Children, especially little girls, enjoy the elegance of dressing in beautiful clothes and acting "grown up" and are generally delighted with garden-themed or princess-themed tea parties, from the tiny cups and saucers, to the enchanting miniature cakes, fancy cookies and decorative sandwiches.

Best for

Girls aged three through ten love dressing up and having a formal tea party.

The History of Tea

The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung (28th century B.C.) is usually credited with the discovery of tea. Legend says that the emperor drank boiled water, believing it to rid the water of impurities. Once while traveling, some leaves of a camellia bush fell into the bubbling water. The emperor was intrigued by the aroma of the brew and it grew in popularity, becoming a tea named, "Ch'a." Tea was introduced to Europe during the 1500's and 1600's. Although Elizabeth I chartered the East India Company in 1600, it was the interest of King Charles II that enticed the British to adopt the beverage. Tea reached the height of its popularity during Queen Victoria's reign. High tea became the last meal of most of the working class and included meat dishes, breads, cheeses and anything else that might have been found in the pantry. The aristocracy, in contrast, enjoyed an afternoon tea which was more of an elegant, less filling ritual, served several hours before dinner.

Party Planning

For peace of mind, begin planning your bash six to eight weeks in advance. This will allow you time to gather all the supplies that you need, including decorations, gifts, and menu items. Planning ahead also gives your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase your party’s attendance.

For invitations, use pink or pale yellow card stock or construction paper folded in half, and decorate it with teacup-themed pictures or stickers. You can also use our easy printable invitations. Or, if you’re short on time, purchase personalized or pre-printed invitations online. We recommend mailing your invitations three to four weeks prior to the party—any sooner and your guests may forget, any later and your guests may already have plans.

To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, take a look at our When & Where to Have the Party page, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting decorations, supplies, activities, and more for your child's party.

What You’ll Need

If you plan to use paper tableware and themed party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be quite helpful. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.

For this party, think pink or pale yellow -- feminine colors -- as your main color scheme. Simple balloons and pretty pastel streamers work perfectly. For goodie bags, purchase fun jewelry, personalized tea-party items, and other other princess-themed or garden-themed party favors. Place all of these items inside clear or printed cellophane bags, and tie the bags closed with pretty, pastel-colored ribbons. Or save time and purchase a ready-made party favor set.