How to serve a beautiful afternoon tea

Holding an afternoon tea party at home is a great way to celebrate a special occasion or simply come together for a treat, so let’s look at how to ensure your table and food look amazing.

Dressing the table

If you decide on a theme for your afternoon tea, you can easily dress your table accordingly with colours that match and accessories that you can order online or make yourself if you are feeling crafty. From vintage cake stands and floral plates to floral arrangements, there is no limit to what you can do to impress your guests.

If the weather is good and you have a garden or terrace, taking your afternoon tea outdoors can make it even more magical with a garden party atmosphere and outdoor decorations such as bunting and paper decorations.

Charity shops are a good place to look for reasonably priced chintzy items, and you can visit vintage shops to get hold of beautiful chinaware. If you prefer paper plates, they now come in an array of beautiful patterns and colours. You could even mix and match, using old and new. With matching napkins and tablecloths, you can create a wow factor in just a few simple steps.

Luxurious treats

Whether you are making the food yourself or buying it in, you can easily create a menu that your guests will enjoy. There are many afternoon tea box delivery options from companies such as afternoonteabox.com that allow you to customise the items included, making it either traditional or something a little more modern. There are even afternoon teas for children available with special child-friendly treats.

Think outside the box

While fluffy scones, dainty cucumber sandwiches, and delicate patisserie are the norm, there is no need to stick to these if you prefer something different. If you love chocolate, for example, you can go all-out and have everything made from cocoa. You could also serve a vegan or vegetarian afternoon tea.

To really leave an impression, you could order pretty boxes for your guests to take home any leftovers.