What is it about a "spot of tea" that is just so irresistibly welcoming? Even more so if it’s served in a quaint vintage-style setting with delicate crockery, dainty tea sandwiches and pastries, lace doilies, pearls and florals. So if you’re looking for a charming housewarming theme to welcome visitors to your new home, a vintage tea party is it!
See our inspiration for how to lay out the prettiest serve ware and accessories for your tea party tables, using items you may already have right at home. Then, refer to our product picks below for basic (and budget-friendly!) vintage tea party decorations to get the look, and simple tea party food ideas to serve your guests. This is going to be one warm welcome! (*this post contains affiliate links)
How to Get the Vintage Party Look for Your Housewarming Tea
The key elements to pulling off a vintage tea party look just might be in your (or your mom’s or grandma’s) china cabinet! Think floral-patterned tea cups and saucers, plates with fancy fluted borders, ornate trays and fruit baskets, cake stands, and tiered pastry racks.
Lay these out on a brocade or lace tablecloth, add pastel-colored napkins, use doilies as liners, and arrange sweet floral arrangements in mini vases.
Finally, arrange finger sandwiches, cookies, and pastries on your serve ware—and pour a cup of piping hot English tea for each arriving guest!
Basics to Buy for a Tea Party-themed Housewarming
With such a pretty setting prepared, here are some tea party basics and menu suggestions to help you complete the vintage tea party style!
Looking for a lovely floral teapot and the English tea to serve from it? Along with sweet treats and fillings for mini sandwiches (like smoked salmon, liver paté, egg salad, and smoked turkey)? Here’s what we found on Amazon:
1 – Victorian Trading Co Vintage-Style Roses Electric Tea Kettle
2 – Harney & Sons Black Tea, English Breakfast (20 Sachets)
3 – Hand-Sliced Scottish Smoked Salmon
4 – Sweet Lemon Layers, The Original Cakebites by Cookies United (4 Pack of 3 Cookies)
6 – Sugar Bowl Bakery Madeleines Petite French Tea Cake Cookies
For easy serving and clean-up, what about this complete set of Talking Tables Vintage Floral Tea Party Supplies (7 – also on Amazon) in assorted floral designs and all made of paper? While for your special housewarming cake, display it on a Mint Classic Cake Stand (5 – from Sprinkles and Confetti).
Finally, gift your guests with packs of tea bags to take home. Trim them with personalized printable tea tags as thoughtful themed keepsakes of this occasion!
