If you’re throwing a bridal tea party, then check out this list of 37 ideas that will surely inspire you. This complete bridal tea party guide includes inspiration for invitations, decorations, activities, foods, and party favors to ensure every aspect of your shower is tea-rrific.
Bridal Tea Invitation:
First impressions are always important, and the first impression anyone will have of your bridal shower will be through the invitation. This makes picking out your invitation an important part of your party planning. For a bridal tea party, invitations to choose from include tea pots, cups, sweets, champagne, and flowers.
Bridal Tea Party Decorations:
What is a party without decorations? Backdrops, table cloths, centerpieces, and balloons can all be used to transform your party into a picture perfect tea party.
- Bridal Tea Welcome Sign
Set up a Bridal Tea Welcome Sign at the entrance of your party. This welcome sign can be customized with your name and shower date. Surround it with flowers or ribbons to create a beautiful display. - Tea Station
Create a tea brewing station stocked full of teapots, teabags, and teacups so that your guests can create their own drinks. A great way that you can display the cups is by adding hooks to a wooden board and then hanging the teacups from the hooks. At the top of the board, add a Love is Brewing Banner to complete the look.
- Backdrop Made from Curtains and Flowers
If you want the perfect spot for your guest to pose in front of, then create a curtain backdrop. Use a White or Light Colored Set of Curtains and surround it with flowers and ribbons for a professional look. You can even add a Tea With the Bride to Be Banner in the center of the backdrop. - Tea Sets and Tableware
The main focus of a tea party is the food and drink. So, make sure you have the right dishes. A Three Tiered Serving Tray is a classic choice for both savory and sweet treats. For a larger cake, use a Decorative Cake Stand. And don’t forget to have a Porcelain Tea Set so that your guests can enjoy whatever brew you have available.
- White, Lacy, or Floral Table Clothes
Top your tables with white, lacy, or floral tablecloths to give your gathering an elegant feeling. If you plan to have floral or very decorative tableware, then White Stain Resistant Table Clothes will provide a nice backdrop for your dishes. If your dishes are simpler, then this Blue Floral Table Cloth would be a good match. - Floral Centerpieces
Floral centerpieces are an obvious choice for a tea party. Put them in normal vases or have them sticking out of teapots for a whimsical display.
- Balloons with Ribbons
If you plan to include balloons in your decorations, then add decorative satin bows to the bottom of each balloon. Leave one tail of the bow extra long to serve as the string! - Rose Ice balls for Champagne
Use a Round Ice Mold to create floral ice spheres that can be used to cool down champagne. To make them, just cut the heads off of whatever flowers you want to use, place them in your ice mold, fill the mold with water, and then freeze. To truly customize this decorative drink display, use a Custom Galvanized Drink Tub to store the champagne and ice balls.
Tea Time Food and Drinks:
Now that your guests have arrived, it’s time to feed them. This list of ideas includes both savory and sweet treats as well as drinks.
- Finger Sandwiches
Finger sandwiches are a quick and easy choice for any party. Some popular choices for a tea party include cucumber with cream cheese, egg salad, roast beef, and ham and cheese. Cut these sandwiches into small squares or fun sized shapes to appeal to your guests. - Mini Quiches
A quiche is a pastry crust that is filled with milk, eggs, cream, and whatever other ingredients you want. This savory tart can be customized to your taste and, when served as a miniature, is perfect for a tea party. Check out this recipe for a delicious spinach quiche by Feeding Tiny Bellies.
- Salmon on Crackers
For a quick dish that is extra fancy, serve some smoked salmon on crackers. Just spread a thin layer of cream cheese on crackers of your choice and then top with salmon. You can also add some salt, paprika, olive oil, or even vegetables to make some unique combinations. - Custard Tarts
A savory tart filled with custard is a perfect treat for your guests. You can even serve this with fresh fruits and a dusting of powdered sugar to combine savory with sweet. This recipe by Savvy Saving Couple will show you how to make your own mini egg custard tarts. - Pinwheels
Pinwheels are a great finger food to add to your tea party. They can be filled with whatever you like and stack beautifully on a party tray. Check out this recipe by A Couple Cooks which uses cheese, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes for the filling.
- Scones with Jam and Clotted Cream
Scones are a traditional choice for a tea party. They can be plain or contain dried fruit or cheeses. Serve them up with different jams and clotted cream to have an authentic afternoon tea perfect for a bridal shower. - Strawberry Shortcake Cups
Individual cups filled with cake, strawberries and cream make an irresistible sight. These little cups of heaven are an obvious choice for any type of tea party. Your guest will love being able to grab one and go. - Cake/Cupcakes
If you’re throwing a wedding shower, then a focal cake is a must have. A popular choice for a tea party cake is a tiered sponge cake filled with cream and fruits. This cake can be served on a Decorative Cake Stand or made into individual “cupcakes.”
- Mini Cheese Cakes
Cheese cakes are a great choice for a party, especially because they are so customizable. You can top them with any fruit or drizzle any syrup on top to suit your tastes. Check out this recipe by All Recipes. It can be made up to 4 days ahead of time and can even be frozen for longer storage. - Lemon Bars
This recipe by Preppy Kitchen will show you how to make the best lemon bars. They are bright and tangy providing a nice contrast to the other sweets you may be serving. - Tea
You can’t have a tea party without tea! The best options to serve at your party include chamomile, earl gray, English breakfast, or a fruit tea. Make sure to keep your tea warm for your guests by placing your pots on Teapot Warmers! - Lemonade
Lemonade is a perfect addiction to a tea party, especially if you’re having it outside. You can even add different fruits to your lemonade to create a signature drink. Check out these 8 different types of lemonades from Bless this Mess Please to find the best option for your party.
For more tea party foods, check out 34 Tea Party Foods Guaranteed to Wow Your Guests.
Bridal Shower Games and Crafts:
After the food, it’s time for the real fun to begin! Entertain your guests with these tea themed crafts and games that will make your shower a blast.
- Design the Bride’s Bouquet
If you have some creative guests coming to your party, then set up a bouquet crafting station. Just set out different kinds of cut flowers and let your guests arrange them into bouquets. You can make this activity into a competition by letting the bride choose which bouquet she’d want to walk down the aisle with. To help you get started with this activity, check out this Flower Bar Kit. - Decorate Your Own Sunhat
Another creative activity you can provide for your guests is a sunhat crafting station. Set out some plain hats, flowers, ribbons, and any other decorations you may have. After they are done creating their hats, your guests will be able to wear them for the rest of the party. This listing for a 70 Piece Straw Hat Decorating Kit would be perfect for this activity.
- Guess How Many Sugar Cubes in the Jar
Host a classic “Guess How Many Candies in the Jar” game but with sugar cubes instead of regular candy. Let your guests write down how many cubes they see and whoever is the closest is the winner. You can also use tea bags or pearls inside your jar. - Sugar Cube Stacking Contest
Challenge your guests to a sugar cube stacking contest. Whoever can stack their cubes the highest without having them fall over is the winner. To make this game even more fun, have your guests stack them on their forehead. - Tea Bag Toss
Set out some tea pots at different spots on the ground and see if your guests can land a tea bag inside of one. Make the tea bags different sizes and shapes to change the difficulty level of each toss.
- Tea Leaf Reading
If you’re serving loose leaf teas then you can have your guests give each other tea readings. Have them gaze at the different shapes that are left behind in their cups and let them interpret what they mean. You can provide them with some tea leaf reading guides or let them use their imagination to create their own stories of what the leaves mean. - Spill the Tea
Encourage your guest to spill the tea with a marriage advice station. Just set out some cards and let each guest fill them out with the best advice they can give. You can even add some prompts to help them get started. For an already made card, see this Spill the Tea Downloadable Sign and Cards. - Honey Tasting
Set out different flavored honey sticks and see if your guests can guess the different flavors. This Honey Stick Sampler Pack contains 14 sticks with 7 different flavors and would be perfect for this game. This game can also be done with different types of tea.
For some classic baby shower games, check out 25 Baby Shower Games to Keep Your Guests Entertained.
Tea-rrific Party Favors:
The most successful party is one that is remembered well past the party date. A great way to help your guests remember is by sending them home with a souvenir. Check out these party favor ideas that will fit your tea party theme perfectly.
- Tea Infuser Ball and Teaspoon
Give your guests a Tea Infuser Ball and Teaspoon Set so that they can brew their own tea at home. They will love being able to soak their own tea and will remember your party every time they use it. - Tea Cup
Letting your guests bring home their very own tea cup is a great way to commemorate the day. My favorite way of gifting tea cups is by giving thrifted ones. There are so many to choose from at thrift stores and they are all very unique. You can set out all the different designs you find and let your guests choose which one fits them best.
- Handkerchief
These Embroidered Handkerchiefs would be a great thank you gift for your guests. They feature 7 different floral designs in 3 different colors and can be used during and after the party. - Folding Hand Fans
Another gift that your guests can use during or after the party are these Floral Folding Hand Fans. These fans will give your guests an elegant look while keeping them cool throughout the party, - Honey Jars
Fill up some Miniature Jars with honey for a sweet treat your guests will love. Add a thank you note and a decorative ribbon to complete the look! If you don’t want to give out full jars, then consider these Honey Sticks instead.
- Bookmarks
If you have some readers coming to your party then you should check out these Teacup Shaped Bookmarks. They come in 10 different designs and feature pink cups and flowers. - Teabags
Sending your guests home from a tea party with their own tea just makes sense. You can give them each their very own teabag of your favorite tea or hand out some of these Tubes of Tea. - Macarons
Let’s be honest, one of the main focuses of a tea party is the sweets. So, for your bridal tea party, let your guests take some home in their goodie bag. Wrap two or three Macarons with a thank you note and let your guests enjoy a sweet treat after the party is finished.
I hope this guide has inspired you. Let me know in the comments if you plan to incorporate any of these ideas into your bridal tea party.
