A vintage tea party recreates the elegance of traditional afternoon tea with period-appropriate details.
From tiered stands to floral china, the aesthetic matters as much as the food. We cover how to host one authentically without breaking your budget.
How To Host A Vintage Tea Party
If you plan to host an afternoon tea party, you can wow your guests researching this fine British tradition. First of all, refer to it by its real name. The type of tea we typically associate with Victorian times – scones and tea – is known as “afternoon tea,” and not “high tea.”
Hosting a tea party at the correct time is another way to demonstrate your knowledge about it. Afternoon tea was created by the nobility of the time took place at approximately 4 PM to compensate for the time in between lunch and dinner. If you’re hoping to impress your guests, tell them you are “having tea” and not “taking tea” — just like the Queen says it.
It is entirely up to you where you choose to host your vintage tea party.
If you have access to a porch or patio and the weather is good, you may consider holding it outdoors. However, if you can only host inside, the dining table is perfectly fine. You can also set up in the living room if you have the space and chairs.
You might also be interested in learning about Ceylon tea.
What To Serve At A Vintage Tea Party
A tea party is all about savoring a cup of tea and indulging yourself in delightful delicacies. For modern and vintage mix-ups, you can consider adding edible flowers, quiche, or soup shooters.
One excellent way for you to get into the theme further is choosing to display treats on a traditional tray. However, your guests should start from the bottom and work up to the top when eating off the tray.
You should arrange savory sandwiches on the bottom. The middle is for scones, and sweet treats on the top. Pesto chicken, curried eggs, or crab salad are some traditional sandwich fillings that you can serve.
And while you’re enjoying your afternoon tea delicacies, don’t pay too much attention to the cutlery. Using your fingers to eat is appropriate — be have a spoon or fork for the desserts.
One of the most exciting aspects of attending or hosting a vintage tea party is you get to drink tea from an actual teacup instead of your usual travel mug – but there is a process. Make sure to stir your tea from the top down to the bottom of the teacup. In simpler terms, if it was a clock, you would stir from 12 to six and then back to 12 again — just be careful not to hit the sides of the teacup with your spoon. Check out our tea towel explainer.
What To Wear For A Vintage Tea Party
The host might ask guests to wear traditional tea clothes to the vintage tea party. Tea party attire consists of hats or fascinators, dresses, gloves, and jewelery. Try to ensure your outfit matches the occasions’ theme. A parasol is a great addition to an outdoor tea party.
A bright sundress with sandals and a cardigan are also acceptable for a more casual tea party. Avoid wearing denim and go for clothing that is on the modest side. You might also be interested in learning about tea rooms.
Tips On Planning The Perfect Vintage Tea Party
Choose The Right Setting
We don’t want to jinx it, but if the day of your tea party happens to be sunny, why don’t you try holding it outdoors? The sunshine makes everything look more beautiful and will give your tea party a real old-fashioned, classic garden party vibe.
It will work just as wonderfully indoors if you can’t hold your vintage tea party outdoors. Dress your table with a white tablecloth and some fresh flowers, and decorate your room with bunting and balloons.
Another quick and easy way to decorate your tea party venue is with pastel pink and white balloons matched with pastel partyware!
Send Out Physical Invitations
Nowadays, we spend so much time online that some of us find it exciting to receive something special in our mailbox. So, why don’t you try sending out real invitations for your vintage tea party? If you are feeling particularly crafty, you can make your own invitations — but still, you should set up an online event to help people remember it.
It can be difficult to gather a whole group of friends in one place at the same time, so make sure to send out your invitations ahead of time!
Serve Your Food On Vintage Crockery
Vintage crockery is perfect for your vintage tea party — the more mismatched, the better! However, if you do not have any fancy china at home, this Talking Tables Tea Party Bundle is a good cheat. The tea cups and plates look just like vintage china and you can just throw them away once the tea party is over to avoid doing any dishes!
Matching Flowers And Table Decorations
If you have a fairly large table and want to decorate it, why don’t you try putting some tonal pastel flowers? These flowers do not even need to be real — there are many beautiful fake flowers that you can find at your local flower shops. A clean white tablecloth will help contrast with the colors, and pastel colors give an old-fashioned vibe which is perfect if you are planning to have a vintage tea party!
Fresh flowers will undoubtedly add to the vintage look of your tea party. We recommend using a couple of vases with some fresh flowers to create a long centerpiece down the middle of the table.
Bring Out The Bunting
The decoration is one of the most important things you need to consider when planning a vintage tea party. Bunting has old-fashioned written all over it and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor parties — it can be easily hung in a tree, along the fence, or even on a wall.
If you are holding your tea party outdoors, you can try to hang some cute paper lanterns in the trees and put some fresh flowers on the table to give it a quaint, traditional garden party look.
Don’t Forget The Food
A wide variety of teas can be purchased at any local supermarket or grocery store, so the next thing to consider is food. One good thing about a vintage tea party is that the menu does not need to be complicated. It usually includes sandwiches, pastries, and cupcakes, but the typical vintage tea party snack is cupcakes.
Cupcakes come in many different styles and colors, which makes them ideal for a vintage tea party. You can also consider using colorful cake cups to make them stand out.
If you decide to use a colored cupcake stand to present to your guests, try to match it with the color of your cupcakes and cake cups. You can also use a metal cupcake stand — it is great for reusing but won’t stand out as much.
If you are not sure about what food to serve your guests, here are some ideas:
- Tea (either a classic like English Breakfast Tea and Earl Grey or something different)
- Sandwiches
- Mini quiches
- Scones with jam and clotted cream
- Classic cakes (e.g., Victoria sponges, Bakewell tarts)
- Cupcakes
You may also be interested in reading our guide on bubble tea party ideas.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the practical takeaway after researching and testing this extensively:
Theory is great, but real-world application is messier. We’ve found that understanding the ‘why’ behind coffee science helps you troubleshoot when things go wrong—and they will. Your water, your beans, your grinder, and even humidity levels create variables that no guide can perfectly account for.
Start with the fundamentals in this article, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Some of our best cups have come from “mistakes” that turned into happy accidents. Coffee brewing rewards curiosity.