March 06, 2007

Tea Party- A Novel

This past Saturday was Emma's tea party to celebrate her 6th birthday. All of her friends were asked to wear their party dresses and we had 10 beautiful little ladies join us for 2 hours of fun.
We began the party by moving a table into the study so that all the girls could gather and make these waving hands. I love to have busy work for them to do as we are waiting for everyone to arrive.
After that we split the 10 girls into 2 groups and my hired helpers (Maddie & her best friend Leah) played the bucket game in the foyer with the girls. If you ever saw the bucket game played on the Bozo Show when you were a kid, then you know what I'm talking about.



I took the other half of the girls into the family room and we played bingo. I made the cards from some I found on Martha's website & laminated them and just used a large circle punch to make markers. Afterwards, Daddy was in charge of the pinata in the basement while I finished up some things for the main event. You can see in the picture below that the birthday girl got a little carried away with the jewels during craft time.



The tables were set using lots of candy for decorations, necco wafers as confetti, pretty colored kisses, strawberry whoppers, vases filled with jelly beans, taffy, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and sprinkles, birthday cupcakes and teacups filled with cotton candy. The girls were encouraged to eat the decorations once the tea party began.

The places were set with china and a mix of teacup and saucer patterns. Each plate was placed upon an antique hankerchief and each teacup had a candy necklace hiding inside of it. I made these bracelet kits to also serve as place cards and since we didn't have time to make the bracelets, the girls took them home in their goody bags.

I bought gloves and boas for each girl and passed them out to them before they sat down to eat. The girls were served a menu of Lemon Tea (lemonade), Apple Tea (apple juice), peanut butter finger sandwiches, cheese finger sandwiches, carrot sticks, grapes, pretzels, cheese cubes and butterfly crackers. Maddie and Leah waited on the girls, taking orders and pouring tea. Each table was given a bell and encouraged to ring it often when they needed something. The "wait staff" was directed to only give them a little bit at a time so that they could have fun ringing that bell. And boy did they!



Some of the girls enjoying the party



After the tea party, I had all of the girls go upstairs and then come down one at a time, stopping at the landing to pose so I could take a picture of them. Afterwards we sent them to the basement to play in the 50 pink balloons that we had blown up and put down there. They happily kicked and hit the balloons and screamed at the top of their lungs until their parents arrived while Maddie and Leah kept an eye on them. Hiring those 2 was the best 20 bucks I've ever spent. My friend Jolene reminded me the day before the party to not get so caught up in in getting everything done, that I didn't enjoy it myself. I took her advice and enjoyed every minute of it. I'm already thinking about next years theme!


I've gotten feedback from several of the Moms and apparently the party was a huge success and I've been told more than a few times that the girls say it is the best party they have ever been to. Emma enjoyed it so much that she actually started crying when it was over because she didn't want it to end. That's all the thanks I need.

45 comments:

  1. Okay, number one: How ca-yute!

    Number two: I have those exact white dishes at my house.

    Number three: I have a princess turning 6 this week too!

    Number four: I am TOTALLY hiring older siblings to help next time...GREAT idea!

    Number five: Love the balloon idea!

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  2. What a wonderful hostess you are Jen. So glad that the party was such a success and you were able to enjoy yourself.

    The tea table looks adorable...did they keep those little white gloves clean?!!

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  3. That sounds like so much fun. Your table is stunning! I can totally understand why that would be the best party ever! Your daughter will remember that forever.

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  4. Everything is adorabble! What memories she will have from it! This will be cute to scrapbook......YES....everything turns into a scrapbook event for me! rofl, cherry

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  5. Thank you for sharing the wonderful party with us. What a delightful gathering of little girls. I love the white gloves, the lovely table, it's all perfect. I can't imagine a better birthday party than this! :0

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  6. An absolutely charming little tea party for Emma...she is one lucky little girl! What a fun party for the little ladies! Happy Birthday
    to Emma! hugs NG

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  7. So cute! Looks like you out did yourself. The only problem......you have to one up yourself next year.

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  8. Ahhhhhhh the joys of having a girl who accepts her girlhood! And a wonderful mom to indulge her. My 5yo daughter had a Spiderman party and 5 little boys as guests so, if you can't guess I'm just a tad bit jealous!! Seriously, that looks and sounds like a really great party!

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  9. It looks like a wonderful party - one that I would have loved to be at. You also gave lots of good ideas for us to use at future parties. All the decorations are so pretty!
    Allison
    www.mycozyhome.typepad.com

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  10. After hearing about the party preparations for weeks, it was a treat to see the fruits of your hard work. No wonder the girls had a ball! And hey, I made the blog!! :) Glad you enjoyed yourself, too.

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  11. A topnotch English tea room could not have done as well as this. Wow! what a super Mom you are to make a little girl feel so very special - and her friends were enchanted I'm sure!

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  12. Wow! Nice party! What a wonderful fift to your daughter, bet she never forgets the day!

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  13. Sorry, typing error, should have said Gift not fift!

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  14. Everything looks absolutely gorgeous!! Wow, you really thought of everything. What an amazing party and it looks like the girls had so much fun. Bravo!!!!!

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  15. Ooo, I'm dying to see the pics, but only a few are popping up on my computer. The description sounds like a dream of a little girl's party. I hope that my little lady will want a tea party some day. I think that I might print out your entry for future ideas!

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  16. Pretty pretty pretty so wonderful really and truly inspiring ,magical, and how blessed to have a mom who pays attention to the details I've been told that's
    the goodness that moms bring to the world...love your camera too!! So glad you liked the article and thanks for dropping by..!love, Jennifer

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  17. What a FABULOUS party! I almost felt like I was there with the description and pictures you posted! I'm thinking you're the coolest Mom! My daughter turns 7 in July, and I just may "borrow" this idea for her party! Thanks bunches for sharing!!!

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  18. What beautiful memories all of these little girls will have. Just so much fun. Good for your friend to remind you to take time an enjoy the party yourself. I think sometimes as women and moms we want to make everything "just right" that we forget this simple act.

    Carol
    WWW.RaisedInCotton.com

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  19. Jen, this post brought tears to my eyes when I saw all of those little girls at your table and breakfast bar! What a wonderful party for your sweet and beautiful little girl! Way to go Mom! :)
    Kristi

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  20. Hey Jen, I had to post again to tell you I'm reading the same book! Home, by Carolyn Westbrook. It's got great pics doesn't it? Love it!
    Kristi

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  21. A Happy Birthday to Emma! Looks like a lot of fun was had - love all that pink!

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  22. What a party! I love the decorations and the place settings. Those little white-gloved hands look so cute. Your daughter looks so much like you! Do you hear that often? Sounds like a wonderful day. If I was Emma, I would have cried when it was over, too.

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  23. Jen this has got to be the most CHARMING girls' birthday party ever!!! I would have loved to be there myself. You really put together not just a fun party but memories that Emma will always remember. Great job MOM! RJ

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  24. Wow what a lovely old fashioned tea party you have invented for your girs birthday Jen! I love the table setting with that pink teapot and all the candies and the white gloves for the girls and all the nice crafting they did and so clever of you to have two helpers and let the girls ring for them, thanks a lot for sharing! :D

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  25. what a pretty party!

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  26. Oh thank you for the wonderful ideas! My little Esther wants a tea party for her coming birthday and your blog post has given me so many ideas. You table setting was stunning!

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  27. Very impressive! A tea party after my own tea-loving heart! You did an outstanding and darling job, and I'm sure it is one your daughter will have a very lasting and fond memory of!

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  28. How sweet! I gave my daughter a tea party for her 6th birthday (long ago - she's now 22!) and it was so much fun! Each girl decorated a straw hat with ribbons and flowers, and I had made grilled cheese sandwiches cut into delicate little shapes that were a big hit. Thanks for reminding me of that fun day!

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  29. OHHH! So very, very precious! I loooove it! That is the cutest thing I've seen all week and I just finished looking at the Shabby Suite of the Month. So...you go mommy! How fun! How fun! I'm going to encourage Anna to have something like that for her 7th...I'm going to refer to these pictures to encourage it! : )

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  30. OMG! That is the cutest thing ever!!! You did an awesome job on everything. Looks so inviting, I'd like to even come and play.

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  31. Jen, you gave Emma a wonderful party and everything looked absolutely adorable!!! Could not be ANY cuter ~ what a great Mommy you are!!
    xo,
    Kim

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  32. What a completely wonderful and enchanting way to turn 6!! Those are some fabulous pictures! And your table settings look exquisite!

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  33. What an absolutely gorgeous party. Very sophisticated! I love the way you've decorated the table and all your ideas are brillian, especially the bell ringing for service and getting them to dress up in gloves and hats. All just so lovely. Only thing is I think you're going to have a lot to live up to next year!

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  34. Happy Birthday to Emma. What a beautiful party you put together...I love the table set for tea.

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  35. What a beautiful birthday party you had for your sweet daughter!

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  36. Jen, the tea party photos are adorable. This will be a happy happy memory for your daughter!

    Pat

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  37. Thank you SO much for all of the Tea Party love! You are all too sweet. Jen

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  38. Beautiful!!! :) They looked like they had a blast!

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  39. That was a five star party!!!!! How fun. Loved the candy confetti, boas, and gloves.

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  40. What a darling tea party and what wonderful memories you have created for your daughter. We had a tea party for my daughter when she turned 6.

    Thanks for all of your lovely comments. You are just the sweetest thing! BTW, the ironing board cover is Cath Kidston. I got it a couple of years ago so I am not sure if they still carry that pattern. Cammy

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  41. I have a tea room and antiques shop and I'm so impressed with your creative tea party. It brought back memories...we had a tea party at home for my daughter's 8th birthday. Now she's about to turn 17! Where does the time go?

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  42. I tried to post a comment the day you posted these pics...for some reason typepad didn't want to cooperate! Luckily today we are friends! : )

    I just adore everything!! What a sweet and magical day!! Lovely!!!

    Thanks bunches for sharing!!
    xoxo Jenny

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  43. So beautiful, it's must be a quite tea party

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  44. Hi,

    My name is Maria. I live in Charlotte.

    I love your blog!!! I borrowed your georgeous picture of your daughter's teaparty (hope its ok!) to illustrate my last post. You've inspired me and cheered me! :) :) :) Lovely.

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  45. What a lovely party! Happy Birthday to your daughter. I used the picture of your decorated table for a tea party post on my blog. Come and see!

    ~Susan

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