13 Special, Fancy Tea Party Ideas

Looking for a few fun tea party ideas to liven up your next social event? As millennials and Gen Z are drinking less alcohol and more tea, there’s no better time to throw a fancy tea party for you and your friends.

Tea parties don’t have to be too formal, but dressing up and following some rules of tea party etiquette is part of the fun. That extends from sending out invitations to having traditional finger foods and sandwiches on hand. A standard tea party takes place at around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and lasts for several hours. We at Peerspace have come up with these 13 special, fancy tea party ideas to help you make your first event a success!

1. First, learn to make a proper cup of tea

Just boil water and add a tea bag, right? Not if you want a proper cup of tea. The proper brewing technique depends on what kind of tea you’re making. Only the water for black and herbal teas should be brought to a boil. White and green teas are best when brewed between 170 and 185 degrees, and oolong teas are best between 180 and 190. For the most satisfying results, use an electric kettle with temperature control, and impress your guests with your knowledge!

As for steeping, you don’t need to leave the bag in the teacup long-only around 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the type of tea. Paper tea bags are fine, but avoid nylon mesh tea bags unless you want a side of microplastics. Or, ask each of your guests to bring their favorite loose leaf teas so you can mix and match for a combination of flavors.

2. Choose the perfect Peerspace location

A big part of throwing a fancy tea party is finding the right space for it. Think lace curtains, fresh flowers, and elegant tableware. Peerspace makes it easy to come up with fancy tea party ideas with a range of spaces available to rent from local hosts, many of them with furniture and dishes included.

For example, in Minneapolis, you can choose from a bright Parisian-style loft in the North Loop with space for 20. In Los Angeles? How about booking this speakeasy-inspired tea house with indoor and outdoor space. Search the listings to find the perfect space near you. If you need additional services with your rental, such as a professional caterer or photographer, contact the exclusive Concierge service to find a trusted local vendor.

We’ll include photos and links to real Peersapce venues throughout this article that you can book, just to show you what we’re working with!

3. Have a scone baking competition

Scones are a must at any traditional tea party. British scones are similar to American biscuits, but not to be confused with British biscuits, which are more like American cookies. Just invite your friends to bring their most creative scone recipes to sort it out once and for all!

4. Make tea bag cookies

Surprise your friends with these shortbread tea bag cookies, which are covered in chocolate and shaped just like tea bags. They can even be dipped right into a glass of milk!

5. Play vintage records

A successful tea party is all about the atmosphere. We think setting up a record player to impress your guests with your vinyl collection is a great idea, but making a playlist of tea-related music works, too. British bands like the Kinks and the Beatles are an obvious choice. Or, you can go for something more sophisticated with some instrumental jazz or classical music.

6. Solve a cozy mystery

Bring some excitement to your tea party by playing a cozy mystery game. Cozy mysteries are perfect for tea parties because they have less violence than “hardboiled” murder mysteries, so you can maintain your stiff upper lip while interrogating each other for clues.

7. Make it a tea picnic

There’s no better place for a tea party than in a beautiful backyard or garden. If you’re hosting a tea party in the summer, look for an outdoor venue on Peerspace so you can host it outdoors. You can even rent this private Japanese garden for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

8. Play croquet

While you’re outside, liven up your tea party with lawn games like croquet. Croquet is also perfect for Alice in Wonderland-themed tea parties since you can make your own set of flamingo mallets! Just don’t forget to book an Alice in Wonderland-themed Peerspace venue, like the one above in St. Augustine, which also has outdoor space!

9. Have a photoshoot

Another great tea party idea is to plan a photoshoot. After all, it’s not often that your friends get together in semi-formal attire. Hire a professional photographer to get candid shots of the whole table, or set up a photo booth so you can pose for individual photos as you go. When you book a Peerspace venue, you can even ask the Concierge service to send over the photographer on your behalf.

10. Host a drag queen tea party

What fun is a tea party without a queen in attendance? This travel blogger attended a drag queen tea party in Calgary to celebrate Pride Month and learn about the LGBTQ+ community. You could invite a local drag queen to be the guest of honor at your tea party. Check out how the Sofitel Hotel in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square does it here.

11. Make DIY crafts

Tea parties don’t have to be limited to tea and conversation. Keep your hands busy with some easy arts and crafts. Whether you make simple crafts like bracelets or paint your own ceramic tea sets, give your guests something to go home with. This is among the top creative tea party ideas for artsy individuals.

12. Read your favorite poetry

Poetry tea parties are popular in the homeschooling community, but they’re great for adults, too. Ask each of your guests to bring one of their favorite poems to read aloud at the table. This is a fun way to add a little literary appreciation to your afternoon event.

13. Host a yerba mate tea ceremony

If a fancy British tea party sounds too formal for you, keep in mind it isn’t the only tea party idea in the world. Consider hosting a South American ceremony to drink chimarrão, or yerba mate, tea. This herbal tea is similar to green tea but with a higher caffeine content.

It’s traditionally brewed in a small gourd and drunk from a communal straw called a bombilla. While that approach may not be suitable for most groups, this can be a cute and romantic tea party idea for couples.

Bonus: Take it poolside

Host your tea party on a beautiful summer’s day and serve all your guests poolside — it’s time for a tea party idea that celebrates the water, fresh air, and sunshine! We love this idea since it incorporates the outdoor garden idea while adding the option of taking a swim. If you don’t have your own pool, no worries, it’s easy to book one with Peerspace. You can enjoy a beautiful outdoor setting while sipping tea with your favorite people. It’s also a great excuse to contact the Concierge service and ask them to handle the catering. Just save all the diving and splashing for after you finish your tea!

Learn more with these 12 epic pool party ideas for adults!

Peerspace serves the best tea party ideas

We hope these tea party ideas have you feeling steeped in excellent ideas! Tea parties have a long and varied history and are celebrated uniquely all over the world. From a traditional Japanese tea ceremony to a relaxed yerba mate ritual, tea parties can provide a time to socialize, meditate, celebrate, and more.

Choose from one of our 13 special, fancy tea party ideas, and book a Peerspace venue to host a memorable afternoon for your friends!

Find unique tea party venues on Peerspace