Planning a Christmas Tea Party is the perfect way to embrace the holiday spirit with warmth, elegance, and whimsy!
Imagine a cozy gathering with twinkling lights, the aroma of spiced teas, and delightful tea party treats that bring out everyone’s inner child.
From holiday-themed teacups to Christmas carols and cheerful activities, every detail can make your party a magical experience that fills hearts with joy, provides your guests with a good time, and leaves lasting memories.
I’ll show you everything you need to plan the ultimate Christmas tea party, complete with decoration ideas, games, and food ideas.
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Selecting a Theme for Your Tea Party
You’ll start by selecting a theme for your party. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like and fit into any budget.
Here are some theme ideas to get you inspired:
- Classic Christmas – If you’re planning to host at your home that’s already decorated for Christmas, this is a great way to use what you have. Don’t be afraid to bring Christmas lights indoors and use existing decorations for centerpieces and surrounding decor. Setting up your tea table next to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree can often be all the surrounding Christmas decorations you need.
- Winter Wonderland – Pick mostly white colors and plan for the space to look like it’s in a whimsical snow scene. White Christmas lights, white Christmas trees, flocked, or white pom pom garland can be placed on the tables.
- Vintage Victorian – Utilize vintage Victorian prints with strands of garland and red bows through the decor. Dark green and deep red colors can be used with plenty of candles, and candlestick holders can be incorporated into the decorations and table setting.
Color Scheme For Holiday Tea Party
An entire theme isn’t needed to have a beautiful tea party. But it’s helpful to have an idea of the colors you want to incorporate into the party. This will make planning everything from invitations to decor much easier.
Any color scheme that resonates with you is a great one. It will allow your personality to shine through the party.
Here are some color ideas that are great for Christmas tea parties:
- Traditional red and green
- Metallics – Gold and silver can be Christmassy, especially with hints of greens and reds sprinkled throughout
- All white
- Winter pastel tones
- Pink and silver
Christmas Tea Party Invitations
Invitations can be sent out digitally or printed. Decide which makes more sense for you. Many programs can assist you with creating and sending invitations. Here are a few that make it easy.
- Online templates – Many creators offer pre-designed templates for invitations you can download and customize. You can also use my tea party invitations to print and fill in.
- Evite – Evite is a service that will help you create, send, and manage attendees for your tea party.
- Online printers – Companies like Shutterfly and Basic Invite will give you templates to customize, and they can print and send you invites, or send your invitations out on your behalf.
Use your color palette and/or theme to inspire your invitations, and don’t be afraid to use a template and modify it if needed.
Be sure to include RSVP information, dress code, date and time, and what kind of food will be served, such as dinner or light snacks.
Christmas Tea Party Table Settings and Decor
If you’re planning a large party indoors and don’t have the table space, easy-to-store foldable tables paired with a pretty tablecloth can make beautiful tables. Especially if you’re adding centerpieces and additional table decor.
If you already have a decent-sized dining table that you plan to use but need to make it a bit larger, a large piece of plywood that can be set over your table works great to make your table bigger. Just make sure you get a large enough tablecloth to cover it.
Fresh Flowers/Floral Arrangements
Fresh flowers are always a good idea at a tea party. They add a beautiful and feminine touch to a table. You can have one large centerpiece or a few smaller ones at the table.
For a Christmas tea party, depending on your color palette or theme, the following work great:
- Potted plants in Christmas colors, like poinsettias, or others in your theme/palette colors.
- Rosemary Christmas “trees.”
- Roses – Red and white roses, or your theme colors, help to add a pop of color to your table.
If you’re on a budget or looking to add pops of color throughout your space, inexpensive carnations also work and can usually be found in abundance in red and white colors around the holidays.
Your local grocery store, and even stores like Costco, typically offer inexpensive flowers and poinsettia plants around the holidays so you can make your own bouquets and table decorations.
Candles
Candles are an easy way to dress up a table. Simple chunky neutral-colored candles don’t even have to be lit and can add elegance to your table.
There are many battery-powered candles available that are pretty without having to worry about the flame.
Using candle stands can add height to a table, which can make it more visually interesting. Even inexpensive tea candles can add a nice touch.
Garland and Mini Christmas Trees
Simple garland pieces strewn across the center of the table add a beautiful Christmas touch to a party. You can intertwine them with Christmas lights, pine cones, small red bows, or leave them as they are. You can use fresh or reusable garlands.
Mini Christmas trees are typically found in abundance around the holidays. You can find them at most grocery stores and even hardware stores. You can add small ornaments, lights, bows, or pinecones to mini Christmas trees for a lovely, easy decoration.
A visit to your local craft store or a quick search on Amazon for Christmas table decor can help inspire your style. Thrift stores can also be a great resource for finding decorations.
Place Setting
You’ll want to set your table with pretty holiday-themed teacups and/or plates. It’s the little details that will make your table feel extra special. You can use fine China if you have it, or purchase some Christmas-themed teacups and plates online.
Colored cloth napkins to match your theme add an extra pop of color and elegance to a table. White linen napkins can also be added for a simple setting.
Gold silverware adds a fun element to the table.
Name cards can be added to each place setting for a formal decorative touch. You can buy blank cards and handwrite names, or have them printed with an online service.
Music
Festive music creates a nice Christmas party environment and background noise. You can choose to have live music with a band, carolers, or someone playing an instrument (like a harp or piano).
Or you can keep it simple by streaming a Christmas playlist. There is an abundance of Christmas music available on many platforms. You can hook up an Apple HomePod, Google Home, or Alexa in the room. Bluetooth speakers are relatively inexpensive and provide great sound.
Select Christmas music that fits the feel of your party. You can do a classical theme, pop music, country music, or traditional Christmas (to name a few options) with artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin.
Kid’s Table
If young kids are attending the tea party, you’ll want to create a table for them with snacks and crafts.
Take their age into consideration when planning, and have crafts and snacks they can manage themselves.
Pinterest is a great resource for children’s crafts, but some ideas include:
- Make a Christmas ornament
- Paint a decoration
- Coloring books
- Christmas necklaces and beaded jewelry
- Cookie decorating
Choose finger food snacks like cookies, mini muffins, fresh fruits, a kid’s charcuterie board, or veggies and dips.
Christmas Tea Party Recipes and Tea Ideas
Tea and finger foods are the life of a tea party! You’ll want to have a variety of options available to your guests.
Tiered platters are the perfect addition to a tea party. They add a lot of decoration to a table and are a fun way to separate all the different foods.
Don’t be afraid to offer additional beverages at your tea party. Festive drinks like mulled wine, champagne, hot chocolate, and coffee are all nice additions to a tea party.
The Tea
Be sure to have many teas available. Offering a range of black tea, green tea, herbal, and spiced holiday teas will give your guests plenty of options to choose what they love and try new tea.
A tray with tea mix-ins and additives can ensure your guests can prepare their tea as they want. Some ideas include cinnamon sticks, sugar cubes, honey, lemon slices, and cream or milk.
Pretty Christmas-colored or themed teapots can add a lot of Christmas spirit to the party table. You can also have electric kettles on hand if you’re worried about keeping the water warm.
If you’re planning to serve loose-leaf tea, make sure to have some stainless tea balls or reusable tea bags for your guests to use.
Savory Tea Bites
I like to offer a variety of sweet treats and savory bites at tea parties, especially if you’re planning a party more than a couple of hours long.
You can always pick up sandwiches from your local shop or premade foods from the grocery store to save time. Choose finger food bites that fit the tea and Christmas party theme.
Here are some savory tea bite ideas:
- Scones – Scones and tea are a wonderful traditional tea party combination. Savory scones are fun and offer an unexpected element.
- Tea party sandwiches – Simple sandwiches that can be cut into small bites are a great tea party finger food. These Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with cream cheese and fresh dill are always a hit. Any cold sandwich that can be easily made into small bites works great. Egg salad and chicken salad are delicious and easy options that can be prepared ahead of time.
- Egg Muffin Bites or mini quiches are especially great for a brunchtime party. They’re easy to make ahead of time.
- Crackers, vegetables, and chips with hummus or your favorite dip are a fun snack to have on hand.
- Christmas Charcuterie Board – A Christmas charcuterie board can be featured on a table for decoration and delicious snacking.
Tea Party Desserts
Everyone loves sweet treats at Christmas.
You don’t have to make all the desserts yourself. Feel free to pick up at your local bakery or grocery store.
Here are some Christmas tea party sweet treat ideas:
- Christmas candy – You can buy a variety of chocolates and Christmas candies, or make your own. This homemade Christmas candy is a festive holiday treat that’s easy to make, and your guests will love it.
- Christmas Cookies – An offering of various cookies around the holidays will always be a hit. These Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies and Matcha Green Tea Cookies will add festive colors in addition to delicious flavors.
- Christmas Cupcakes – Treat your guests to tasty festive cupcake flavors with cute decorations. You can make them from scratch, or grab your favorite box mix and premade frosting, and add a cute Christmas cupcake topper.
- Strawberry Cheesecake in a Jar – All you need is a pretty spoon to stick inside these cheesecakes. These make-ahead cheesecakes are easy to make and offer your guests a special treat without a mess.
- Fruitcakes, macarons, and a Christmas cake are more festive holiday dessert options.
Christmas Themed Tea Party Games and Entertainment Ideas
Having a fun activity planned can help center your party. It gets people talking to each other and keeps everyone busy to avoid awkward silences.
You can plan to share a short holiday story, or plan a fun party game, like word, party games, trivia, games, guess the t game, or even activities like charades, or boxed games everyone can play.
Here are some fun entertainment ideas for a holiday tea party:
Tea Party Gift Exchange
A gift exchange is a fun tea party idea, especially if you add a game element to it. You can plan a Secret Santa or make it a White Elephant game. An ornament gift exchange is another fun idea, and the ornament can be kept for years to come.
Be sure to specify if your guests are to bring a gift, as well as the maximum spending amount for your invitations.
DIY Craft Table
Set up a decorating table where you can all sit together and create the same craft project. An easy Chalkboard Christmas Wreath or ornament decorating craft is fun and creates something nice for your guests to take home. Pinterest is filled with DIY Christmas craft ideas.
Make Your Own Ugly Christmas Sweater
Every year, there are ugly Christmas sweater parties. What better entertainment and party favor idea than to have everything you need to make your own ugly Christmas sweater?
Set up a decorating table where you and your guests can sit together. Have a pile of plain sweaters in various sizes (you can ask your guests to give you their sweater size when they RSVP). Any color sweater will work.
Offer a variety of fun decorations for your guests to decorate their sweaters. Puffy paints, iron-on decals, and pom poms are some ideas.
Check Amazon or your local craft store for decorating supplies. Try to stick with supplies that can be hot-glued or ironed on to avoid sewing, since it’s a specialized skill.
Cookie Decorating
Decorating cookies is the ultimate Christmas party activity. Adults and kids enjoy decorating Christmas cookies. It’s a fun activity to do while still being able to chat with all your guests.
You can make a cookie decorating station by doing the following:
- Make or purchase cookies. A mix of sugar cookies in all kinds of shapes and gingerbread cookies is great.
- Purchase your decorating supplies. Amazon or your local craft store are great places to buy.
- Have some cute pictures of decorated cookies or some pre-decorated cookies at the table to inspire your guests.
Dress Code for Your Tea Party
Traditional tea parties are semi-formal, but you can have any dress code you would like. Here are some fun dress code themes for a Christmas tea party:
- Holiday sweaters – Whether you choose to have everyone wear an ugly Christmas sweater, a sparkly Christmas sweater, or any Christmas sweater they want, your guests can pair a sweater with whatever is most comfortable, which makes it a fun and festive idea.
- Dresses – Each guest can wear their favorite dress. You can specify a color, or let each guest decide.
- Vintage tea attire – You can ask your guests to dress in traditional vintage tea party attire. This can add great fun to your party. Just make sure you let your guests know how to dress for a traditional tea party.
- Theme-related accessories – You can specify that your guests wear a specific accessory to your tea party. Or you can offer this accessory to your guests when they arrive. Some ideas are Santa hats, holiday pins, or scarves.
Don’t forget to specify the dress code on your invites.
Tea Party Gift Ideas and Favors
If you’re planning to have activities or crafts at your party, those may serve as tea party favors as well. But if you would like to include additional favors at everyone’s seat, or you aren’t planning an activity, here are some Christmas tea party favor ideas:
- Tea – Fill a holiday-themed gift bag, box, or mug with festive tea sachets. You can make your own from loose-leaf tea, or buy your favorite flavors.
- Christmas ornaments – Send home a memorable keepsake ornament that your guests can put on their tree every year.
- Holiday cookies or dessert – Send your guests home with a Christmas dessert, like Christmas cookies, cupcakes, or bites of delicious homemade red fudge.
- Accessories – If you’ve specified a specific accessory to wear to the party, you can offer that accessory to your guests as a party favor.
If you would like to include bigger gifts for your guests, I have more Christmas gift ideas for tea lovers.
This holiday season, an afternoon tea party can be a charming escape from the hustle and bustle and a fun Christmas celebration. It’s a time to dress up, indulge in festive goodies, and share laughter with friends and family in a beautifully decorated setting. So, gather your loved ones, brew the hot tea, and get ready to celebrate the season with flair!
