Valentine Tea Party Ideas (2024)

A Valentine tea party is the perfect way to gather with your girlfriends for Galentine’s Day. With our simple decorations, drinks and food ideas, you’ll have all the inspiration you need to get started.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (1)

Tea parties are one of my favorite ways to celebrate with my girlfriends.

They are usually held in the afternoon. So you don’t have to cook a whole meal.

And they’re centered around serving tea. So you don’t have to stock a whole bar, either.

Which is why when I wanted to host a Valentine party for my friends (some would call it a Galentine’s party), I decided to do a Valentine’s Day tea party.

And it was so much fun, it might become an annual occurrence.

Themes

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Valentine Tea Party Ideas (2)

I always like to pick a theme when I’m having a party.

It makes deciding on decorations so much easier.

For this one, I went with a hearts and flowers theme.

But you could also do an Alice in Wonderland theme, a vintage theme or pick a color to use as the theme (pink, red, teal or a combination of those would work).

The table Setting

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (3)

I used a black tablecloth on my table because I like how it makes the pink and white colors pop.

But if you don’t like that much contrast, a white tablecloth would work, too.

Then for each place setting, I layered a pink glass charger, light pink dinner plate and heart-shaped appetizer plate topped with a linen napkin and flower napkin holder.

Since pink and gold is one of my favorite color combinations, I used gold cutlery to finish it off.

Mix and match tea cups

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (5)

Since this is a tea party, having pretty tea cups is a must.

But getting a matched set can be really expensive!

So I made the rounds to all of the thrift stores in the area and found a bunch of mis-matched cups and saucers. (I don’t think it feels like a real tea party if you don’t have the saucers).

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (6)

Then I found a few more (like this one) at HomeGoods, which also weren’t very expensive.

Fortunately, they all had roses on them so that helped to tie them all together, and went with my theme.

The centerpiece

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (7)

The centerpiece I created looks a lot more complicated than it actually is.

I started with a black and white striped runner that I used as the base.

Then placed five mis-matched pink and white cake stands down the middle of the table (on top of the runner).

And wound a garland of faux pink flowers in and around the cake stands.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (8)

Then I used the cake stands as serving pieces for the tea pot and some heart-shaped Valentine’s cookies.

That way they were pretty and functional.

Other decorations

On the buffet beside the table, I used a row of small bouquets with white roses and baby’s breath alternating with white candles.

Since it’s easier to put these flowers in vases, I used real ones rather than the fake ones I had on the table.

And using small bouquets meant I didn’t need that many flowers so that kept the cost down.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (10)

Behind the small bouquets, I had a couple of larger ones with pink hydrangeas and baby’s breath, along with candle lanterns and a chalkboard sign that I drew a heart on.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (11)

The whole thing created a pretty backdrop for my table that goes with the theme but wasn’t too matchy-matchy.

The Tea

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (12)

A tea party isn’t a tea party without the tea.

I always offer 2 kinds of tea at my parties – the traditional caffeinated kind (like Earl Grey) and flavored herbal teas.

If you are making the tea in pots (the traditional way), you’ll need to pick which ones you’re going to serve in advance.

Otherwise, you can have hot water available with a selection of tea bags that people can choose from and everyone can pick what they want. (But I will say that some tea-drinkers will tell you this isn’t the proper way to serve it).

Other drinks

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (13)

I also like to serve some kind of wine or champagne at my tea parties.

For Valentine’s Day, these strawberry mimosas always go over well.

And depending what your friends like, these pink champagne jello shots might also be a hit.

Food & recipes

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (14)

At a traditional afternoon tea, mini sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and different kinds of tarts are usually served on a 3-tiered stand.

But since I was having a few people over and it was a Valentine’s Day party, I served a slightly different menu.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (15)

We did have mini-sandwiches, but I served them on a tray that we could pass around.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (16)

A naked red velvet cake with heart toppers fits right in with the Valentine’s Day party theme.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (17)

A fruit charcuterie board is good for anyone who doesn’t want to eat too many sugary treats.

A traditional charcuterie board with meats and cheeses as well as fruits and vegetables would also work if you want to serve something more substantial.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (18)

You could also do something similar with a selection of candies and Valentine’s Day treats.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (19)

And of course, there were the decorated sugar cookies in the middle of the table that were part of the centerpiece.

Valentine Tea Party Ideas (20)

Well, that’s it for my Valentine tea party ideas. I hope you found some inspiration for hosting your own get-together.

Other Valentine’s Day ideas you might like

  • Hearts and roses Valentine tree
  • Easy DIY Valentine Day wreath
  • Pink, red and white Valentine tree
  • The best Valentine’s Day cookie recipes
  • 65+ Valentine dessert recipes

Or browse all our Valentine’s Day ideas.

Have comments or questions about our Valentine tea party? Tell us in the section below.

This post was originally published on January 26, 2023 but was updated with new content on January 21, 2024.


Valentine Tea Party Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What do you serve at a Valentine tea party? ›

Beautiful, mostly simple, Valentine's Day worthy recipes to host your own Afternoon Tea.
  • Raspberry Scones with Lemon Butter Glaze. ...
  • Easy Heart Shaped Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe. ...
  • White Chocolate–Almond Scones. ...
  • Cream Scones for Afternoon Tea. ...
  • Buttermilk Strawberry Scones. ...
  • White Chocolate Cranberry Scones.
Jan 31, 2024

How do you host a Valentine's tea? ›

Here are my steps and tips for hosting a simple love-themed tea time!
  1. Make your guest list. ...
  2. Choose your menu. ...
  3. Gather love-themed stories, poems, and scripture. ...
  4. Gather or create some simple Valentine's decor. ...
  5. Choose a heart-themed art project or handcraft. ...
  6. Give each child a love letter and/or small gift.
Feb 7, 2024

What makes the perfect tea party? ›

Serve an assortment of foods, both savory and sweet. If you don't have a lot of time to prepare, buy store bought items and embellish them. Make food beautiful by decorating it with edible flowers and fresh herbs and serve on beautiful plates-it is all in the presentation!

Do you serve salad at a tea party? ›

This is not traditional, and certainly not a separate “course”, but I generally include some salad and fruit garnishes, sometimes a salad of leaves and edible flowers, sometimes a slaw or other raw vegetable preparation (in which case a fork is needed, so not suitable for finger-food-only teas), sometimes crudités or ...

What do you put on a tea party table? ›

Include the following on your tea party table:
  1. Your favorite fancy tablecloth.
  2. Napkins and doilies.
  3. A floral centerpiece.
  4. Tea cups and saucers—have fun mixing it up, they don't have to match.
  5. Decorative plates sized for smaller portions.
  6. Utensils.
  7. Cream and sugar.
  8. A three-tiered cake stand for all the delicious treats.
Dec 4, 2018

What is the best time to host a tea party? ›

Traditionally, a tea party is held anytime in the afternoon. It is typically held around noon (11:30 AM to 12:30 PM), or afternoon (3:00 PM to 4:00 PM). Really, anytime is good for a tea party. A tea party is even okay late at night after dinner.

What do you take to the host of a tea party? ›

I suspect the answer will be “you needn't bring anything - I've got it handled”. But it doesn't hurt to offer. If it's a “tea” it's safe to assume the hostess has already planned different varieties of tea, tea sandwiches and pastries. You could always bring some flowers, though, as they're always welcome.

How do you present a high tea party? ›

Presentation is key. Serve tea in a beautiful teapot, and consider the elegance of using matching teacups and saucers. Keep milk, lemon, honey, and sugar on hand so guests can customize their tea to their liking.

What are the 3 main foods served at an afternoon tea? ›

What is served at afternoon tea? Afternoon tea comes in three course, the sandwich course, the scones and finally the pastries. Traditional sandwiches would include: cucumber, smoked salmon, coronation chicken, ham and beef.

What are the 3 main beliefs of the tea party? ›

Foley sees the Tea Party as a movement of principles over politics. She identifies three "core principles" of American constitutional law that bind the decentralized, wide-ranging movement: limited government, unapologetic U.S. sovereignty, and constitutional originalism.

What are the three main principles of the tea party? ›

In July 2010, Bachmann formed the House congressional Tea Party Caucus. This congressional caucus, which Bachmann chaired, is devoted to the Tea Party's stated principles of "fiscal responsibility, adherence to the Constitution, and limited government".

How much food do you serve at a tea party? ›

Usually consisting of a selection of teas, freshly prepared finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries with all the trimmings, a light Afternoon Tea should allow for 4 sandwiches, 2 scones and 2 cakes (of different varieties) per person.

How many pieces of finger food per person for afternoon tea? ›

On average, you should plan on 1-2 scones, 3-4 finger sandwiches, 2-3 canapés, and 2-3 desserts per person. Tea sandwiches, canapés, and desserts should be no more than two bite-sized.

What should be included in an afternoon tea party? ›

An Afternoon Tea menu should include light cakes, scones and sandwiches. Traditional sandwich fillings are often cucumber, smoked salmon, coronation chicken or egg mayonnaise. But they should always be served with the crusts cut off - Anne, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, was quite insistent on this point!

How do you serve tea at an afternoon tea party? ›

Tea is best served hot and poured from a kettle to a porcelain or ceramic teapot and then to a china tea cup. If you enjoy hosting and drinking tea, think about investing in an antique tea set.

Which foods and drinks are typical for Valentine's Day? ›

Here's an overview of a few foods traditionally eaten on Valentine's Day.
  • Honey. Like love, bees can produce delicious sweetness and a harsh, bitter sting. ...
  • Herbs. Savory herbs bring out the flavor of many classic dishes. ...
  • Strawberries. ...
  • Wine. ...
  • Chocolate.
Feb 1, 2023

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