Do NOT fret! Your party design help has arrived! Preparing for a party is a lot of work. I totally get it! When you can have someone come along side and brainstorm with you about the details, that always helps the process go more smoothly. Take a deep breath and trust that the tips you will learn today will be super helpful in making you look like a rockstar party planner for your upcoming garden or tea party.
This post comes power packed with ideas, tips, options, pictures and encouragement when it comes to putting your indoor or outdoor party details together. I have a tiny garden tea party tablescape to share; yummy food ideas for serving, vintage décor to consider; a gorgeous centerpiece to display; sweet take-away gifts to pass out; and an encouraging word speaking hope and life over you at the end. Grab your notebook and come brainstorm with me.
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Garden Tea Party Back Story
My girls had a ball joining me in making this tiny garden tea party dream come true. I love it when you have a vision of something in your mind that comes to life. My mom was the inspiration behind this one. When she was taking me on a spring tour of her garden, at her lake house, she showed me this sweet wrought iron bistro set and told me it was stationed there for a tea party with her granddaughters.
I immediately knew we had to create a tablescape here, mini style. Having the lake as the backdrop while being surrounded by fresh blooms and greens from the plants, certainly made this garden space my new happy place.
Garden Tea Party Tablescape Details
Teapot and Teacups
My mom has gorgeous vintage ceramics and china. Her cabinets are where I went shopping for my teacups, saucers, and teapot supplies. The yellow teapot started my design thought process. Even though the cups and saucers are not all a part of the same set, I love how the mixing and matching came together. They all had a hint of yellow woven through their patterns, so this tread of commonality helped everything come together and work beautifully. Plus, I feel like, in order to have that true vintage feel, mixing and matching is a must.
Vintage Style Doily
The forest green crotched doily, made by my auntie, was used as our tiny tablecloth. I like that it was small enough to allow the beauty of the bistro table to still peek through. It also provided another layer of green to tie in all of the garden colors and flowers from the vase.
Centerpiece
Speaking of vase, when I saw this lime green beauty, I immediately knew it would be the perfect color and fit as the centerpiece. It was deciding on the flowers for the inside that made me think a little longer. I originally wanted bright yellow tulips, but when I went to the florist they did not have that color. Boo! Sometimes we have to roll with the punches, right? Time for plan B. When I looked at the teacup pictures on my phone, the colors mimicked a floral bouquet I spotted in the store. I liked that option even better.
Food and Drink
We served apple juice and just pretended it was actual tea. My girls will drink peppermint tea for me when they don’t feel well, but to ask them to drink it for a party was a, “No, thank you.” The red velvet cupcakes on the other hand were a hands-down, “Yes, please.” We set them on a crystal cake pedestal and one of my girls added the dandelion touches to the plate. My favorite embellishment for this garden tea party tablescape!
In light of the tiny bistro size, we went very simple with the food options. Here are some garden party food ideas if you’d like to make your gathering a little more robust.
Garden Tea Party Food Ideas
- Classic Ham and Cheese Tea Sandwiches
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Cucumber Mint Sandwiches
- Cream Cheese Sandwiches
- Italian Pinwheel Finger Sandwiches
- Mini Ham and Cheese Quiche
- Mini Cheese Balls
- Hazelnut, Lemon, or Chocolate Chip Scones
- Almond Bacon Cheese Crostini
- Mini Muffins
- Cheese Cubes and Crackers
- Caprese Kababs
- Rainbow Fruit Salad
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Cake Pops
- Jam Tarts
- Macarons
- Mini Cupcakes
- Shortbread Cookies
- Brownie Bits
- Pink Lemonade
- Apple Juice
- Fruit Punch
- Hot Chocolate
- Chai Latte
Is it just me or does all of this food sound delicious? Are you hungry yet? LOL
Any of these options would be amazing at your garden tea party. Or, feel free to go easy-peasy as we did, and just have cupcakes and a “tea” style beverage.
Garden Party Tablescape and Décor Ideas
I did a little décor pondering and listed some trendy vintage-inspired décor ideas that would be super cute as staging materials for your get-together.
- Doilies
- Vintage Milk Jugs-can be used as water pitchers or vases
- Ornate Flatware
- Beige or Oatmeal Colored Linen Napkins with Lace Trim
- Vintage Bistro Set
- Vintage Tea Pot(s) with Floral Print
- Vintage Tea Cups and Saucers with Floral Print
- Amber Hue Water Goblets
- Medicine Bottles-can be used as mini vases
- Paper Vintage-Style Tea Cups, Saucers and Napkins- super durable for children
- White Lace Parasols- great for a photo shoot backdrop or propped off to the side
- Layered Cake Stands
- Footed Cake Plates
- Babies Breath and Garden Flowers
- Moss Spilling out of Pots
- Teas, Tea, and More Teas- Commoditeas tea products are AMAZING! I personally know Katrina, the owner, and her teas are stellar.
- Silver or Gold Ornate Flatware
- Pastel Colored Sheet Fringe- click here for sheet fringe specifics from a previous post
- Ornate Picture Frames
- Lace Tablecloths
I hope these vintage-style garden tea party supplies inspire you to style your event to the nines. Just remember to check out your mom’s cabinets too.
Garden Tea Party Games
For Adults or Children
- Sugar Cube Stack- whoever stacks the most cubes before the timer goes off, wins
- Bean Bag Toss
- Tea Cup Race – think egg and spoon race, but use a tea cup filled with water so nothing stains
- Tea Tray Remember Game- present a tray with random garden and tea inspired goodies, cover with towel, remember what was on the try, write it down
- Tea Party Bingo
- Croquet
- Horseshoes
- Giant Jenga
- Gummy Bear Find- cover 5-10 gummy bears with whipped cream, have guests use mouths to find them
- Limbo
Garden Tea Party Favors
- Nail Polish with Ribbon Wrap
- Tea Cup with Tea Bag
- Box of Tea
- Mini Garden Bouquets
- Mini Floral Arrangements
- Succulents
- Tiny Picture Frames
- Hand Lotions
- Tea Cup Style Sugar Cookies Wrapped in Cellophane
- Floral Bouquet Style Sugar Cookies Wrapped in Cellophane
- Candles
- Gold Tea Spoons with Ribbon Wrap
- Tiny Clay Pots with Seed Bag Inside
- Tiny Burlap Bag with Olive Plant Inside
- Floral Print Hand-Held Folding Fan
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, for joining me on this blogging journey. I’m honored to share some fun ideas that can be helpful in making your party design dreams come true. How fun it was to have my girls join me for this garden tea party. I hope you were able to glean some fun ideas from our pictures and lists, for your upcoming event.
P.S. A Word of Encouragement
It’s the little things in life that can bring such joy. What is in your heart that makes you sing? What is it that makes you smile? What do you look forward to or dream about? Even if it’s a small version of what you actually desire, why not take a baby step towards it?
One time my mom and I were talking about going garage “saling” on a Saturday morning. It turned out to be chilly and raining when we got up which made both of us start to rethink our plans. I looked around and could see all of the things in my home that needed tending. The laundry was in piles on the sofa that needed folding. The dishes keep growing in the sink as fast as the weeds do in the mulch bed. The crumbs from my girls seem to reappear in the blink of an eye. I could go on and on.
Then something arose in my heart and it was this phrase, “Just live!” These chores will be there tomorrow. The tasks of life will always call for my attention. But, sometimes you have to “just live” even in the rain. So, we did! We got a little soggy in the process, but we got up and went with the plan as scheduled. And, had a blast!
I say all that to say, even if it’s a small step toward seeing your dream come to fruition, just take a small step today. Even if it’s not the perfect setup, like gray skies and morning rain; go anyways. Make the most of today and enjoy the process. I am so speaking to the choir right now because doing this is not my default, yet.
Enjoy today and cherish the little things that make you smile.
