Many series like Bridgerton, The Empress, and The Crown often show women indulging in tea parties. It is a perfect time to catch up with friends, indulge in your favourite delights, and get your hands on all the cool gossip in your circle or town. If you are also into hosting a tea party, this short guide will help you learn how to set the table.
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From placing cups to pairing the hot beverage with a variety of delectables, you need to pay attention to details so that everything looks perfect. An English tea party can also be your theme for the evening, and you can organise it in no time. Here is how to convert your dining space into a high-end tea party set-up.
Tiered Serving Trays
Instead of the normal serving trays, opt for tiered serving trays on which you can simultaneously display an array of snacks - sandwiches, sweets, scones, croissants, and more. It enhances the overall appearance of the table, makes it easy for you to accommodate many items at once, and helps you avoid cluttering the space. You must always place savoury dishes at the bottom, the middle one will be for delicacies like croissants and scones, and the top shelf is for cookies or baked biscuits.
Arrange Cutlery
Much like you set dinner tables, you should follow a similar approach for arranging cutlery for a tea party. Forks go on the left so that your guests can easily access it for eating pastries and sandwiches. Knives are placed on the right-hand side so that you can use them for spreading jams and butter. The butter knife goes right above the dessert plate.
Set Cups & Saucers
If you are inviting people to a luncheon, arrange the dessert plates in front of every seat just like you would set the dinner table. On the right side of each plate, place a cup and saucer. The handles of the cup should face the right side so that your guests can pick them up. Keep the teaspoon on the saucer and place napkins on the top of each dessert plate.
Arrange Sugar, Milk, And Lemon
Add a milk jug near the teapot placed in the centre of the table. This is for people who prefer milk in their hot beverages. Arrange sugar bowls along with a spoon near the teapots. Place them on either side of the pot so that guests can access them. You can also add fresh slices of lemon to a bowl and keep it near the jug of milk. Some people like to have lemon in their tea when they are drinking it without milk.
Pick A Theme
Picking a theme might be a good option for you to nail the table setting. You can either set the part in the Victorian era, keep it classic, or decorate the space with modern tweaks. Depending on the theme of your choice, you can also go ahead with the colour for the table runner, dishware, linens, and napkins.
Set The Teapot
The teapot with hot water is placed at the centre of the table. It should be accessible to every guest so that they don’t have to get up for multiple servings. You can also arrange multiple teapots on a tiered tea stand so that you don’t run out of the beverage. If guests will be brewing their tea, add a hot water kettle nearby. It will be a seamless experience at the table.
Arrange Tablecloth & Table Runner
A tablecloth and a table runner accentuate the appearance of the table by leaps and bounds. If the cloth piece is embroidered or laced, make sure that it flaunts when you spread it. However, make sure not to pick a cluttered and extremely decorated piece as it will set the vibes off. If you have a table runner that can compliment the cloth piece, only then add it to the table. Otherwise, skip it and arrange chic centrepieces.