Hosting a high tea sounds undeniably charming and sophisticated. It is often associated with cakes, different types of tea, biscuits, all beautifully presented on a table, preferably in a room with natural breeze where the sunrays are warm enough for relaxed conversations and memorable moments.
Well, high tea dates back to 19th-century England, particularly during the Industrial Revolution period. It was traditionally served in the late afternoon or early evening.
Many people today use "high tea" to describe a sophisticated tea party with cakes and sandwiches, but historically, it was not a luxurious social event. It is termed "high tea" because it was served at high dining tables!
Which brings us to the best part: you do not need a fancy venue or a professional event planner to create a beautiful experience. With a little creativity and thoughtful planning, you can host an elegant high tea right at home.
12 Simple & Elegant High Tea Setup Ideas
1. Choose a Soft Colour Theme
Remember the living room of the Bridgertons? Yes, exactly that! A soft, cohesive colour palette makes your setup look polished and relaxing at the same time.
Soft pastel shades like powder blue, blush pink, sage green, lavender, or cream work beautifully for high tea settings. Use matching napkins, table runners, flowers, and servware to tie the entire setup together.
2. Use Fresh Flowers as the Centrepiece
Nothing beats the magic of real flowers! Select a vase that matches your colour palette and arrange roses, peonies, hydrangeas, or daisies with a few leaves or baby breaths.
For some extra charm, you can also put some seasonal flowers in small vases or glass jars throughout the area.
3. Create Height with Cake Stands and Risers
The easiest way to make your table look more elegant is by creating visual interest. Add different types of cake stands or risers and arrange your desserts on multiple levels.
Additionally, adding rotating platters like Nestasia’s Lazy Suzan or an expandable platter makes the table feel fuller and more luxurious.
4. Mix Sweet and Savoury Treats
A balance of sweet, sour, and savoury always works the best! Consider serving a combination of food like:
a) Mini sandwiches
b) Scones with jam and cream
c) Quiches
d) Tea cakes
e) Macarons
f) Cookies
g) Fruit tarts
5. Bring Out Your Best Tea Set
As the name suggests, the entire experience is all about tea: its flavour, how it is served, what it is served in, and how beautifully it is presented for the aesthetics!
Therefore, selecting the right tea set is very crucial. Additionally, offer a variety of tea, such as:
a) Earl Grey
b) English Breakfast
c) Green Tea
d) Chamomile
e) Hibiscus Tea
6. Add Elegant Place Settings
Paying attention to simple details like arranging cups and saucers, placing dessert plates, folding napkins in different styles, and placing cutlery correctly matters a lot to create the classical European high tea experience.
Check out our blog Unique Napkin Folding Ideas For Any Table for some amazing and unique napkin folding styles.
7. Use Layered Table Linens
Just because it’s not dinner time doesn't mean we don’t enjoy a full-blown table linen set-up! Add different textures or prints of tablecloths, runners, and placemats to create visual depth.
However, remember to keep it cohesive rather than random choices. For example, add a floral table runner with a solid pastel tablecloth.
8. Create a Dedicated Tea Station
Instead of constantly refilling cups, set up a tea station nearby. Use multiple tea sets, or for a fun twist, you can also fill water in pretty drink dispensers and make it easy for your guests to pour their choice of portion.
Keep teapots, tea bags or loose-leaf tea, sugar, honey, milk, and lemon slices nearby in beautiful platters for your guests to customise their drinks throughout the gathering.
9. Incorporate Seasonal Decor
To make the most out of your high tea setting, add seasonal elements to it! For spring afternoons, add fresh flowers and keep your colours in pastel. For the summer, something tangy, something citrus, along with flowers like sunflowers, will work well.
For autumn afternoons, use earthy tones and add dried flowers, pampas grass, pinecones, or small pumpkins to create a cosy tablescape, and serve treats like spiced cakes, cinnamon cookies, and warm tea blends.
For winter high teas, add rich colours like emerald green, burgundy, navy, and gold and decorate your table with candles, fairy lights, etc. Serve hot chocolate, fruit cakes, buttery pastries, and aromatic teas that make guests feel warm and comfortable.
10. Use Beautiful Serving Platters
High tea is basically all about the aesthetic, meaning that the presentation is its primary concern. Along with beautiful cake stands and risers, use wooden or ceramic platters to serve finger foods or cheese and crackers.
11. Include a Small Dessert Corner
If you have enough space, then add dessert corners as well. Make a tiered arrangement of cupcakes, brownies, macarons, and pastries that perfectly becomes the focal point of your setup.
12. Add Soft Background Music
The cherry on top is your music! Keep it simple, keep it all instrumental. Depending on the vibe you want to create, you can either go for soft guitar or piano instrumentals or something like an orchestral version of pop songs, as we see in Bridgerton!
Hosting Tips to Keep Things Stress-Free
Hosting should always be fun and never put extra stress on the host! With a little preparation and pre-planning, your day can run smoothly without you going through any last-minute panic.
a) Decide on the menu and work towards it, and start preparing the food first.
b) Keep the guest list manageable. Remember, it’s the quality that counts, not the quantity.
c) Since the entire event basically depends on the aesthetics, it is of utmost importance to set the table early for it to be perfect.
d) Offer self-serve options because they allow guests to help themselves and also reduce your workload.
e) Never focus on “perfection”. The gathering should be warm and welcoming, filled with memorable conversations and hospitality rather than perfectly folded napkins.
High Tea Essentials Worth Having at Home
a) Elegant cups & mugs for mixing and matching with your favourite tea set
b) Different tea sets for different aesthetics
c) Cake stands to perfectly display delicious desserts
d) Risers to create a visual interest on the table
e) Charcuterie boards & platters for a fun twist to your setting
g) Napkins that pair beautifully with your favourite tableware and serveware
To Conclude
Hosting a high tea party is less about extravagance and more about creating a wholesome and thoughtful experience for your guests. A curated setting with a variety of options to choose from, along with soothing music and good company, is all that matters sometimes.
Happy hosting!
FAQs
How do I decorate a table for high tea at home?
Start with a tablecloth or runner, add fresh flowers, elegant serveware, layered cake stands, matching napkins, and a coordinated tea set. Keeping a consistent colour palette helps create a polished look.
What is the difference between afternoon tea and high tea?
Afternoon tea is traditionally a light meal featuring tea, sandwiches, scones, and pastries served in the afternoon. High tea is a more substantial meal that historically included heartier dishes and was often served later in the day.
How many items should I include in a high tea menu?
A balanced menu typically includes 6 to 10 items, with a mix of sweet and savoury options such as sandwiches, scones, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
How can I host a simple high tea without spending too much?
Use everyday serveware, prepare homemade treats, decorate with seasonal flowers, and keep the guest list small. Simple styling and thoughtful presentation can make a gathering feel elegant without requiring a large budget.
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