display vintage books, antique teaware, or delicate lace parasols to add an air of nostalgia.

Mini Cake Domes by Talking Tables

Floral Arrangements

Flowers and tea parties go hand in hand. They add a fresh, bright touch to your tea party decor. Arrange bouquets of fresh flowers in vases or mason jars and place them strategically around the venue. Opt for dainty blossoms like roses, hydrangeas, or lavender.

We used Silk Hydrangeas by Florjery

You can also use floral arrangements to embellish buffet tables, dessert displays, or the entrance area.

Floral Plates By Sophistiplate

Balloons and Ribbons

Add lots of balloons and ribbons to bring a whimsical touch to your tea party. Use pastel-coloured balloons filled with helium and tied with ribbons that match the color scheme. You can create balloon bouquets or arches to enhance specific areas like the entrance or photo backdrop.

Balloon Arch by Amazon

Lace and Doilies

Lace and doilies add a touch of elegance and vintage charm to tea party decorations. Place lace doilies under teacups or plates, drape lace runners across tables, or incorporate lace-trimmed fabric in various decor elements. Ribbons, organza and lace can also adorn chair backs or as a decorative touch on napkins or favor bags.

Lace and Burlap By Arksu
Organza Chair Ribbons by BitFly
Party Favor Bags by Kate Aspen

Creative Signage

Create charming signs to direct guests or label different areas of the tea party. Use calligraphy or elegant fonts on chalkboards, vintage frames, or decorative cards. Consider signs for the tea station, dessert table, or photo booth area.

Tea Party Signs by Talking Tables
Blackboard by Rose Home Fashion

Personalized Touches

Add personalized touches to your tea party decorations to make the event unique. Consider personalized place cards, tea bag favors with customized tags, or printed menus with a special message for each guest. These personal details can make guests feel truly special and add an extra element of thoughtfulness.

What is a tea party without a fabulous hat?

Remember to consider the theme, color scheme, and overall aesthetic you want to achieve. And, of course have some fun with it!

More Vintage Tea Party Inspirations

What Style Tea Party Hat Should I Wear?

The best tea party hats are those that exude elegance, style, and a touch of whimsy. They add a charming and sophisticated element to a tea party outfit, complementing the overall look and creating a fashionable statement. We want to share some popular styles and features of tea party hats with you. To help you choose the right one.

Wide-Brimmed Hats

Wide-brimmed hats are a classic choice for tea parties. They feature a large, circular brim that provides shade while adding a touch of drama to your outfit. Wide-brimmed hats can be made from a wide range of materials, such as straw, sinamay, or organza, and can be adorned with ribbons, flowers, feathers, or delicate lace. Here are some of our favorite wide-brimmed hats.

wide-brimmed hat
Wide-Brimmed Hat by Saferin
Champagne Colored Hat by Oridor
Pink and Black Chiffon covered Hat by Go Mai

Fascinators

Fascinators are also a popular option for tea parties. They are smaller, decorative headpieces that are often attached to a headband or secured in your hair with clips or combs. They are known for their intricate designs, featuring feathers, flowers, netting, beads, or veils. Fascinators offer a more compact and lightweight alternative to traditional hats, allowing for greater versatility in styling and easy pairing with various hairstyles. Here are some of our favorite ones.

Navy Fascinator with feathers by Lucky Leaf
Pink Net Fascinator by Saferin
Dark blue Fascinator with Net by TSStore

Pillbox Hats

Pillbox hats are a timeless and elegant choice for a tea party hat. They have a round shape that allows them to fit snugly on the head. Pillbox hats can be decorated with bows, veils, feathers, or jewelled embellishments. They are often made from materials like wool, felt, or satin, lending a polished and sophisticated look to the wearer. Here are some of our favorite pillbox hats for this season.

Dramatic Black Net Pillbox Hat by Cizone
Butterflies and Feathers make this Pillbox hat a stunning option

Floral Hats

Tea parties often feature an abundance of flowers, and incorporating floral motifs into hat designs is a popular choice. Floral hats can be created using real or artificial flowers, arranged in a wreath-like fashion around the crown or used as accents on brims or fascinators. These hats evoke a fresh and feminine vibe, embracing the beauty of nature. Here are some of our favorite options.

Make a statement with this beautiful Magnolia Hat
Classically making a statement in this black hat

Vintage-Inspired Hats

Drawing inspiration from bygone eras, vintage-inspired hats add a nostalgic touch to a tea party outfit. Styles like cloche hats from the 1920s, picture hats or Gainsborough hats from the Edwardian era, or 1950s-inspired pillbox hats evoke a sense of timeless glamour. Vintage hats often feature intricate details, such as delicate lace, feathers, bows, or netting, and they can be found in various materials, including straw, velvet, or satin. Here are some of our favorite vintage-inspired tea party hats.

Alternatives to Tea Party Hats

For a unique touch, consider turbans, headbands or feathers as interesting alternatives to tea party hats. These can be specially chosen to match your outfit, incorporating specific colors, fabrics, or embellishments. Wear a unique alternative that perfectly reflects your style and personality, ensuring you stand out at the tea party.

Remember, the best tea party hat is one that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and captures the essence of the occasion. Whether you opt for a wide-brimmed hat, a delicate fascinator, or a vintage-inspired design, choose a hat that suits your personal style and enhances your overall tea party outfit. Enjoy!

High Tea Fashion Ideas

A Royal Tea Party

A Royal Tea Party theme is a wonderful theme to create a delightful and elegant event for a bridal shower, baby shower or classy birthday party. We have created a simple step-by-step guide to help you plan a memorable Royal Tea Party that will be the talk of the town – in the best possible way!

An official Royal Tea Party is characterized by the presence of distinguished guests, including members of royal families, aristocracy, and prominent figures. But, we will take any opportunity to pretend to be Royal, so let your guests also enjoy the Royal treatment with this fun Royal Tea Party Theme.

The Royal Setting

Choosing a beautiful venue is the first step to creating a memorable event. A Royal Tea Party is an elegant and formal social gathering. It can be hosted in a regal setting, such as a palace, castle, or grand estate. It can also be created in a more modest location, using lavish decorations, fine china, and floral arrangements to bring the Royal touch. We like to find pretty locations that a intimate and easy to decorate as you choose. Depending on the size of your party, you can create a Royal Tea Party in a lovely garden, terrace, or a well-decorated indoor space. With a little imagination, you can make your Royal Tea Party a refined and sophisticated affair that combines the elegance of tea traditions with the grandeur of royal hospitality.

Create your own Royal setting with Lavish decorations
Gorgeous Floral Decorations elevate a table to something more regal. We love these ones in gold.

Royal Invitations

Any Royal event begins with guests receiving elegant invitations, usually with intricate designs, calligraphy, or royal emblems. Be sure to let your guests know they are in for a Royal treat, and don’t forget to include the date, time, location, dress code, and any specific instructions.

Royally Gorgeous Invitations by Ponatia

Dress Code

Part of the excitement of a Royal Tea Party is seeing your guests arrive in their best outfits. So encourage guests to wear semi-formal or formal attire. Here are some general guidelines to help your guests.

For Women:

Dress or Skirt Ensemble:

A Royal Tea Party does not require long dresses. Instead, a knee-length or tea-length dress or a skirt paired with a blouse works well. We love to encourage floral patterns or pastel colors. We have lots of suggestions on our Best Tea Party Dresses Page:

Royally Stunning in this luxury Peach Formal Dress

Accessories:

This is the event to choose elegant accessories such as pearls, small earrings, or a delicate necklace.

Hats are an important part of this style! A beautiful hat or fascinator can add a touch of sophistication. We have all the best tea party hats in one place here:

Footwear:

Opt for dressy flats, low heels, or stylish pumps. You can find our best suggestions here:

best vintage tea party shoes

Gloves:

Depending on the formality of the event, you might consider wearing gloves, especially if they complement your outfit.

For Men:

Men should wear a Suit or Blazer to a Royal Tea Party. A well-fitted suit or a blazer paired with dress trousers in neutral colors like navy, gray, or black is the classic choice for men of style.

This Royal Blue Herring Bone Suit is a classic choice

Shirt and Tie:

Add a dress shirt with a coordinating tie. The tie can add a pop of color or complement the color scheme of your outfit.

Accessories:

Consider adding cufflinks, a pocket square, or a tie bar to enhance your overall look.

These classic cufflinks are the perfect choice

Footwear:

Select polished dress shoes that complement the color of your outfit.

Tea Service

The tea service is the centrepiece of any successful Royal Tea Party. Fine china cups and saucers, delicate teapots, and silverware can be used to serve a variety of high-quality teas.

Traditional tea blends, such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling, or English Breakfast, are often served, along with an assortment of herbal infusions.

Coronation Tea of course!
Royal Blend Tea by Fortnum & Mason
Earl Grey Imperial by Harney & Sons

Etiquette

Royal Tea Parties follow strict etiquette rules. Guests are expected to show proper manners, such as sitting upright, using the correct utensils, and engaging in polite conversation. The host or hostess leads the event, ensuring the atmosphere remains elegant and refined. Remind guests of traditional tea party etiquette, such as holding the teacup with the pinkie down and refraining from slurping. Why not consider providing etiquette lessons or hiring a professional tea sommelier to educate guests about tea traditions? This can add a fun edge to this formal type of event.

If you want some ideas about the type of manners required for a formal Royal Tea Party, you will find many in High Society Etiquette – a book written by a mother to guide her daughter through the social season.

Refreshments

Alongside tea, an array of sweet treats and savoury delicacies are served. These may include finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, petit fours, pastries, and miniature cakes. The food is typically presented on tiered trays or elegant silver platters.

Live Entertainment

To bring the right Royal ambience, a Royal Tea Party may feature live entertainment, such as classical music performed by a chamber orchestra, a string quartet, a pianist or via speakers. The music provides a backdrop for conversation and adds to the sophistication of the event.

Party Favors

Give your guests an extra treat with elegant party favors such as special tea bags, scented candles, or mini jars of honey. Attach a thank-you note expressing gratitude for attending the royal tea party.

Photography

Don’t forget to arrange for a professional photographer or set up a photo booth with props for guests to capture memories.

Thank You Notes

After a successful event it is elegant and kind to send personalized thank-you cards after the event, expressing appreciation for the guests’ presence and any gifts they may have brought.

We wish you all the best in creating a regal and enjoyable Royal Tea Party that will be remembered for its sophistication and charm. We hope you will enjoy this exquisite experience with your guests and finish the evening feeling like a Queen or King.

Garden Tea Party Dresses

Summer is coming and we are already getting invitations to Garden Parties and Afternoon Teas! We are looking forward to the season when we can get out in the sun, enjoy the warm weather and finally see each other again.

The warmer weather and invitations have prompted us to get busy finding the best tea party dresses for garden tea parties! We have found some stunning options and look forward to sharing them with you!

Grace Karen Boat Neck Dress with Belt

We are in love with the freshness of blue and white polka dots and had to put this cute tea party dress first on our list. It is sweet, fresh and fun – and did we mention it comes in many other colors too!

Garden Tea Party Dresses

Grace Karen Boat Neck Dress with Belt

1960s Style Garden Tea party Dress

We also spotted this lovely navy and polka dot dress with the gorgeous ruffled neckline. Pop a swing style petticoat underneath to make this swing dress pop!

Maggie Tang’s 1960s Style Garden Tea party Dress

Sheer Floral Dress

The swing style dress is incredibly flattering for all shapes and can be seen in many beautiful designs for garden wedding parties. We love this sweet and soft swing style dress with the floral overlay on the top. It is pretty and sweet.

Our next pick has us falling in love. This dress is chic and stylish for a day to night event.

Retro Polka Dot Swing Tea Party Dress

This lovely swing tea party dress has a gorgeous halter-neck design that shows off your shoulders and curves all at once! The larger white polka dot takes us back to the fun 1950s housewife style, so you can go full vintage with the hair and make-up in this dress.

Red Polka Dot Swing Dress

This red polka dot dress is also a fantastic 1950s design with wider straps and a gathered bust. It is slightly longer and has a small flare at the bottom. Wear it as is or add a wide petticoat underneath to show off the swing style more.

Garden Tea Party Dresses

Strapless Swing Dress

Can you tell that we are in love with swing this season? Now we have the 1950s pin-up style swing dress. This off-the-shoulder swing dress is sweet and stunning at the same time. Add a pair of high heels and some bright red lipstick and you will stand out in the crowd with this dress.

Demure Blue Party Dress

After all that va-va-voom our next pick is a demure blue and white dress with gentle ruching at the front and pockets. Floaty and sweet, this number is perfect for a simple elegant garden party dress.

The next few options are for those of you who always want something a little different. A garden party is a perfect place to bring out a fun jumpsuit. Pair it with high heels, fantastic hair and make-up and you will look stunning in these options.

Pistachio Green Wide Jumpsuit

Floral Print Wiggle Dress

After that small detour into jumpsuits, we are back to the dresses. This next one is a fabulous wiggle dress with the ruffle detail on the hip in a beautiful peach blossom print.

Gingham Button Dress

This pretty 1950s inspired button-through dress with gingham print and collar is classic summer fun in one outfit!

Halter-Neck Dress

This halter-neck dress is fabulous in so many ways. It flatters most shapes and looks perfect at a garden tea party.

Rose Blue Swing Dress

We also love this swing dress with pretty print and sweet bow. It is sweet, fun and delicious!

Pink Swing Dress

Or try this salmon pink swing dress with heart-shaped buttons and cap sleeves. This also comes in other colors.

Garden Tea Party Dresses

Checkered Wiggle Dress

One of our other favorite designs is the black and white check. This fun check dress has a great with the details of a defined bustline, wider shoulder straps, a nipped waist with belt and finally a flirty ruffled hemline. We love it.

Cherry Swing Dress

This Cherry Swing Dress goes perfectly with pink lemonade and summer garden parties. The flattering gathered bust and nipped waistline show off the swinging style of this fantastic dress. This design also comes in many color options!

Nautical Wiggle Dress

Summer garden parties are the place to wear some fun nautical styles. This navy and red wiggle dress sails into the party and makes an impact!

Lobster Print Wiggle Dress

Hello summer BBQ! Sizzle in this red lobster wiggle dress with a cross-over halter neck.

Show-Stopping White Dress

This show-stopping dress is pure elegance, available in a range of colors, we love love love the off-the-should detail paired with the tea-length hemline and nipped-in waist.

Our final three sweet dresses for a summer garden party caught our eye with the clever use of retro patterns in timeless designs. They are sweet, they are elegant and you will wear them again and again!

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