Tea parties were once viewed as a playtime activity for little kids, but they’re becoming a trend for older groups. Teens enjoy tea parties for the sophisticated and elegant aesthetics, and they like to plan them for birthday parties, sleepovers, and other celebratory events. From tea party themes and decorations to activities and food, these details can help you and your teen plan the perfect event.
Tea Party Theme Ideas
A tea party is best when it has a theme, and here are some ideas teens and tweens will love.
Garden Tea Party
A garden tea party is a trendy outdoor event, with guests wearing floral-printed clothing, like dresses or rompers. Decor should include fresh flowers and pastel colors. A DIY flower bar serves as both decor and an activity, or you can have guests create flower crowns to wear for the party and take home with them.
Vintage Tea Party
A vintage tea party requires old-fashioned pieces like thrifted teacups and lace tablecloths. Delicate china is perfect for this party, offering elegance and adding to the vibe. Play classical music softly during the party and ask guests to wear antique-inspired outfits.
Fairytale Tea Party
A fairytale-themed tea party requires enchanting decor, like fairy lights, soft lanterns, lace, and flower petals. The decor should make guests feel like they’re in a fairytale, so set out intricate and whimsical pieces that feel fun and magical.
Bookish Tea Party
If you want book club or literature vibes, a bookish tea party is the perfect choice. You can make the theme books in general, or you can pick something specific and plan your decor and food around it.
If you choose a specific book, consider having discussion cards to spark conversation about that title. Other fun ideas for this party are to have a book exchange or ask guests to dress up as their favorite book character. In addition to other tea party decorations, display stacks of books in decorative ways.
Art-Inspired Tea Party
Display beautiful pieces of artwork among your tea party displays, and plan activities that involve being crafty. You can have guests decorate a teacup to take home or paint a teaparty display on canvas.
Bridgerton-Inspired Tea Party
A Bridgerton-inspired tea party involves Regency decor, like luxurious fabrics, intricate details, and ornate decorative pieces. Ask guests to dress in their best Bridgerton-style outfits, and play instrumental music during the party.
You can also play games like “Would You Rather: Fancy Edition” where you ask questions like “Would you rather attend a royal ball or a private garden party?” This is also a fun time to play “Two Truths and a Lie,” where each guest says two things that are true about themselves and one lie, and other guests have to guess which is the lie.
Spa Tea Party Theme
You can pair a spa theme with any type of party, and it’ll be a fun, relaxing experience for teens. Along with cozy drinks and a tea party set up, provide space and materials for face masks, facials, DIY pedicures, and other beauty activities. You can also have spa headbands and robes for each guest if your budget allows.
Cozy Winter Tea Party
At a cozy winter tea party, consider setting up a hot chocolate bar along with the tea. Decorate with fairy lights, lots of candles, and try to find dishes with a winter theme. Velvet table runners in deep colors help set the tone.
Encourage guests to wear cozy sweaters and fuzzy socks. You could also do this as a pajama party to make sure everyone is ready to warm up and get relaxed.
Teen Tea Party Decorations and Supplies
Aside from the theme-specific decorations, there are plenty of other tea party decorations for a teen get together. Gathering supplies and decorating a tea party are often part of the same effort, with many of the things you need serving as part of the decor. You can mix and match pieces and decorations, and it’s okay if they don’t match perfectly.
You can also set up a balloon garland in muted tones or colors that fit your theme, and include DIY place cards for each table setting. Decorate with a lace or embroidered table runner, cloth napkins, and candles. Use a decorative tea set as a centerpiece, and you can stack teacups together around the space as a fun decoration. Floral or vintage teapots are also a fun decoration, along with wreaths.
When setting out food and drinks, display them in a decorative way. It’s sometimes one of the best parts of the set up. Use platters, trays, cake stands, and other serving items to set up a beautiful display.
Food and Drinks for a Tea Party for Teens
Food and drinks are part of the decor at a tea party.
Tea Party Food
The best foods for a tea party are finger foods and light snacks that go with the tea flavors. Here are some ideas guests will enjoy:
- Classic tea sandwiches
- Mini cucumber sandwiches
- Chicken salad sliders
- Caprese skewers
- Puff pastry bites
- Finger foods
- Fresh fruit
Tea Party Treats
You can’t forget treats for a tea party, or any kind of party, really. Tea-party desserts could include:
- Macarons
- Mini cupcakes
- Chocolate-covered fruit
- Shortbread cookies
- Scones
- Lemon bars
- Mini bundt cakes
Drinks for a Tea Party
You’ll want to provide a variety of drinks, not just tea. While teens love the idea of a teaparty, they may not actually enjoy the drink very much. Provide a tea-tasting experience so they can explore what they may like, but also offer other options.
Some ideas include:
- Herbal teas
- Iced tea
- Chai tea
- Lemonade
- Mocktails or signature drinks
- Iced coffee
Tea Party Activities for Teens
DIY floral arrangements: Provide flower stems, filler, and vases, and have teens create their own floral arrangement to take home.
Tea tasting challenge: A “Guess the Flavor” game where guests guess which flavor they’re sipping. You can provide decorative note cards that have space for the teen to write their thoughts about each tea, too, so they can remember what they liked (and didn’t) later.
Photo opportunity: Set up a photo booth or backdrop and offer props for pictures that fit the theme. Make sure to have a point-and-shoot camera or instant camera to get plenty of shots.
Tea-themed trivia: Split into teams and answer questions related to tea. The winning team could win a prize or just have bragging rights.
Dessert decorating: Teens have fun decorating desserts, so save yourself some work and make it part of the party activities.
Toasting: Ask guests to write their own toast to share, offering ideas of using a favorite affirmation, quote about friendship, or coming up with something entirely unique.
Budget-Friendly Tea Party Ideas for Teens
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to throw a fancy tea party. Thrifting is one of the best ways to throw a budget-friendly tea party for teens, but borrowing is a free option. Check out resale, antique, and thrift stores for inexpensive pieces to fit your setup, like lace and embroidered table coverings.
Instead of buying pre-made desserts, make your own, and you can plan a potluck for the food. You can also make it feel more fancy by making your own hand-written place-cards for seating. If it is nice outside, you can even plan a small picnic by putting together a picnic basket and taking your tea on the go!