A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party

Creating a harmonious tea party requires careful attention to detail before, during and after the event. If one is well organized in advance, planning a tea party can be a source of creativity and joy for the host or hostess. We hope that this checklist will help you realize the tea party of your dreams.

Date: 

Month:  _____________  Day: ____________   Year: ____________

Time:
            From: ____________ To: ____________

Place:
            Street Address: __________________________________

            City: ___________________________________________

            State and Zip Code: _______________________________

Theme: ___________________________________________________________

When Planning the Theme, Reflect on the Philosophy of Tea.

Invitations:

            Date of Contact or Mailing: ____________________________________

            Type of Invitation:

                        In Person __________

                        Telephone __________

                        Handwritten __________

                        Printed ___________

Number of Guests: ____________

Names of Guests:
(For a Large Gathering, Prepare a Separate Guest List)

1.     ________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No: ________

2.     ________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No: ________

3.  __________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No:________

4.  __________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No:________

5.  __________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No: ________

6.  __________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No: ________

7.  __________________________________ Response: Yes:________ No:________

8.  ___________________________________Response: Yes:________ No:________

9.  ___________________________________Response: Yes:________ No:________

10.___________________________________Response: Yes:________ No:________

Any Guests Who Did Not Respond? __________________________________________

Follow-up Phone Call: Date ___________________________________________________

Menu:

            Savory Foods: (At Least Three)

            ________________________________________

            _________________________________________

            _________________________________________

            Scones, Crumpets or Breads:

            ___________________________________________

            ____________________________________________

            ____________________________________________

            Sweets: (At Least Three)

            _____________________________________________

            _____________________________________________

            ______________________________________________

            Condiments:

            _________________________________________________

            __________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________

            ___________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________

            Beverages:

                        Tea: ___________________________________________

                        Second Tea: ___________________________________

                        Third Tea: _____________________________________

                        Coffee: ________________________________________

                        Cold Beverages: _______________________________

                        Other Beverages: ______________________________

Specific Location of the Party:

            Living Room __________

            Family Room __________

            Garden __________

            Patio _________

            Lanai _________ 

            Park __________

Furniture Needed for Serving Tea:

            Coffee Table __________

            Tea Table __________

            Buffet __________

            Tea Cart __________

            Additional Seating __________

Diagram of the Area Where the Party Will Take Place:

Prepare on a Separate Sheet and Indicate Serving and Seating Areas

Color Scheme: _____________________________________________________________

Setting: Focus on Enhancing Harmony, Humility, Respect and Creativity

            Tablecloths and Napkins: ___________________________________

            Other Linens: ________________________________________________

            Vases: ________________________________________________________

            Flower Arrangements: _____________________________________

            Candles: ______________________________________________________

            Music: _________________________________________________________

            Other Decorative Items: _____________________________________

Serving Pieces to Be Used at the Party:

            Dishes:

                        Plates: ___________________________________________________

                        Tea Cups and Saucers: _________________________________

                        Bowls: ______________________________________________________

                        Glasses: _____________________________________________________

                        Silverware: _________________________________________________

                                    Spoons: ___________________

                                    Forks: _____________________

                                    Knives: ___________________

                                    Butter Knives: _____________

                                    Spoons for Serving Condiments: ______________________

                                    Cake Server: _________________________

                                    Other Serving Utensils: _____________________________

                                                _________________________________________________

                        Tea Kettle: __________________________________________________

                        Tea Pot: _____________________________________________________

                        Additional Tea Pots: _______________________________________

                        Coffee Pot: ___________________________________________________

                        Tea Cozy: ___________________________________________________

                        Tea Strainer: ______________________________________________

                        Cream Pitcher: _____________________________________________

                        Sugar Bowl: __________________________________________________

                        Other Serving Bowls or Containers For:

                                    Jam: __________

                                    Lemon Curd: __________

                                    Honey: __________

                                    Clotted Cream: ________

                                    Butter: ___________

                                    Lemon Wedges: _____________

                                    Other Condiments: __________

                        Trays: ________________________________________________________

                        Pitcher for Cold Beverages: _________________________________

                        Serving Pieces for Food:

                                    Cheese Board: ________________________________________

                                    Serving Plate for Savories: __________________________

                                    Plate or Tray for Sandwiches: _______________________

                                    Tiered Server or Plate for Scones: __________________

                                    Tiered Servers for Sweets: ____________________________

                                    Cake or Dessert Pedestal: ____________________________

                                    Ramekins for Individual Servings: ___________________

                                    Other Serving Pieces: _________________________________

Grocery List:

            Make a Complete List on a Separate Sheet

Check Your Pantry for Staples Such as Flour, Sugar and Spices

Check Your Recipes and Add Ingredients to Your List

Determine if You Will Need to Make More Than One Trip to the Grocery

Will You Need to Shop in More Than One Place?

Tea Party Preparation Timeline:

Date and Time:                          Task:

____________________ Grocery Shopping First Trip

____________________ Grocery Shopping Second Trip

____________________ Clean the House

____________________ Polish the Silver, If You Are Using Silver

____________________ Wash and Iron the Linens

____________________ Set the Tables and Arrange Serving Pieces

____________________ Arrange the Flowers

____________________ Arrange Other Details of the Setting

____________________ Prepare the Cold Beverages

____________________ Prepare the Sweets

____________________ Get Dressed for the Party and Put on Your Apron

____________________ Turn on the Music

____________________ Prepare the Savory Foods

____________________ Put the Condiments and Stable Food Items in the Party Room

____________________ Make the Tea Sandwiches

____________________ Prepare the Scones

____________________ Make the Coffee

____________________ Make the Tea

____________________ Tidy Up the Kitchen and Take Off Your Apron

____________________ Put All of the Food Items in the Party Room

____________________ Light the Candles if You are Using Them

____________________ Check Your Menu to Make Sure You Have Not Forgotten Anything in the Refrigerator

____________________ Spend a Few Moments in Grateful Anticipation

                                                Before the Guests Arrive

Will You Need Help with Any of The Tasks Listed Below?

If So, Contact the Person Who Will Help You Well In Advance of the Party.

________________________ Addressing Invitations for a Large Party

________________________ House Cleaning

________________________ Polishing the Silver

________________________ Babysitting

_________________________ Washing and Ironing the Linens

________________________ Food Preparation

________________________ Picking Up Prepared Food from a Restaurant or Deli

________________________ Cleaning Up After the Party

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THE TEA BOOK
The Road Back to Civilization
A Brief History of Tea
  Philosophy of Tea
     Harmony
     Humility
     Respect
     Creativity

Guidelines for the Host/Hostess

  Gathering and Greeting
  Sharing Stories
  Sharing Food
  Sending the Guests Home

Guidelines for the Guest

  Respect your Hostess/Host
  Bring a Gift if You Wish
  Practice Humility
  Monitor Your Conversation
  Arrive With a Grateful Attitude
  Help if Help is Needed
  Do Not Criticize
  Leave Gracefully
  Send a Thank you Note

A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
Teas of the World and How to Make Tea

  A Sampling of Teas
  Herbal Teas and Tisanes
  How to Make Tea
  Making Iced Tea
  Tea Concentrate
  Brewing Tea for a Crowd

Tea Utensils and Accessories

  Tea Kettle
  Tea Pot
  Tea Cozy
  Teacups
  Plates
  Silverware
  Teacart
  Tea Strainer
  Tea Infuser
  Three-Tiered Server
  Cream Pitcher and Sugar   Bowl
  Cake Pedestal
  Trifle Bowl
  Jam Pots
  Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
  Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
  Linens
  Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation

Tea Menu Basics

  Sandwiches and Savories
  Savory Spreads and Dips
  Scones and Tea Breads

About Lemons

  Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons

     A Spring Tea
     An Outdoor Summer Tea
     A Winter Afternoon Tea
     An Autumn Afternoon Tea

A Calendar of Tea Parties

  January:A Japanese New Year’s Tea
  February:Valentine’s Day Tea
  March:A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
  April:An Easter Tea
May:Mother’s day Tea
  June:A Wedding Reception Tea

Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake

  July:A Picnic Tea
  AUGUST:A FAMILY REUNION TEA

A North American Family Reunion Tea
  An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
  A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
  A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea

  September:An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
  October:A Tea to Honor   Our Ancestors(Dia de los Muertos)
  November:A Post Thanksgiving Tea
  December: A Christmas Tea

  In Defense of Fruitcake:Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit

A World of Tea Parties

  A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
  A Portuguese Tea
  A Classic British Afternoon Tea
  An Indian Chai Party
  A California Tea
  A Hawaiian Tea
  An Italian Tea
  An American Southern Tea
  A Russian Tea
A French Afternoon Tea
  A Kosher Teawith  Traditional Jewish Foods

Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions

An Afternoon Tea for Children
  A Tea for Our Elders
  A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
  An Urban Tea on the Go
  Tea for One
  Afternoon Tea For a Large Group
  A Vegan Tea
  A Rose Tea