How to Host a Mother’s Day Tea Party: Part 2 – Decor & Gift Ideas

How perfect that Mother’s Day falls right within the merry month of May. That way, the tea party you’ll host for her will be a celebration of all things spring: pastel colors, garden-inspired accents, and flowers, flowers and more flowers! From the 7 party decorating ideas we found to the 7 favor and gift suggestions, we can just imagine Mom’s delight when you surprise her on her special day. All of them are definitely DIYable, and most have wonderful tutorials to help you!

Decorating Ideas for a Tea Party for Mom

Venue decorations – For an intimate gathering like this, having just one decorative focal point is practical—and can be oh so pretty!

Look at this straw tote door decor (1) that just shouts spring. You can use it as a tea party backdrop, then transfer it to your door for the rest of the season. And speaking of backdrops, how charming is this garden trellis-style ‘Mom’ sign (2)! This alone will make your tea party scene so spring-like.

Table accessories – On the tea tables, you can continue the floral fest with adorable elements like these. Single fresh blooms in glass vials (3) can serve as place name holders that guests get to take home afterwards. Then if you’re into crafting paper flowers, these mini paper rose wreaths (7) and crepe paper flowers in a glass pitcher (6) make lovely centerpiece options. While if you’ll be having several tables at the party, why not make seed packets in mini pots (5) to name each table after a flower?

Then, for the sweetest touch, craft this mini ‘Love You Mom’ bunting (4) to top her favorite tea party treats or a Mother’s Day cake!

Sources: 1 – Sadie Seasongoods / 2 – The Proper Blog / 3 – The Proper Blog / 4 – Homey Oh My / 5 – Bellenza / 6 – Bellenza  / 7 – Elli

Favors for Guests, Gift Ideas for Mom

A DIY gift basket is such fun to put together, especially for a tea party theme! Fill it with goodies like a cookies-in-a-jar mix and a personalized dish towel (1) your mom will treasure. Then, in keeping with the tea party theme, gift guests with tea towels in berry baskets (3).

For DIY favor ideas, we just had to share these mini trinket boxes (2) you can make yourself or a flower-filled tote (7) you can hang on each guest’s chair.

Of course, pretty packaging is always key. So even the simplest iced cookies can be made special presented in embroidered organza pouches (6). While bunches of fresh flowers or any present, for that matter, can be extra meaningful with gift tags and cards (4, 5) with a loving sentiment.

Sources: 1 – Giggles Galore / 2 – The Casual Craftlete / 3 – The Casual Craftlete / 4 – Almost Makes Perfect / 5 – Carrie Elle  / 6 – Bellenza / 7 – Anders Ruff

We’d love to see your mom’s delight at having a Mother’s Day tea party decorated as perfectly spring-like as this! With gifts and favors that are homemade to match!

FEB. 2020 UPDATE

So much pretty inspiration out there for a Mother’s Day tea party! So we just had to share those we fell in love with by adding them to this post. These new sections cover ideas for creative food displays, stylish tablescapes, and DIY centerpieces. Enjoy!

Creative Food Displays Mom will Love

Need some ideas for appealing ways to present your tea party spread? See these examples we discovered—creatively combining traditional serve ware with other household items and decor pieces!

1 – DIY temporary cake stand – Recreate this clever cupcake stand from a Beautiful Mess by using a frilly-edged tart, quiche or pie dish and attaching a dollar-store candlestick (spray-painted to match) with museum putty. So you can take them apart again after the party. Note: More DIY cake stand ideas in the same post!

2 – Backdrop of vintage teacups on a wire frame – Give your party food the perfect tea-themed setting by hanging assorted vintage tea cups on a weathered “garden gate” frame! Love this idea from Celebrations At Home.

3 – Tea tins as decor accents – Use the prettiest tea tins as part of the display. Even lovelier if arranged on a birdcage-style tiered stand, as seen on Harney.com.

4 – Intimate “tea for two” setting – For a small Mother’s Day gathering, this cozy little setup from Sand and Sisal is a gorgeous way to enjoy tea, scones with cream, and melon skewers right by your living room couch.

5 – Dainty Serveware and a Doily Banner – From Cake Ink Events, we see how even a small tea party buffet can be prettied up by using dainty porcelain, vintage pastry stands, and sweet DIY bunting made with paper doilies. 

6 – Tea party “buffet” in a cupboard – How adorable is this use of a shabby chic-style cupboard to present tea party treats, vintage tea ware, and flowers in quaint bric-a-brac containers! Thanks to 100 Layer Cake.

Stylish Tea Party Tablescape Inspiration

Traditional? Trendy? See the varied looks you can go for at your Mother’s Day celebration, with the table setting as the showcase.

1 – Modern black, white, and gold tea party table – Not all tea parties have to be in pastel colors and floral patterns. Here’s an alternative from Iconic Life that’s so simple and chic!

2 – Table setting in sweet spring colors – Jenny Cookies shows how to play up the sweetest spring palette of blush pink and mint in all the table elements—from dinnerware to tea cups to vases to votive holders to napkins. Even the tea party treats and florals complement the charming scene.

3 – Minimalist tea party tablescape with blue touches – From an outdoor tea party by Sugar and Charm, you see an almost Scandinavian type of table styling with wooden tray-like plates and sleek tea services in pristine white. Pops of blue in the floral arrangements are a lovely touch, too.

4 – Graphic-style casual tea party setting in primary colors – Going for a more youthful, fun feel for the occasion? Check out this simple white tea service on a color-blocked table cloth that we found via Ikea.com.

5 – Glass and crystal table setting details – More of the light and bright look in this airy tablescape from Fashionable Hostess, thanks to white dinnerware and serve ware, sparkling glasses, and pink-tinted crystals. Plus mini pots of wildflowers on each guest’s place setting.

6 – Shabby chic tablescape with touches of blue and pink – See Bellenza’s very own styled shoot for a Mother Daughter Tea!

DIY Centerpieces for a Tea Party Table

Try your hand at assembling these doable DIY centerpieces to suit different tea party themes, venues, and personal touches.

1 – Budget vintage Mad Hatter tea party centerpiece – Take this idea from DIY Inspired to create a charming themed centerpiece on a budget. Top a couple of old books with an antique teapot serving as a vase, then add a top hat cutout to finish.

2 – Mini photo-floral arrangements – What mom wouldn’t love a centerpiece that features photos of her children or grandchildren tucked in among the lovely blooms? The perfect personalizing touch from Sugar and Charm.

3 – DIY Daffodil Arrangement – No need to stick to pink. A pot or vase filled with golden daffodils and encased in a band of gift wrapping paper, as seen on Smarty Had a Party, would bring sunshine to Mom’s special tea party.

4 – Fishbowl Centerpiece – What about this unique idea from one of our own styled sets. A centerpiece that’s actually a globe fish bowl holding real, live goldfish! See the post link for the how-to.

5 – DIY Yarn-wrapped Bottle Vases – Take the recycling route as Modern Parents Messy Kids did with these used jars decorated with bands of yarn wrapped around them. Then, simply pop in Mom’s favorite flowers!

6 – Mini Teacup Garden – Visit thrift shops or yard sales for vintage crockery like tea pots, cups, or sugar and creamer sets. Then, as shown on Kidspot, fill each one with a variety of succulents and small plants to group together as a “garden” centerpiece. Then after the party, these would make delightful Mother’s Day favors for your guests.