Planning A Ladies Tea

Planning A Tea
For Church Ladies Groups
Julia Bettencourt
What better way to show the ladies in your group how special they are other than holding a tea for them? You can turn an ordinary banquet or meeting into something sweet and wonderful. It will just take a little bit of planning.

Do some research on holding a tea.
See the Tea Links Page for a variety of ideas.

Don't get bogged down with the "perfect" or the "correct" tea.

Consider the basics.
- Your budget.
- Where it will be held.
- How many are likely to attend.
- What type of food you will serve.
- If you want a speaker and who you might choose.
- What you already have to work with such as tables, table coverings, florals, etc.
- What you'd like your color scheme to be. Try not to use more than 2 to 3 colors together.
- Any "extras" you want such as door prizes.
Gather your table coverings.
- Try using cloth tablecloths. It is an excellent way to bring atmosphere to your tea. If your church doesn't already have tablecloths, check into some inexpensive sheets as an alternative. They can be plain or printed. Remember they don't have to have a high thread count. You won't be sleeping on them:) In other words, if you choose this route you can purchase the cheap ones. Once you purchase them you can always use them over and over so bear that in mind when choosing a color.
- Using paper tablecloths. These can still add a nice touch to your tea. You need to do what's easiest on your budget for your church and work with what you have available to you.
- Use place mats. Most party supply stores carry inexpensive paper place mats. It adds that special finishing touch to your tables, plus if you have cloth table clothes it helps protect from food spills.

Gather your decorations.
- Gather all the tea pots you can find. You can use some for serving actual tea but use others for decoration.
- A hodge podge of tea pots of various sizes, colors, and shapes can make a wonderful display on your tables.
- Check out second hand stores and garage sales for teacups for flower arrangements.

Take advantage of donations.
- Check with the ladies within your church and use tea pots donated for the occasion.
- Make sure everyone takes theirs home after the tea.
- For an added element, place tent cards in front of each one that was donated for use with the name of the lady who donated it.

Make table decorations.
- For table decorations use tea cups filled with flowers. They can be silk or fresh flowers.
- Fill a teapot with flowers for a main table or display
- Keep your arrangements on your tables small. No one likes trying to talk to their table neighbor over tall floral arrangements.
- Use several tea cups from one set that matches or you can use mixed patterns.
- Fill in spaces on the tables with lots of candles.

Decide on a menu.
Keep it light. You can serve a full course meal, just don't make it something heavy.

Make a focal point.
Use a child's size table and chairs set up with a children's tea set. Place dolls or stuffed bears in the chairs to sit with a small teapot full of flowers in the middle of the table.

Use door prizes.
- Basket filled with 2 tea cups and specialty tea packages.
- Sprinkle candy inside of the tea cups. Wrap with cellophane tied up with ribbons or raffia.
- Individual Teacup filled with candy. Wrap with cellophane tied up with ribbons or raffia.
- Serving tray

Use favors.
- Purchase specialty flavor tea bags. Make sure they are individually wrapped packages. Tie with a hang tag that says "Tea with special friends improves life's aroma." along with your church name and date.
- Use tea strainers as favors and use the same hang tag suggestion as above.

Have fun.
- Assign tables ahead of time for a group of ladies or one designated lady to serve as hostess and allow them to come up with a theme and decorations for their table. Each table will be unique.
- Have your ladies wear hats and dress for tea.
- Have special music.
- Sing the "I'm a Little Teapot" song as a chorus.
- Play Victorian Parlor Games such as charades.
- have some old time etiquette information of interesting facts.