Welcome to my English Country Garden Tea Party
There is something magical about an English-inspired country garden tea party. Fresh flowers, pretty teacups, tea sandwiches, afternoon sunshine, and the sound of friends laughing in the garden—it doesn’t have to be elaborate to feel special. This tea party was created almost entirely with things I already owned, mixed with a few inexpensive additions and plenty of flowers.
Join me for a summer garden tea party!
I love summer. I love spending time in the garden. I wish I spent more time relaxing in the garden so I decided to throw a summer garden tea party so I could enjoy the garden, as well as the company of friends and family.
Inspiration
A year ago I had purchased a rose inspired floral backdrop which I knew I could re-use as an “instagram backdrop” for people to photograph themselves in a garden. What I didn’t expect is that the actual garden became even more popular than the backdrop. It’s still a lovely backdrop and I know I’ll continue to use it.
Once I had a theme – English Country Garden Meets English Tea – well, then the fun began! What started with paper “teacups and saucers” continued with buntings, outdoor lighting, tea shaped balloons, teapot shaped party favors, beverage dispensers, ice cube trays. I was all in!
Love the Look? You can find these and similar products from Amazon here on Shop the Look: English Country Garden Tea Party.
Planning
No successful party happens without planning. I ordered the items and started thinking about what I would need, what I had, what food I’d prepare, who I’d invite. This meant lots of lists, both in my head and on paper. Everything had to fit the theme of English Country Garden Tea Party as well.
Color Palette
The pastel colors in the “tea cups” got me thinking about a color scheme. The garden setting is so green this time of year I knew I needed a vibrant backdrop.
Peony pinks – I had originally planned this tea party in June, wanting to time it to when the peonies came out. Unfortunately I was side-tracked by a family emergency so I missed the peonies, but kept the pink color scheme. Peonies come in a range of pinks, from deep rich hot pink to the palest of blush pinks. Both look stunning against the varied greens in the garden.
Everything worked out well in the family but my English Country Garden Tea Party had to be postponed. Never mind, the garden is now at it’s height of green!
Settling on the Final Colours
I have a number of floral cushions that all could have worked with this colour scheme, so I tried a few different combinations before deciding on the final look. In the end, I chose the cream floral cushion because it felt light and fresh against the garden. It’s amazing how simply changing the cushions completely changes the personality of the space.
Shopping Your Home
After more than twenty years decorating and staging homes, I’ve learned that beautiful entertaining isn’t about buying everything new. Instead it’s about creating an atmosphere people remember.
That said, after ordering all the tea party inspired goodies, I started thinking about what I had around the house that I could use.
Use What You Have
Great decorating comes from using what you have, what’s inherently your own taste and style. So, I scoured my home, routing through my own tablecloth collection, staging items, and my fabric collection. A curtain from the window treatment store I had in Holland in the early ‘90’s – Window Shopping – was the perfect pink tablecloth. Every time I use it I’m reminded of the wonderful years I spent in the Netherlands running my own fabric and window treatment store.
Add in Whimsy
I’d made some velvet and floral cushions for staging – along with a cute little matching ball cushion (super easy and rather addictive to make!). I bought the pattern from Etsy – here’s the link).
I also brought out several of my vintage creamers and, for a touch of whimsy, added a vintage pink koi salt and pepper shaker set.
Bringing the Indoors Out
I brought out my gold tea trolley/bar cart and used that for food and gifts. Re-purposing a vintage (possibly antique) sewing machine base topped with a leftover cabinet shelf that provided a table for drinks. Keeping that separate from the food and closer to the entrance to the back garden also helped with traffic control. Guests could easily help themselves to a drink as they arrived.
Styling the Garden
The garden is mature and with the rain we’ve had this year it’s looking luscious. Mature gardens do much of the decorating for you. Layers of shrubs, trees and perennial flowers create an instant backdrop that no amount of purchased decorations can replace.
Rather than buying lots of new outdoor furniture, I refreshed the seating area with cushions, throws and flowers in my chosen colour palette. While this meant using my old seat cushions which aren’t in great shape I put the focus on the luxurious pink velvet. Using the color pink and layering textures helped tie everything together.
Last Minute Happy Additions
On the day of the party while I was doing some last minute grocery shopping. To my delight the grocery store was selling these beautiful hydrangeas in pots. Surprise! They match the theme, look gorgeous, and will end up in the garden after the party. Well, maybe after a party or two!
I didn’t have to do much in the garden. I did have to tidy up the tree trunk left over from a tree I cut down earlier in the week. A main branch of split in two last weekend, falling into the garden. Note to self – do not cut down trees on your own. Seek help, have someone else on hand in case it’s too heavy to lift.
Creating Conversation Areas
When entertaining outdoors I try to create several different destinations. Some guests naturally gather around food, while others prefer sitting quietly with a drink. Some enjoy wandering through the garden (and hopefully avoid looking at areas that are a bit overgrown).
Varied Garden Areas
Creating several seating areas just encourages people to move around naturally during the evening. It inspires conversations and connections.
The table provided space for people to sit and relax, as did the lounge area. I replaced the back rest cushions with indoor velvet and cotton cushions. It gave the space a nice jolt of color. No one could possibly be cold on this particular evening, but you never know.
The Hidden Retreat
I created a little hideaway beneath the trees for anyone who wanted to slip away for a quiet moment. With seating for two, it became the perfect place for a private conversation away from the bustle of the party.
The Show-Stopping Watermelon Floral Centerpiece
Every table needs a center piece that just catches your breath.
This watermelon with pink carnations (real ones!) was easy to make and looks elegant placed on a cake stand. This, therefore, became the focal point of the table. To support that, and reinforce the “tea party” theme I used some of my vintage creamers and decorated them with greenery from the garden.
A beverage dispenser was pressed into service, as well as other items such as a cake stand and two tiered floral cake stand.
This “tea” was actually cranberry/raspberry cocktail mixed with bubbly water and displayed in my “bee inspired” beverage dispenser. I purchased globe ice cubes and started experimenting with fruit and even fruit juice. Some ice cubes were made with fruit, others with mint from the garden. Only the fruit ones were used in this “tea”.
The beverage station was positioned close to the entrance of the garden so it was easy for guests to pour themselves a drink when they first arrived. This allowed them time to get a feel for the space. Having it slightly away from the table also made it easier for people to move around the garden. It also provided a better traffic flow to the space.
Tea Sandwiches and Floral Cupcakes
No English country garden tea is complete without tea sandwiches, and cake. I found fabulous cupcakes decorated with beautiful flowers. I made egg salad and cucumber tea sandwiches, shaped radishes into roses.
The Little Touches
It’s often the little details that make a party feel special. These teapot-shaped party favors were simply too cute to resist. I assembled them the night before. Each box was filled with chiffon bags with flavored jelly beans. They were a simple keepsake for guests to take home and remember the evening.
Something to Talk About
A giant teapot-shaped balloon welcomed guests at the entrance to the garden. In addition, an English country garden backdrop created a fun “photo backdrop” where guests could capture a few memories together. It also conveniently disguised a rather uninspiring brick wall! A second teapot balloon at the top of the stairs reinforced the theme as guests made their way through the garden.
Repetition of Shape, Colour, and Motif
Repeating shapes, colours and motifs throughout the space is a simple decorating trick that helps tie everything together. It’s these little touches that add personality, reinforce the theme and create those memorable moments that guests remember long after the party is over.
The Result
I had fun! More importantly, the guests had fun.
The day arrived. The weather was perfect. I started setting up in early afternoon with guests arriving at 5:30pm. It seems late for a tea but earlier would have been too hot this time of year.
The party was a success – even the cats returned home to join in the fun – here’s my father playing with them.
Even after the sun went down the garden remained magical – we’d fled indoors by then to avoid the mosquitos.
Because so much preparation had been done up front, I was able to relax and enjoy the evening too.
It’s About Creating Memories
You don’t need a huge budget to create a memorable garden party. Many of the pieces I used were things I already owned, repurposed in a fresh way, with just a few inexpensive additions to tie everything together.
When all is said and done, the flowers will eventually fade, the balloons will come down and everything will be packed away until next summer. But what remains are the memories of a beautiful evening spent with family and friends. And really, that’s what entertaining is really about – creating beautiful memories.
What I’d Do Differently
One of the biggest lessons I learned was that I enjoy creating the atmosphere just as much as I enjoy entertaining. Styling the table, arranging the flowers, experimenting with colour and creating little surprises for guests was every bit as rewarding as the party itself.
Next time I’ll simplify the menu by ordering tea sandwiches from a local bakery, giving me more time to enjoy my guests and add those last-minute finishing touches.
A Perfect Evening
This party reminded me that beautiful entertaining isn’t about perfection or a large budget. It’s about creating a welcoming space where people can relax, connect and make memories together. I hope it inspires you to create your own version this summer.
Now, if you’ll excuse me… I’m already dreaming up a Hydrangea-inspired barbecue.
A Special Thank You: While I styled and photographed much of this party, several of the photographs were beautifully captured by Madiha and Bilawal. Thank you both for helping me preserve the memories of such a special evening.
Shop the Look
Do you love this look and want to re-create it? Check out Shop the Look: English Country Garden Tea Party.
If you liked this post you might also like reading about the Hydrandea Table – here in A Hydrangea-Inspired Summer Table and it’s accompanying post Shop the Look : Hydrangea-Inspired Table or even Oh, I do so Love a Pretty Table Setting or perhaps On the Joy of Shopping for Antiques.
For more on the garden and the refresh that happened this year visit A Simple Summer Garden Refresh.
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