A Christmas Tea Party!

My dear freind, Aunt Pam, and I decided to plan a tea party this past year (2011). It kept getting pushed back, due to more important things filling up our time. Finally we decided a Christmas Tea was just the thing, and so we did it!:-)

The tables were just beautiful. It looked like a real tea room!

We used green plastic table cloths and covered them with beautiful lace plastic cloths.

We used fake candles (the little battery tea lights) due to some people who have allergies. It looked so lovely in the goblets borrowed from my sister's stash (we borrowed ALLOT from her!). Aunt Pam and Uncle Bob bought enough tea cups for each table to have their own pattern. Then we used various cream and sugar sets. At each place setting we had a plate, fork, spoon, and knife, cloth napkin, a little tartlet tin to put the used tea bags, and for favors we had sparkly snow flake ornaments and magnetic bookmarks.

Also at each table we had a dish with home made peppermints and truffles. There was a glass dish (as you can see in the photo) with 3 glass cups filled with lemon or lime curd, strawberry jam, and clotted cream (for the scones), honey (for the tea), and a tea cup with beads and string so the ladies and girls could make themselves a bracelet while they chatted.

Our two dear waiters served tea to the ladies off these wooden carts, and had trays of tea sandwiches and delicacies underneath.

We served these star shaped egg salad sandwiches, and round cucumber cream cheese sandwiches. They were made on wheat, white, and rye breads. The rye was a big hit!

These next two aren't very clear, but we had a lovely table set up with all of the desserts and foods displayed. The ladies were instructed to choose their flavor of tea bag off of this table before sitting down.

We had scones, pumpkin spice roll, tea sandwiches, jam tart cookies, mini cheese cakes, and cream wafers (as well as the truffles and peppermints). Everyone really enjoyed the food!

My mom and sisters were all there. Here is my oldest sister with 3 of her children (her 4 year old got to spend some daddy - son time:-) ).

My 6 year old niece had been looking forward to this tea party with much excitement! It was her first "real tea party" to attend, and she couldn't wait! She kept saying, "I just keep imagining what it will look like!"

At the tea party I asked her if it was what she imagined. "No," she said, "It is even better!"

It was so worth doing just for her:-)

My 3 year old niece felt very grown up drinking from a real tea cup. My sister made these darling jumpers and head bands for the girls and their dollies:-)

All of the little girls were instructed to bring their favorite doll or stuffed animal for the "Doll's Tea". I am quite sure the dolls enjoyed themselves:-)

Myself and Aunt Pam - The Hostesses!

I was up until 2 a.m. the night before, and I think Aunt Pam only got a couple of hours of sleep.

But everyone had such a good time, so it was certainly worth it!