Hosting a Garden-Themed Afternoon Tea Party

Hosting a Garden-Themed Afternoon Tea Party – A garden tea party is a great way to enjoy time with friends and family in a peaceful setting.

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Hosting a garden tea party is a wonderful way to enjoy time with friends and family in a peaceful setting. The fresh smell of flowers, and the gentle clink of teacups create a feeling that comes straight out of a storybook. Whether you’re keeping it casual or adding a little detail, it makes all the difference. From the food to the decorations, everything should come together in a way that feels inviting.

The Perfect Garden Table setting

Nothing sets a mood more effectively than a beautifully set table. Old teacups, mixed pieces of china, and delicate linen napkins somehow make it all feel more celebratory. The inclusion of a floral runner or small posies in jam jars brings colour without overpowering the space.

Placing name tags at each place is a personal touch, even in a small gathering. As a finishing touch, slide a sprig of rosemary or a sprig of lavender under each guest’s napkin.

Bringing the garden to the food and drink table

The menu should be fresh and seasonal but also exciting. Afternoon tea is all about variety, so a mix of savoury and sweet is the perfect balance.

For your drinks, a mix of teas and cooling cold options is a hit with everyone. Earl Grey, chamomile, and green tea are all great choices, as well as Darjeeling or Assam. In warmer weather, homemade lemonade with edible flowers or a chilled prosecco spritz with a splash of elderflower cordial does just the job.

Florals and greenery

Flowers are the focal point of a garden tea party but they don’t need to be elaborate. A collection of wildflowers, roses, and dainty greenery is lovely. Arranging them in a slightly tousled posy kind of way keeps everything looking natural, and not over the top.

Potted plants also offer a great way of adding texture and depth to a room. Beards & Daisies can also supply a great collection of potted foliage and floral centrepieces that can instantaneously transform a room.

Thoughtful Touches

It’s those small details that matter most. A hand-written menu, or linen napkins wrapped in garden twine create rustic elegance. If you’re willing to push it a little further, a gentle background playlist of classic or acoustic music can add atmosphere without overpowering the conversation.

For an interactive element, you can create a do-it-yourself herbal tea bar in which you invite guests to design their own herbal blends. Dried bowls of rose petals, mint, chamomile, and lemon balm allow guests to design something to their liking, plus it’s fun.

Adding Elements

Handwritten menus on beautiful paper or elegant calligraphy place settings can make your guests feel special. You can have small, personalised notes at each place setting, perhaps sharing a memory of yourself and your guest, a motivational message, or a few lovely sentiments about each of your guests. Potted flowers and fresh floral arrangements can easily incorporate décor to make the space feel vibrant and carefully curated. Placed in the centre of the table, around seating areas, or even used as small take-home gifts.

Outfits

Invite your guests to wear light, breezy clothes which will make everyone to feel comfortable without compromising style in favour of that timeless afternoon tea feeling. Flowing dresses, linen trousers, and dainty pastel shades get the mood just right. You can pop some floral crowns or small boutonnieres aside for guests to receive when they arrive or perhaps for them to take home.

Preparing for Weather

Let’s be realistic here, throwing a garden party in the UK always has a touch of weather unpredictability to it. Always a good move to have a contingency in place, though. A marquee, a gazebo, or even a nicely set-up indoor space keeps everything on track in case of a heavens’ open-up. Having a pile of throws or rugs to hand also means that everyone stays warm in case it gets a bit cold.

Gifts to Remember the Day

Something for your guests to take home is a lovely finishing touch to the day. Mini jars of homemade jam, small sachets of flower seeds, or a beautifully presented biscuit from the afternoon tea range are all easy yet memorable ways to say thank you. If you’ve used a floral arrangement in the centre of tables, you can even let guests take a few stems home to remind them of the day.

Personal Touch

To make your event even more personal, try adding details that have your personality and style in mind. Something like a heirloom set of teacups that have been passed down over generations that you can lead to sharing stories.

A Sensory Encounter

The right pairing of smells and sounds also has a way of making the ambiance even more special. Sprigs of herbs like thyme, basil, or mint on or around the dinner table give a dainty, natural scent without overpowering anyone. Potted flowers in seating areas provide floral scents when sitting there. Just a few small details work to provide a calm and inviting ambiance, making it more enjoyable for everyone to be in.

Photography

Setting up a photo booth is a wonderful means of seizing the moment in a fun, artistic way. An old, lace-draped chair, a floral archway, or a rustic wood plank bearing a simple quotation about tea and friendship make great backgrounds. Set aside a Polaroid camera for instant keepsakes, or set a digital camera on a tripod and use a remote shutter to allow guests to take their own group shot. Providing a hashtag to post to social media also keeps the memory alive and in contact even after the last cup is sipped.

In The End

A garden-themed afternoon tea is not always going to be perfect, but it’s more about creating an area that is inviting, not to complicate it, and a little indulgent. With a specific amount of delicious food, careful arrangement, and a backdrop that is in tribute to nature, you’re going to be having an afternoon that lingers in everyone’s memory long after that last cup of tea is served.