When days start to drag, and routines become monotonous, trade in your office tea break for a high tea extravaganza!
Our lives are packed with protocols and policies, so much so that we readily slip into a state of stagnancy. Give your screen-glazed eyes and deskbound body a much-needed break from routine. Instead, Indulge in a realm of lace trimmings and sweet delicacies by hosting your very own High Tea Party.
This is no ordinary occasion. Gather your gals; It’s time to brush up on English etiquette and create a stir with the kind of extravagant whimsy that would make Marie Antoinette proud.
Here are the top five tips to host a fabulous tea party:
Delicate Decor
*Start with the pastry display, as the centerpiece it remains to be the focal point of the table which will ground the accessories. Workaround the centerpiece with a selection of high caliber of teacups and quality porcelains. Matching tea sets are a must for cohesion and old-school elegance.
Consider a colour pallet. This will tie the entire display together with complimentary tones.
Add a hint of whimsy, with antique gems such as saucers, doilies, milk pourer, and butter canisters from op-shops for a vintage aesthetic.
Arranging the display, so everything is symmetrical and evenly placed will create a flat-lay-worthy spread that’s easy to snap. Finally, adorn your table with a fresh bouquet of florals and gently burning candle wicks. With a few small touches and quaint details, your guests will feel as though they’ve escaped to a charming English cottage. Simply sublime.
Ambient Music
Select a tune. Whether it be a spring English garden party of nature sounds or French chateau emitting classical music. Selecting the appropriate music can emulate a romantic era of parchments, castles and queens. Don’t forget to fragrant the room with subtle notes of feminine florals. Think, Gucci Bloom.
Formal Invitation
Inspire your friends to indulge in this lavish luncheon with a personalized handwritten note that evokes a sense of luxury. A letter invite is a refreshing change from floods of emails. Get crafty with ink, embossed printing, wax sealed envelops and ornate features. Creating a personalized note sets the tone and encourages guests to regard the event as a unique experience. Anticipation is in the air.
Quaint Cuisine
Feast your eyes on a fusion of flavours. Line the base display tray with a sumptuous selection of finger sandwiches meeting a variety of dietary needs. The next level, zesty lemon tarts, pistachio pastries that compliment sweet vanilla cupcakes. No High Tea would be complete without warm golden scones and a spread of home-made jams. The highest tier holds an assortment of mouthwatering french facies and bite-sized chocolates. Decorate each level with seasonal fruit. Create; ribbons of lemon zest, apples carved in rose-like sculptures, hearted strawberries and sprinkle blueberries polka-dots. Lastly, consider the taxonomy of teas when deciding which flavours to brew. The classic? A robust black English breakfast and a refreshing peppermint tea which doubles as pallet cleansers between each morsel.
Dressed To Impress / Styled To The Nines
Elevate your nine to five with a Sunday best outfit. The dress code; lavish extravagance and unapologetically feminine. Look to the likes of Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette when sourcing inspiration. Showcase your silhouette with floaty wrap dresses, and printed blouses paired with pastel pencil skirts. Armed with micro bags in vibrant lacquer leathers. Consider this an opportunity to preen and pamper yourself. Get dolled up with soft curls, lush lashes, kitten heels, and painted tips. Our signature accessory? Poise, dripping in opulence.
High tea may be a tradition dating back to the mid-1700’s but that’s no reason not to add a modern twist. Skip the stifling pristine atmosphere by combining mismatched antique spoons with a conversation starter pack for an unexpected element of debauchery. As the champaign flows sparking a rainbow of subjects ranging from sex lives to political climates, you can guarantee. It’ll be one for the ages.
Big thanks to lovely Katherine from www.cerealstyle.com for writing this post for us.
