80th birthday afternoon tea party - ideas please

evergreen

My Mum-in-Law will be 80 next year and we were planning to have a tea party. Hope to hire a local hall. Any ideas on the best and cheapest place to get odd secondhand china cups, saucers side plates etc. Thought we would use cardboard 2 tier cake stands on each table, and sandwich trays of mixed crust removed sandwiches. Should we try and get secondhand china teapots to go on each table? Numbers wise I think we would be catering for about 60 to 70 people. I would really appreciate any ideas or advice please.

PoppyGirl

I have done a couple of tea parties like this - the overall look is fantastic!

For cups, saucers and side plates, why don't you ask around your friends and family. I'm sure some of them have some sets in a loft/garage you could borrow. Same for the teapots.

If you can't borrow, you could try charity shops, jumble sales and carboots. Also local collect on Gumtree and ebay. I got mine from a jumble sale. The teapots I borrowed from people, and found a few in charity shops.

The pound shop and Home Bargains both do cheap cardboard cake stands, and HB also does sandwich trays (plastic) for 89p I think. They have a range called vintage rose which has lovely napkins and things that may be suitable.

Any tea sets etc. you buy could also pretty easily be sold on if you need to make a bit of cash back?

evergreen

Thanks Poppygirl. Managed to get 15 sandwich trays yesterday at a boot sale for £2.50. Will try your suggestions about cups etc., some great ideas there. Thanks very much.

justb

Hi, have you checked with the hall, they may have cups and saucers you can use, and check with family and friends re cake plates etc, we just borrowed an assortment and placed them on a buffet table for people to help themselves I think the different types added to the display.
Bx

LEJC

If you dont want the expense of having to buy some nice china bits and bobs...albeit cheaply from charity shops etc,why dont you say on the invitation that you send everyone that you would like them to bring their best cup and saucer with them in order to share a cup of tea and hopefully a few memories with the birthday girl...

minimacka

Dont forget bunting even making it with doilys folded over with string through the middle will look good.

There are lots of ways to make cake stands for next to nothing, buy a small or tall candlestick holder and glue it to a plate, I think you can even buy the middle and then just buy 2 or 3 old plates drill a hole through the middle and assemble them together.

Dont forget a couple of sugar bowls and milk jugs, you might even be able to find some sugar tongs and use sugar cubes.

I love tea parties.

x

suejb2

Try freecycle. The thing is they don't have to match so some from here there and everywhere will be fine.