Have you every been to a tea party or ever wished you could host a tea party but thought it was too complicated or too expensive? The good news, it’s not! I LOVE a good tea party. Today, I’m sharing my five best tips for hosting a beautiful tea party on a budget, including what to serve, how to set the table, and where to find everything you need without spending a fortune.
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I’m Kim, and I believe every home can look beautiful and stylish without a hefty price tag! With 30+ years of decorating experience, I love showing you how to create a stunning, pulled-together home using what you already have and budget-friendly finds.
Why I Love a Good Tea Party
Let me tell you WHY I love a good tea party! When I was about four years old, we lived in an apartment complex. I don’t remember much of our time in the apartment. What I do remember was a sweet old woman, from England, who lived upstairs from us. Her name was Weezie. Once a week, she would have my mother and I to her apartment for tea.
It was a magical time for me! I felt like a princess sitting at her table.
She had the finest tea cups with the most beautiful designs. Every week, I was allowed to pick the teacup I would use. I always picked the yellow teacup. It was the one with the flowers in the bottom of the cup.
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” — Henry James
The table was always set with fine linens, a halved grapefruit for each of us, with strawberries on top, sugar cubes, and of course, milk for our tea. That weekly gathering was the beginning of my love for all things tea.
After Weezie died, her family generously gave my mother her tea cups. When my mother sold her home and consolidated all her belongings, those precious teacups became mine. I recently had a gathering with some of my dearest friends and decided to make it a tea party.
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How to Host a Beautiful Tea Party on a Budget
A tea party doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Here’s what I’ve learned. It’s less about having the perfect dishes and matching tea cups, and more about the moments you create. A moment where your guest feels seen, welcomed, and a little bit special and you can do it all without spending a huge amount of money. Below are my five tips on having an inexpensive but beautiful tea party.
Add a Thoughtful Party Favor
I wanted to get each of my friends something to take home from our special gathering. I bought some “tea towels” that were on clearance, to add to each place setting. The dollar store is also a great place to purchase a pretty dishtowel. Handkerchiefs is another fun token. Buying a small favor doesn’t have to break your budget. Just keep in mind that end of the season items are usually on sale and are a great option.
Mix and Match Your Dishes
If you don’t have cups or dishes of your own, I recommend hitting a garage or estate sale, or even borrowing from a friend. Don’t feel like everything has to match perfectly. Make it whimsical! I added my pink plates to give it the perfect feminine touch.
If you’re in the market for some new cups, this set of teacups are beautiful and a really affordable price.
Hosting Tip
Looking for a fresh spin on your next book club meeting? Trade the usual wine and cheese evening for an afternoon tea. Gathering around the table with mismatched teacups and delicious treats is the perfect cozy setting for sharing a love of books.
DIY Your Centerpiece
Buying flowers on clearance is a great way to create a stunning centerpiece. I paid $10 for all the flowers and greens in my centerpiece. I think it turned out great! Better yet, if you have flowers in your garden, cut and use those!
Keep the Food Simple and Sweet
For the food, make it your own. As long as you have some kind of sweets on the table, you’re looking good. Every tea party needs sweets! Making your own sweet treats will save on your budget.
I served quiche that I bought from Costco, fruit that was in season, I bought a half dozen fancy donuts, shortbread cookies, and I sliced some tomatoes from my garden.
Yum! It was the perfect amount of food and didn’t cost me a fortune.
Offer a Variety of Tea
Every tea party needs a variety of tea. I served tea in the bags but you can buy loose if you want.
Hosting a Tea Party – Frequently Asked Questions
Putting it All Together
I spent about $48 total. Everyone went home with fond memories and a keepsake from the day!
My goal was to have a tea party. The kind of tea party Weezie would have had. The kind that used her special tea cups. I’d like to think she would have approved of my efforts. I smile just a little, knowing she would have been happy to see me still using the yellow teacup.
You know, the one with the flowers in the bottom of it.
Shop My Favorites
I love this idea so much! I have several tea cups that I love but never use, plus the tiered tray and the cake plate. Now you have given me inspiration to try hosting a party. I also loved the favor idea! Thanks so much!
Oh, I’m so glad my post inspired you! Please let me know how it goes. Have the best party!
Oh, I love this. We had a friend from England who lived with us for a few years. When she went and back and forth to England, she would always bring back PG Tips tea for us and a few of her favorite sweet treats to share. I still have afternoon tea at 4:00 in the afternoon…not planned…just occurs from time to time. And what’s interesting is that my kids do, too. PG Tips can still be found here. Just restocked on both decaf and original this weekend. Thanks for sharing. What a treat to drink and now own that beautiful yellow teacup.
I love this story, Leslie! Tea is my favorite and holds so many memories. Have a great week!