How to Prepare for a Mother-Daughter Tea Party

Help build lasting bonds between mothers and daughters with a tea party.

Plan an elegant yet casual tea party for mothers and daughters. Everyone will enjoy an atmosphere that encourages conversation. Plan activities for mothers and daughters to share at the tea party and take home with them as a remembrance. Engage everyone in adult and child-friendly conversation and take pictures of each mother-daughter pair to commemorate the event. With a little preparation in advance as well as on the day of the tea party, the event will be a success.

Things You'll Need

• Invitations
• Teas
• Finger sandwiches
• Desserts
• Serving pieces
• Music
• Tablecloth
• Place cards
• Candles
• Flower corsages
• Instant camera

Instructions

In Advance of the Tea Party

1. Send invitations to announce the tea party. Specify if the tea party will be a high tea or a more casual gathering. Ask mothers and daughters to dress for an elegant, yet relaxing high tea, including gloves and hats, if desired. Cut unique teapot-shaped invitations out of card stock or send traditional party invitations.

2. Plan the menu, including the number and types of teas, sandwiches and desserts to serve. Traditional teas would include a variety of teas as well as different finger sandwiches and desserts. Include toppings such as jams, lemon curd, whipped cream and clotted cream, if available. Plan to provide foods that adults and young girls alike will enjoy.

3. Assemble your serving pieces. Use complete tea services or collect vintage teapots, teacups and saucers from flea markets or thrift stores. Find serving pieces to accommodate all of the menu items, including trays, platters, creamers, sugar bowls and tongs for cubed sugar, jelly spoons, spatulas and teaspoons. Mix up the styles of serving pieces or keep to one theme, according to your personal taste and the availability of items. Mix formal pieces with fancy paper goods for a more casual setting.

4. Choose the music you will play in the background. Include music both adults and young girls will enjoy. For a traditional high tea, play soft background classical or piano music.

5. Purchase and prepare all beverage and food items in advance of the party. This will leave you time to enjoy your guests.

6. Prepare favors to present upon departure. Plan to present the photographs taken during tea, so have an instant camera and film ready.

The Day of the Tea Party

1. Set your tables with linen or lace tablecloths and runners. Arrange your place settings and silverware around the table and add place cards for mothers and daughters to sit together. Position candles safely for atmosphere and ambient lighting. Add flowered centerpieces to your serving table and sideboards.

2. Brew your teas and place teapots with tags identifying the teas on the main table. Position creamers and sugar bowls nearby.

3. Place your finger sandwiches, desserts and teas on sideboards, tea carts or side tables for easy access. Use platters for sandwiches and cookies and a tiered tray for pastries.

4. Present guests with mother- and daughter-sized corsages when they arrive. Make wrist corsages for girls and pin-on corsages for mothers.

Tips & Warnings

• Type or write out the menu items and place the list on a stand-up card on the sideboard, tea carts or side tables to identify the various finger sandwiches, cookies, desserts and toppings.

• Plan an activity, if desired, for the tea party. Have craft supplies available for mothers and daughters to create decorative picture frames and take instant pictures to send home. Alternatively, have everyone bring a mother-daughter craft project to work on together.

References

• Tea Cakes and Teddy Bears: Mother Daughter Tea