Your Elegant Christmas Tea
Ideas And How To Plan Guide

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Everyone should have at least one elegant Holiday tea each year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to create magical Christmas memories that last throughout your life.

Be sure to try a holiday teaparty 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 teaparty at home, here are some ideas:

• Start with the schedules of 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 party 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 evergreen or bright ribbon 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.

  Will you serve scones? Check out these Christmas cranberry scones, or try some cranberry scones with 36 variations. Here are vegan cranberry scones and vegan pumpkin scones.

• What teas will you serve? Are all your guests confirmed tea-drinkers? You can match your 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 varieties 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 and scones from your party.

Having a cup of your Christmas tea will bring back all the warm memories.

Don't forget the children! Plan a special Christmas teaparty for children here.