How to host the best Wrendale afternoon tea party

If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to invite over a few of your nearest and dearest to enjoy a spot of tea and cake, or have a baby shower, hen party or birthday occasion coming up, hosting a Wrendale afternoon tea party could be your answer. With less pressure than a dinner party and more of a relaxed and informal atmosphere, a pot of tea, some delicious cakes and good company is all you need. To that, add dashes of Wrendale touches here and there to make it an afternoon tea party to remember.

Step 1: Invite your guests

Whether your afternoon tea party is small or large, don’t forget to give your guests plenty of notice to make sure they can secure the event in their diary. Impress your guests with beautifully illustrated invitations setting the tone for your special occasion - or you could even use our greeting cards instead. Sending a handwritten note may be a more traditional method but as we all know, receiving a thoughtful message in the post is always lovely. Don’t forget to ask if there are any dietary requirements.

Step 2: Get organised

Once you know how many guests you’ll need to cater for, start making a list - now is the perfect time to make sure you have everything you need to serve up your tea and cake. Do you have enough mugs for everyone attending? Our elegant fine bone china mugs come in so many animal designs or if it’s tea for two our Wrendale mug sets could be just what you’re looking for. Will you choose a theme to really wow your guests? If so, why not co-ordinate your afternoon tea mug with the rest of your table? A real staple for us has to be a teapot, and our beautiful Hedgehog teapot design is a great investment for any tea lover and a timeless piece to add to your kitchen collection. Jot down your ideas for the food you’ll have on offer ready for purchasing closer to the time such as cakes, scones, jam, cream and sandwiches, as well as remembering to stock up on essentials like tea and sugar.

Step 3: Set the table

We highly recommend taking the time to plan how this will look ahead of time, the day before is best in case you’re missing something vital. A tiered cake stand creates a brilliant centre piece and the perfect place to stack freshly baked cakes, biscuits or pastries and our Wrendale dinner plates are perfect for displaying your mini sandwiches. Opt for side plates (one for each guest) illustrated in animal designs for some additional country flair.

Top tip: Bring the outdoors inside by decorating your table with garden greenery.

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Step 4: Get baking

It’s not essential that all of your tea party delights are freshly baked, but a little something you’ve made from scratch will be enjoyable to prepare and really appreciated by your guests. To not put too much pressure on yourself but get into the tea party spirit, why not rustle up some freshly baked fruit scones? Best enjoyed warm, bake the day before and reheat in your oven on the next for a tasty treat to remember. Serve with a dollop of good quality jam and fresh cream. If scones aren’t your thing, some simple chocolate chip cookies or shortbread would be a lovely treat.

Step 5: Display and add finishing touches

A tempting table of treats, the smell of freshly baked scones, guests on the way - you’re afternoon tea party ready! For a finishing touch, why not add a beautiful bouquet of flowers to your kitchen for a pop of colour, and charming illustrated napkins for a little extra detail? It’s also a good idea to pop some music on to create a welcoming atmosphere - and once your guests arrive you can really sit back and relax while you and your loved ones enjoy.

Feeling inspired?

Why not host your own Wrendale inspired tea party to celebrate the Coronation weekend with your friends and family? Add in a few royal touches from our beautiful Coronation collection and you will have the perfect party set up. You can click here to view our afternoon tea collection, or here to shop all things Coronation.