How to Plan a Tea Party with a Jazz Theme

Tea parties are traditionally sophisticated, formal affairs usually held by women or in acts of revolution (think the Boston Tea Party). These days, tea parties are making a comeback and in less formal and more fun ways. Consider planning a tea party with a jazz theme. Jazz is great music, sophisticated, fun and lively and perfect with conversation pieces.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Location to hold the event
• Formal invitations
• Food, light refreshments
• Musical entertainment

1. Find a location for your tea party. It should be a location that can give a semi-formal and sophisticated feel. This location should also provide the size and space you need to comfortably seat everyone attending. Consider the cost of renting out a space, or consider asking a free and available space.

2. Think of the invitees and plan your correspondence. Think of the number of people your space will hold and create a list of people to invite. (You may also do this in reverse if the number and list of people are definite.)
   
   Purchase or create formal invitations that speak to the event. If you want this event to be sophisticated and formal, your invitation style and correspondence should reflect this. Ask for the invitees to RSVP so that you know exactly who will be attending your tea party.

3. Create a menu. The menu for your tea party should feature tea, of course, and other light refreshments and appetizers. Consider offering exotic teas and coffees for variety. For appetizers, opt for bite-sized or other easily ingested food. Avoid any messy foods as this is a more sophisticated affair.
   
   Have the food professionally prepared if possible. If not, plan and prepare each appetizer and all drinks in advance. Be sure to do your food shopping well in advance of the party.
   
   Consider appetizers to recall the jazz era or that are featured in jazz clubs to enhance your jazz theme.

4. Plan your activities and entertainment. Entertainment will be necessary to help break the ice or set the tone for your tea party. A jazz theme calls for jazz music, therefore consider arranging for a live jazz band. To save on costs, consider hiring student musicians or any musician friends and colleagues that you may have. If this is not possible, compile a stack of jazz albums or create a compilation of jazz songs and set your stereo to shuffle.

5. Set up and decorate your space for the tea party. Decorate using a jazz theme. Consider making the space look like a jazz club or a speakeasy in the old jazz era. You want a sophisticated, semi-formal feeling in your decor, but be sure to use decorations that recall music and specifically jazz.
   
   Decorate with music notes, photos and posters of jazz musicians, albums etc. Consider using napkins, place-cards and menus that use lyrics or musical notes to recall this theme.

6. Set up the space. Use place-cards if seating is very important and if everyone in your group doesn't know each other, or worse, there are some in your group who do not get along. Create a checklist beforehand to help you stay organized and to keep everything in order. Enjoy the party!

Tips & Warnings

• Give yourself enough time to plan this tea party and to complete all of the tasks on your checklist.
• Be sure to keep up with your RSVP list and to check with your entertainment.
• Ask for help.
• If anything goes wrong, do not panic. Quickly regroup and make the necessary changes and corrections.
• Try to have a backup plan for every part of your tea party's design. For example, bring jazz albums to the tea party even if you have a live band attending. In the event that your band does not show or is late, you will already have some entertainment regardless.