A Mother’s Day Tea Party is a great way to celebrate a special day for the wonderful mothers in your life. I’ll show you how to plan your Mother’s Day tea party from start to finish. From theme ideas to recipes and activities, you’ll have everything you need for the perfect Mother’s Day celebration.
As a reminder, Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11th, 2025.
Selecting a Theme for Your Tea Party
Depending on your budget, you may want a specific theme for your party. But don’t be intimidated by the thought of having a grand theme. Whether you have the budget or the supplies for a special theme, or you’re just putting a party together with what you have on hand, you can have a beautiful Mother’s Day tea party.
When considering a theme, be sure to think about the location of the tea party. You’ll be able to use the location for some of the decoration. For example, a garden tea party can be held outside, in a garden.
Here are some theme ideas for an afternoon tea party:
- Alice in Wonderland tea party
- Book theme
- Birthday Tea Party
- Hat theme
- Garden party
- All pink (or a specific color) tea party
A tea party doesn’t have to be formal. It can be casual, or you can make it fancy.
Mother’s Day Tea Printable Bundle Gift Idea
Color Palette
Most times a theme will determine your color palette. But if you don’t want to have a specific theme, deciding on a color palette in the beginning can help guide your decisions along the way. Start by looking at pictures (Pinterest is great for this!) to get an idea of the colors you want to incorporate. This will help when planning your decorations and setting up your party.
For Mother’s Day, the most common palettes are colorful and cheerful colors, but everyone is different.
Here are some color ideas that are great for a Mother’s Day tea party:
- Bright and Light – Choose 2-3 pastels or muted colors you love. Pastels are great and perfect for springtime.
- Bright and bold – Choose 2-3 colors, like purple, yellow and green.
- Dark and edgy – Though not typical, you may find yourself drawn to a darker theme with black and gray colors.
Mother’s Day Tea Party Invitations
Use your theme and/or color palette to create your invitations. You can use programs like Evite digital invitations, or you can get creative with programs like Canva to create and send your own digital or hard copy invites.
I have a free tea party invite you can print out that makes invites easy.
There are also many done-for-you services that can guide you during the design process, print the invites, and ship them out for you. Companies like Basic Invite are great for sending out invites.
Make sure to include the dress code (if you’ll have one) and who all is invited (kids, spouses, etc.).
Mother’s Day Tea Party Set up Ideas
When the time comes to host your Mother’s Day tea party, you’ll want to be ready to set it all up. To plan for what you will need, think about who’s coming and refer back to your theme and/or color palette.
For example, if this party is for moms with young children, you may want to plan the party to include kids and adults.
If you need more table space, plastic foldable tables can be made beautiful with a simple linen tablecloth and decorations.
If the weather is nice, the outdoors is a great place to set up for a tea party. It allows nature to do most of the decorating for you.
Fresh flowers
Fresh flowers are a beautiful way to add a feminine touch to the tea party. You don’t have to be an expert at creating bouquets or flower decor – you can buy fresh flowers for a great price at Costco or Trader Joe’s if you have one nearby. Or even pick them from your yard, or a friend/neighbor’s yard.
The flowers don’t have to be anything expensive or complicated. Mixing in greenery is a great way to add some freshness. If you are nervous about making your own bouquets and decorations, choose one or two flower colors and a greenery piece and put them together.
Tulips, roses, and peonies are lovely flowers, but you don’t have to spend a fortune. Whatever you have nearby that’s in your budget will work.
You can also go to your local nursery or hardware store and purchase potted plants and flowers to set up. Then you can plant them, and enjoy them all season.
Kid’s Table
If small children are welcome, have a small table for them with crafts and snacks to keep them busy. It’s the perfect way to make them feel like they’re having a party of their own, and it will let the moms enjoy their time.
Choose snacks that aren’t messy and that little kids can handle on their own, like fresh fruits and veggies, mini muffins, and tea sandwiches.
Choose age-appropriate crafts that the kids can do on their own. Coloring books, bead bracelets, and “make your mom a card” crafts are some easy ideas. A quick Pinterest search for kids’ crafts in the age range will give you a bunch of ideas.
Balloons and Candles
Balloons and candles are simple and can be an elegant decoration idea. Candles can be set at the table and balloons can be added to a room to make it feel like a party.
Choose balloons that fit the theme. If you want to keep things elegant, go for single/solid color balloons in pastels or metallic colors. Balloon arches can be a bit tricky, but there are balloon kits , or you can often find people giving used balloon arches and decor away in local Facebook groups when they’re done with them. Arches make a great photo opportunity for your guests.
Sometimes even without lighting candles, they can add an elegant and nice touch to a table. Using candle stands can add height to a table, making it more visually interesting. Even inexpensive tea candles can add a nice touch. If you’re concerned about fire, these battery-powered candles , or large chunky candles left unlit can add a special touch. I recommend unscented candles so they don’t interfere with the tea or food.
Music
Music is a great idea to have planned at your tea party. It creates a nice background noise.
You can include live music by hiring a band or a harpist, or find a simple Spotify or YouTube playlist. There are many tea party music playlists available online.
You can hook up an Apple HomePod, Google Home, or Alexa in the room, or outside for the party. Bluetooth speakers are relatively inexpensive and provide great sound.
Dishes
You don’t have to use fine China at your tea party, though, if you have it, a tea party is a perfect time to get it out. You can find pretty plates , silverware , and tea cups online that are more decorative than everyday tableware, but are plastic or inexpensive and easy to store.
Tea Party Recipes and Food Ideas
Of course, you’re going to need delicious tea at your tea party.
Depending on whether your party is inside or outside and the weather, you’ll have to decide whether you want hot tea, iced tea, or both.
Make sure to have a variety of tea flavors on hand for your guests to choose from. It’s also a good idea to have herbal teas and a mix of caffeinated teas, like green tea, black tea, and white tea.
Below are some food ideas that are great for snacking. Scones are always a great idea to have at any tea party. I have many delicious scone recipes that are easy to make.
Hot Tea
Hot tea can be served in tea pots, or with a tea bag and hot water. You can even get creative and incorporate a tea blending station with loose-leaf teas.
Fun teapots prefilled with hot water, or electric teapots can be found on Amazon. They can be added to the table and various tea bags can be set out for everyone to choose their favorite tea.
Savory Tea Bites
It’s common to have some savory finger foods as well as some tasty sweet treats at a tea party. Of course, you can design your theme around a food selection (like a cupcake tea party), but if you’re planning a party to last more than a couple of hours, you’ll likely want some savory bites as well.
Here are some savory tea bite ideas:
- Savory scones – Tea and scones go so well together and scones are a simple finger food to have on hand. A selection of savory scones is a great idea to get a lot of flavor into one simple, easy-to-eat food.
- Cucumber Tea Sandwiches – These little cucumber sandwiches with cream cheese and fresh dill are delicious finger sandwiches. They’re cute, easy to make, and pair wonderfully with a cup of tea. Simple tea party sandwiches are great because they typically don’t need to be warm to eat and can easily be prepared and ready ahead of time.
- Chicken Puff Pastry Bites – These simple chicken puff pastry appetizers are a hearty addition to a tea party and a great if you’re planning a longer Mother’s Day tea party. They’re made with premade puff pastry so they come together easily and taste great.
- Egg Muffin Bites – These egg muffins are especially great for a Mother’s Day brunch time tea party, but can be enjoyed any time of day.
- Vegetables and your favorite dip or hummus are other great savory treats that are simple to prepare.
Tea Party Desserts
Tea party desserts are always a delightful addition to your table. You can showcase them on a tiered platter which adds a lovely decor element to your table. Choose a variety of delicious treats, and add a pop of color with fruit. Fresh strawberries, blueberries, mint leaves, and lemon slices (which can also be used in the tea), add fresh flavors and colors to a treat tray.
Here are some tea party dessert ideas that are great finger foods, and look pretty on a tiered serving platter:
- Matcha Green Tea Cookies – These matcha cookies are soft and flavorful without being overly sweet. Their bright green color also looks delightful on a dessert tray.
- Strawberry Cheesecake in a Jar – This cheesecake in a jar recipe is so simple to make and is perfect for a tea party. A regular cheesecake can be messy and require cutting and plates. All you need is a pretty spoon to stick inside these cheesecakes.
- Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies – Shortbread cookies are a staple for any tea party. These cute cookies are buttery, delicate, and sure to be a hit with your guests.
- Earl Grey Cupcakes – What pairs better with tea than tea cupcakes? These vanilla cupcakes are infused with Earl Grey tea and have a lovely lavender icing. They smell incredible and are wonderful with a cup of tea.
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies – These cookies are a delicious, sweet treat with a pretty, cheerful look that your guests are sure to enjoy.
Mother’s Day Tea Party Entertainment Ideas
A fun activity is a great addition to a tea party. It gets people talking to each other and keeps everyone busy to avoid awkward silences. The activities don’t have to be anything elaborate.
Here are some entertainment ideas and how to plan them:
Blend Your Own Tea Mix
You can create a blend your own tea station by having various types of loose leaf teas on a table (make sure each one has a label with it), and have your guests mix their own tea blends. It makes them feel like a tea connoisseur and master brewer when they come up with a delicious blend.
To do this, select different types of teas. You can use blends that are already mixed, or keep it simple with singular flavors. Include herbal teas and caffeinated teas for a variety.
Be sure to include labels your guests can easily stick onto their bags. Make sure you have a writing utensil nearby as well.
If you are planning on serving this tea at your tea party, you’ll want stainless tea balls or reusable tea bags available for your guests to use.
I have a ton more tips on how to choose the best loose leaf tea to make sure you’re providing the best teas.
Make a Flower Bouquet
What’s better than Mother’s Day flowers? A bouquet building table is great fun. And you don’t have to be an expert at making bouquets.
Start with a plan on how your guests are going to leave with the bouquet. Do you want them to take them home in a vase? Or wrapped in paper? With a ribbon? Make sure you have the vases (with water and some shears for trimming), butcher paper, and/or ribbon/twine available.
Next, you’ll want to plan the flowers. A mix of colorful and neutral spring flowers and greenery will help your guests put together a beautiful bouquet.
Costco and Trader Joe’s are great places to buy beautiful flowers for a good price. You can also check your local farmer’s market.
Cookie Decorating
Decorating cookies isn’t just for kids. You can decorate elegant cookies with beautiful accents.
Amazon has a great selection of cookie decorating tools and supplies. Your local craft store will also likely have many ideas and products.
You can make a cookie decorating station by doing the following:
- Make or purchase sugar cookies. You can choose to have simple round ones, fun shapes, or a mix of all kinds.
- Purchase your decorating supplies. Offer a variety of products so your guests can showcase their style.
- Have some note cards, or a few decorated cookies at the cookie decorating station to inspire creativity and help get your guests going.
Dress Code for Your Tea Party
Typically tea parties are semi-formal, but you can request your guests wear whatever you would like. Here are some ideas:
- Dress to impress – Each guest can wear their favorite dress.
- Formal/bridesmaid – You can ask each guest to wear a ballgown or bridesmaid dress that they already have in their closet (or purchase from a thrift store). This is a fun idea and a great way to get everyone talking. Plus, so often we purchase formal dresses that we can only wear one time.
- Big fancy hats – Having each guest wear a big hat is a lot of fun and adds a bit of a formality to the party. Plus, they’re a conversation starter.
Don’t forget to specify the dress code on your invites. I recommend even if you aren’t requiring a specific attire, you state “casual attire” on your invite so guests know how to dress for the tea party.
Tea Party Gift Ideas and Favors
The activities you have planned for your guests may provide the party favor, but if you would like to include additional favors, or you aren’t planning an activity, here are some ideas for Mother’s Day tea party favors:
- Tea – You can provide your guests with a gift bag (or mug) full of various tea bags, or loose leaf tea.
- Skincare – Many skincare products feature green tea and matcha. You can create a pack of skincare products with a tea theme for a spa day.
- Face mask – Add a few items to a pretty bag to create a “make a face mask.” Matcha is great for the skin and easy to make a mask with a bit of oil and matcha powder.
- Dessert – Send your guests home with a simple dessert, like cookies, cupcakes, or a jar of cheesecake.
- Take home treats – If you love making desserts and have the time to do so, offer your guests an array of desserts to pack up on their way out. Just make sure you have the to-go containers.
- Candy – You can offer a table of fun candies with cute favor bags for your guests to make to-go candy bags. Including a variety of teas for each guest to add to their bags is a nice touch.
And if you’re looking to give out a larger extra special gift, check out this list of Mother’s Day tea gifts.
A Mother’s Day tea party can be as grand or simple as you have the means for. Either way, your guests will have a great time. It’s a great way to spend quality time with the moms in your life.
