Ideas needed for a Tea party bridal shower?
Question:how should i decorate tables, what food to serve, what type of drinks all thoughts accepted
Answers:
Use small round tables. Cover in white tablecloths and a layer of tulle in the one of the bride's colors. Collect teapots and cup and saucer sets (which can be then given as favors). You can find lovely sets at your local antique store, and are usually quite reasonable. Use silver sugar bowls, creamers and silverware. For the table centerpieces, create several small bouquets using pink roses, rosebuds and ferns.
Make them flat on one side for laying on table.
Tie stems together with dark green silk ribbon and mist lightly. Place in refrigerator until ready to decorate table. Fold napkins and tie with a green silk ribbon and tuck a pink rose into each.
Make up a menu and print it out on pretty paper and don’t forget to keep it authentic, no paper plates or cups! Enlist the help of friends and have them each bring a delectable selection of cookies. If you really want to be authentic, visit one of the many online suppliers of British foods, and add genuine English clotted cream to have with your scones. A typical selection would be cucumber, smoked salmon, egg salad and watercress finger sandwiches; followed by scones with jam & cream, with chocolate digestives, custard creams and shortbread, all available online. Cakes are usually of the ‘sponge’ variety (similar to pound cake), cut in half and filled with strawberries and cream. Make sure to keep refilling those teapots with boiling water and allow a few minutes for the tea to brew nicely.
You don't say how long you have to plan this, or what your budget is. However, if you'd like something elegant, you might consider an Edwardian theme. If you can find the book entitled 'The Duchess of Duke Street Entertains', it will tell you everything you need to know about decorations, foods, drinks, serving, etc. It was a companion book to the series 'The Duchess of Duke Street'.
The tables should be round, with white cloths. Strands of artificial flowers should be draped like bunting around the outside. If you have china and silverware available, it's definitely preferable to plastic. If you don't have a nice tea service, see if you can borrow or rent one.
Foodwise, I would suggest finger sandwiches and small pastries, items that can be consumed in one or two bites. That's pretty much what would be served at an afternoon tea in England.
Of course, attendees wouldn't *have* to dress in period style, but it would add to the fun.
Good luck!
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