Your Elegant Christmas Tea Ideas And How To Plan Guide
Everyone should have at least one elegant Christmas tea each year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to create magical Christmas memories that last throughout your life.
The holiday season is a time to give to others, wear beautiful clothes, practice good manners, and delight in delicious tidbits served with tea.
You may choose to go to a holiday tea at a fashionable hotel with your friends and family. This is also a great choice if you need wheelchair access.
Or if you want to host your tea party at home, here are some ideas:
Start with people you want to invite and arrange a convenient time for everyone. Weekend afternoons are usually more open.
With 3 to 4 friends, you may want to create a more casual fun party. A larger group could be a housewarming buffet, family reunion, or a charity/fundraising event. Fundraising ideas include fashion or jewelry shows, handmade Christmas gifts, or even an auction of framed green or red teapot art posters.
When you are choosing your Christmas tea party theme, consider your guests’ preferences: formal, casual, bling, natural, hi-tech, whimsical, organic, artsy, or down-home, among others.
Martha Stewart has shown us that most themes can be made elegant by simplifying your decor. Use holiday accents like ornaments or metallic ribbon to create focal points.
Always start with a warm welcome on your door–a natural or bright wreath is perfect during the holiday season.
Traditional red and green colors help keep intimate tea parties warm, while a charity fundraiser usually benefits from white and gold. Remember, all parties become more elegant with candles (safely displayed) and gentle Christmas music.
Do you have a special Christmas teapot? Let it take center stage (after your guests, of course). Your color choices should coordinate with your holiday china set or focus on your unique mix-and-match approach. Are you using glass accents? Make sure you show off your new glass teapot. White teapots always work, but this is a great time of year for that green or red teapot.
When you plan your tea party menu, you should pay attention to your guests’ special needs. Does anyone have food allergies? Any dieters? Any vegetarians/vegans? Prescription medication? If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask people before the party so you can have several choices available for everyone.
What teas will you serve? Are all your guests confirmed tea-drinkers? You can match your tea selections to your menu such as Japanese sencha with savories and Lu’an Melon Seed with sweets, or to your theme such as using Gunpowder green at a Victorian Christmas Tea. Some people still prefer black tea with lemon or milk and sugar. People just entering the world of tea will probably like to try flavored green teas like orange spice green or green chai (yes, that means several teapots–but you already have those, don’t you?).
Make sure you have your camera ready and are set up to give photo copies to each guest.
Need take home favors to extend the holiday cheer? Your best choice is a small gift bag, box, or basket of tea samples from your party.
Having a cup of your Christmas tea will bring back all the warm memories.
