How to Host a Mid-Century Modern Tea Party
Bring the 50s era into your party style by hosting a mid-century modern tea party. Emphasize the trends of the period, including television and radio. Dress in 50s attire and play a variety of music from this post-war period. Decorate with mid-century design in mind. Serve foods typically found at informal get-togethers and teas of the era. As they said in the 50s, be the "hostess with the mostest" by letting your creativity take you back in time. Whether you select a youthful or a mature-yet-relaxed theme, plan your tea party and enjoy the festivities. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Invitations
- Music
- Decorations
- Serving pieces
- Refreshments
- Entertainment
Instructions
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Send out invitations with a retro theme. Request an RSVP and advise guests of any dress requirements. For an informal, youthful tea party, poodle skirts, sweaters and neck scarves with white socks and flat shoes would be appropriate. For a more mature theme, have the ladies wear suits and hats. For a formal, yet relaxed, tea party, cocktail dresses, pearls and heels are worn. Choose a theme or let your guests select their own 50s attire. Wear a hostess apron with your attire.
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Plan the music around the theme of informal or formal, but relaxed. Do a compilation of the groups and singers famous during the 50s. Include Elvis, Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, the Supremes, Ray Charles and other "pop" songs that will get people up and moving. For a mature theme, Nat King Cole, Patti Page and Pat Boone will fit the bill. Consider the big band sound for background music as an alternative, to encourage conversation.
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Scour thrift stores for as many 50s-style accessories as you can find. Kidney-shaped tables and metal-framed chairs will add to the 50s feel. Find accessories, such as star-burst clocks and jukebox-themed pieces. Use lots of pink and turquoise blue to decorate your tea party room.
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Set the table with pastel, melamine dishes on a checkered tablecloth for informal style, or fine China, crystal and silver on lace and linen for a formal setting. Set a sideboard or tea cart with tiered trays of finger sandwiches, petit fours and teas. Since herbal teas were not in vogue during the 50s, serve a variety of black teas from around the world, especially India and South America, where most tea imports originated. Just for fun, set out trays of 50s candies, such as wax lips, bubble gum and Necco wafers.
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Add entertainment in keeping with your 50s theme to your tea party. Host a dance contest and give prizes for the best steppers. Have a fashion show with prizes for the best hat, accessories or outfit. Rent videos of an old TV show, such as I Love Lucy or The Honeymooners. As an alternative, watch a classic 50s sci-fi movie or a Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant flick.
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Greet each guest as she arrives for the tea party. Introduce her to anyone she may not know and escort her to a seat. Once everyone arrives, have them gather around your serving table and describe the various teas and other refreshments you have provided. Alternatively, create 50s diner-style boards to hang over your sideboard or tea cart with the names of food items. Describe the various teas, their origins and the variety of sweeteners and creamers offered so guests can sample several combinations.
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After tea is served, invite everyone to participate in the entertainment. Provide tables -- ideally snack trays -- for guests to place their tea and snacks on while the entertainment proceeds. As host, ensure that everyone has a filled tea cup, and pass around trays of cookies or small cakes.
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References
- Photo Credit Ralf Nau/Digital Vision/Getty Images
