Throw an easy afternoon tea party that will impress.

For those not in the know, afternoon tea and high tea are completely different. Afternoon tea is served to fill the gap between lunch and dinner and traditionally consists of light fare like cakes and cookies. High tea, on the other hand, involves more substantial fare and traditionally happened when workers returned home–it was more like dinner. Over time, the distinctions between the two have blurred, and tea no matter what time of day it’s served, more often than not it takes the form of afternoon tea with tea sandwiches and scones and cream. In the U.S., afternoon tea served between lunch and dinner is the norm, but honestly, the timing is up to you.

And of course, tea is appropriate any time of year, no matter the weather. Want to ice up your tea for the steamy days of summer? Go right ahead. Just make sure you move the party outdoors, under shade for full effect.

From the invitations to the types of tea you serve, get inspired to throw your own afternoon tea with the tips and ideas below.

Afternoon Tea Tip and Ideas

1. Invitation – While it may seem just as easy to send a text or an email as an invitation to your afternoon tea, there is something about a handwritten paper invitation sent via snail mail. It has a certain je ne sais pas that is missing in this digital age. Etsy is a great place to find appropriate choices from luxurious letterpress to clever typographical works of art–it depends on how formal or  informal you want to be. Of course, it’s not completely unacceptable to send a text invite either–at least for a less formal tea among friends.

2. Types of Tea to Serve – Whether you choose Darjeeling, orange pekoe, or Earl Grey, one key for a great afternoon tea is to offer 2-3 options. The choices are up to you, but Earl Grey, orange pekoe, and English Breakfast are traditional options. You can also go farther afield and include herbal teas or blends including rooibos chai, lemon verbena, chamomile, honeybush, or mint for those who might be eschewing caffeine. One pro tip is to make sure that you use loose tea instead of tea bags. Your guests will appreciate your attention to detail, and loose tea is often a better quality of tea. Harney & Sons has a lot of wonderful tea choices.

3. Teapots and Other Teaware  – One necessity of throwing a tea party is you must have several teapots. While you may decide to invest in some fancy decorative teapots, it may be more realistic to invest in functional pots that will also serve for everyday as well. If your teapots don’t include infusers, you will want to invest in small strainers that guests can place over their cups to catch the tea leaves as they pour. Teacups and saucers, a sugar pot, and cream pitcher are a must too. Also, an electric tea kettle can make things so much easier.

4. Tea Sandwiches and Other Nibbles – Ideally, you will want to serve a variety of food options, including sweet and savory choices. Homemade pecan scones topped with homemade strawberry preserves, cucumber or egg salad sandwiches cut into triangles (and with the crusts removed), and a tasty asparagus and feta quiche would make for a delightful menu. Whatever the menu you decide upon it should feel special.

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Afternoon Tea Image from Shutterstock

The post How to Throw a Perfectly Lovely Afternoon Tea Party appeared first on EcoSalon.

Spring is the season of celebrating. Throw your very own spring fling to start the season off right.

Now that it’s staying light later, the temperatures have warmed up, and the flowers, birds and bees are all at hard at work again, it’s time to take advantage of the best loveliness Mother Nature has to offer. That means we are all ready for outdoor entertaining again!

Whether you decide to do a casual outdoor barbecue or more of an outdoor dinner party, throw a spring fling and celebrate the season. Here are some easy DIY ideas to make your spring fling a perfectly spectacular success.

7 Easy DIY Ideas for a Spring Fling

1. Fire it Up – Whether you choose a backyard chiminea or decide to build a firepit, adding fire to any outdoor party is the way to go. The light, the warmth, and the communal atmosphere of a fire can make any party a success. Add marshmallows to make it even better.
2. Drink Station/Bar – It’s always nice to have a drink station outside, so you add your guests don’t have to keep running inside for a cold one. You could always have a tub of cold beer and bottled sodas or create a DIY outdoor bar from which to serve your signature cocktail and mocktails.
3. Flowers – A spring fling calls for amazing flower centerpieces. Turn the flowers, buds, twigs and more of the season into beautiful decorations with these easy flower arranging tips.
4. Tire Swing – If you have a large enough tree in your yard, consider adding a tire swing. Children and grown-up children both love a good old-fashioned tire swing. Learn how to DIY one here.
5. Cocktail/Mocktails – A great spring fling requires a special drink. Whether you decide to go with booze or go the booze-free route, make a decadent drink for guests to make the day more special. Anything with berries is spring appropriate!
6. Food – Peas are the perfect vegetable for spring parties. They are one of the earliest veggies to pop up each spring. Serve snap peas with hummus and other dips and make pea pesto to serve toasted baguette slices.
7. Decor – Don’t be afraid to be colorful and DIY up some fun spring fling decorations like a fabulous fabric bunting, bird silhouette place cards, or turn colorful bandanas into reusable napkins. Let your spring creativity run wild!

Related on EcoSalon

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Image: Empty Wooden Table with Party in Background via Shutterstock

The post 7 Spring Fling DIY Party Ideas to Celebrate the Best Season appeared first on EcoSalon.