The term ‘tea-party’ usually brings one of two images to mind. The first, a little girl playing dress up and inviting all of her stuffed animals over for some delicious imaginary brew set up on plastic furniture.

The second, a group of upper society women boasting silver tea services, sipping from porcelain cups and nibbling at dainty crustless cucumber sandwiches in a quiet English garden abode.

Can there be more to a tea-party then either of these age-old stereotypes?

The answer is, but of course! You just need to put the ‘tea’ into ‘creativity.’ While the fundamentals of the traditional tea-party are lovely, a few twists and stylish updates can help liven up this charming custom.

To get things started, never underestimate the allure of a solid theme.  Themes are timeless and make any gathering all the more unique and memorable.  You can be inspired by fashion, Parisian pastries, awesome retro tea-cups, vintage lace table cloths, an amazing one-of-a-kind centre piece, a love of hats, the list literally goes on, and on, and on!

Here are a few fabulous ideas to inspire your own inner creative hostess.

The MAD-HATTER:

photo courtesy of "Baskets with an Attitude"

Straight from the pages of Alice in Wonderland, comes an immediate favourite theme, due to it’s whimsical eclectic nature. Although this fun fantastical approach may seem like a lot of work, it is actually quite easy, because the secret to success lies in the fact that (are you ready for this?) nothing matches.

You need lots of mismatched cups, saucers, cutlery, mugs, tumblers and dessert plates, of all shapes and sizes. Use crisp white linens to offset the outrageous collection of china-ware colours and maintain a classic vibe. Serve tantalizing finger foods and host this party outdoors in a garden, or at the very least include lots of varied flowers amidst your décor. And of course, an assortment of hats should be present for guests to wear and perhaps take home as party favours.

The FRENCH FLAIR:

Frills, frills and more frills will make you feel like you’re taking tea with Marie Antoinette! Be sure to use pastel colours, like powder blues, warm yellows, soft greens and pinks, and have an abundance of floral features arranged in elaborate long stemmed wine glasses to get the full French flair effect. Pastries galore should be on the menu, including (but definitely not limited to) jelly cookies, decadent chocolate éclairs and mouth-watering truffles, all set up on tiered cake stands. And don’t be afraid to include some savory bite sized sandwiches and croissants to offset the profound sweetness – after all, this is France!

The ULTRA URBAN:

Tea infusions

Why not put a cool twist on the warming tradition of a tea-party? After all, tea can be enjoyed both as a hot and a cold beverage. Serve a wide-variety of iced-teas and iced-tea infusions in frosted cocktail glasses with fruity garnishes, and you have transformed your gathering into a hip and happening affair. Hold your gathering in a sleek urban bistro, or decorate with one in mind, and accent with chrome, metallic or bronze. Should you still wish to serve the traditional hot teas, choose clear glasses and mugs to maintain the contemporary look. Last but not least, in lieu of flowers on the table, have funky little cacti and a variety of modern square cut candle holders to give your décor a bit of an edge.

The YESTERYEAR:

photo courtesy of Beeeeezzz

Lover of all things vintage? Fantastic! Incorporate some old-fashioned tea-cups, lavish lacy tablecloths, amazing floral centerpieces, porcelain sweet trays, or whatever else you can find, with your modern day place settings, and va-voom, you have a throw-back to yesteryear in the here and now. The secret to keeping it modern? It is all about the colour scheme. Black, white and pink provide an instant undeniable chicness, as do patterns like exaggerated polka-dots and simple classic line designs. Create an old-world ambiance by dotting your table with romantic candles. Pretty linen sachet bags as party favours are an absolute must!

There you have it….

Courtesy of toastandtables

You can centre a tea-party around absolutely anything; princesses, cupcakes, English roses, a funky colour scheme, pearls, a love of the outdoors, whatever your heart desires!

The most memorable tea parties, however, are those that are centered around a cause for celebration. Whatever your next occasion is, be it a child’s birthday, a farewell, a reunion, a day for congratulations, or anything else that turns up in your life, keep in mind the trustworthy tea-party tradition and it’s endless possibilities.