Holiday tea party winter wonderland table setting

How To Host The Most Magical Christmas Tea Party

Winter is coming! Do you know what that means? Parties, presents, and tea!

Planning can be the hardest part of hosting a Christmas tea party. There’s so much involved with brainstorming and sorting out the logistics of it all. 

Let us help you take some of that planning off your shoulders. 

As a present to you, we are dishing out our perfect recipe for a holiday tea party — decoration ideas and all! The only thing you have to do is gather the items, send the invites, and piece it all together. 

The theme? Winter Wonderland Tea! 

Transform your space into a magical land that feels like you stepped right out of Santa’s front door at the North Pole. The ambiance sets the mood, so having the right decor is key to making this transformation happen. 

Let’s dive into some decor possibilities to create a Christmas tea party that will warm their hearts and make them jolly.

Creating a Winter Wonderland

Christmas tea party pine branches with faux snow on a table with a white star ornament and white tea cup and saucer with cinnamon sticks and a dried citrus slice.

You don’t have to go all the way to the North Pole or live within snowy planes to make this holiday tea party come to life. All you need are a handful of elements to create a frosty snow-dusted atmosphere.

Choosing the Perfect Venue

People setting up and gathering around a holiday tea party room with fine china and holiday lights.

Your venue and how you present your food and treats will all depend on how many guests you can accommodate in your space. If you’re hosting an afternoon tea for your Christmas tea party, we recommend keeping the gathering at about six to eight people. Any more than that and it gets a little tricky with the serving and plating everyone individually. 

If you are hosting more people, consider setting up the venue so guests are encouraged to stand and mingle. Display food and treats buffet-style, and set up a few small tables and chairs so your guests can sit and enjoy their treats at their leisure. 

How to Create that Winter Wonderland Ambiance

White, silver, and light green holiday tea party table decorations with white candles and glass stemware.

To transform your space into a Winter Wonderland for your Holiday Tea Party start with white and ice-clear decorations. Mix in accents of silver and even hints of muted frosty colors like ice green or red, and ice blue. 

If you prefer bold colors like bright green and red, that’s great too! The general rule is that everything that sparkles and glitters like frosted diamonds is welcome here. 

Twinkling Lights, White Candles, and Naturals

White snowflake decorations and faux snow on branches with a glass ornament filled with ribbons of music note paper.

One of the easiest ways to accomplish the look of a fun and classic Winter Wonderland is with snowflake decorations. Hang snowflakes of various sizes from the ceiling, on the walls, on the windows, and all around the entryway. You can even throw in some icicles for variety. 

Don’t underestimate the magic of faux snow. It can completely transform your space and give the illusion of a fresh soft snowfall. Add an extra touch of magic with electric flickering pillar candles or tea lights that cast a golden glow around the room. They can also help hold down and secure your snowy cotton ball mounds if you use fluffy faux snow.

Use naturals like frosted branches, sparkling pinecones, and icy holly berry garlands to add to your Winter Wonderland holiday tea party atmosphere. A scattering of baubles in silver, soft gold, or muted colors can add character and round out the entire look of your Christmas tea party. 

Table Centerpieces and Table Settings

A woman putting the finishing touches on a holiday tea party table display with brightly colored cupcakes, a roast, a holiday cake, natural branches, and candy canes.

The decor around the venue should make your guests feel like they are walking into another world. Let the main tablescape act as your focal point for your most prominent decor. 

The Perfect Teaware for Your Holiday Tea Party

Someone pouring milk from a white creamer into a glass tea cup surrounded by white, red, and green holiday decor for a Christmas tea party.

We suggest using beautiful glass teaware to make the whole Christmas tea party theme come to life. The ice-like glasses and teapots are a perfect foundation for an icy wonderland theme. These perfectly neutral glasses blend into any tea party decor or theme! 

Many of the glasses are also double-walled. That means your guests’ drinks will stay at their proper temperature — hot or cold — for much longer than normal. With double walls, you don’t have to worry about coasters because they are condensation-free!

Arranging Your Tablescape

A holiday tea party table setting with black plates and gold silverware with a name card menu card on a wooden table with natural pine tree branches, pinecones, and ornaments.

Arrange the center tablescape with glass jars filled with baubles in silver and white and surround the jars with pillows of fluffy faux snow. Arrange string fairy lights so they sit beneath the snow and around the decor — they give even more character to the twinkling and magical tablescape. 

Flickering electronic candles are also a nice fairytale-like touch. Sprinkle some small branches, pinecones, and holly in between for bursts of color and a touch of nature. 

If you are hosting an authentic sit-down afternoon tea, be sure to set out name cards so seating arrangements are comfortable and convenient for everyone. 

Ideas for Holiday Teas, Tea Cocktails, and Cocoa Bars

A cup of cozy hot chocolate with a peppermint marshmallow surrounded by holiday tea party ornaments

If you’re hosting a holiday tea party, it’s a given you’ll serve tea! You can also include an alcoholic drink or two. If youngsters will be present, you can also serve up some kid-friendly drinks, or add them as a fun alcohol-free alternative for non-tea drinkers. 

Hot and Cold Holiday Teas

A warm cup of cozy winter tea for a holiday tea party with spices, dried citrus slices, and honey.

Choosing a variety of winter-inspired teas is easy. Pick two to three hot — or cold — teas so there’s variety for your guests to choose from. We love hot tea for winter, but we also believe there’s plenty of room for winter iced teas — especially if a roaring fireplace is anywhere in the venue. 

Check out this ice tea recipe blog for ideas that suit every season. If you want some hot teas for your Christmas tea party, we recommend a few of the following: 

- English Breakfast or Darjeeling are classics that you can’t go wrong with. Their neutral flavors are wonderful and pair with a variety of foods and flavors. 

- Masala Chai is sensational for its winter-like seasonality. Heavy and potent spices like clove, cardamom, and cinnamon are all too prominent during the holidays and chai is like a holiday tea party right in your cup. There are also herbal chai versions available that are completely caffeine-free. 

- Earl Grey is a black tea base with notes of citrus that come from its signature bergamot flavor. 

- Caramel Apple Blossom is a medley of rich flavors. Caramel, almond, hazelnut, and a hint of orange peel are delicately balanced with a first-flush Assam black tea. 

- White Vanilla Apple is a delicious mix of apples and pears with ginger and vanilla. This white tea blend is low in caffeine and slightly sweet.

Tea Cocktails for an Exciting Spin on the Holiday Tea Party

One person holding a tea cup and another pouring a tea cocktail beverage from a glass decanter in front of a holiday tea party table with a lit holiday tree.

Who knew you could spike the tea? These holiday tea party cocktails are fun to make and even more fun to drink. And the best part? You can make most of these ahead of time so you can spend your time mingling at the party instead of mixing drinks. 

Looking for alcohol-free tea mocktails? You can also leave out the spirits for an equally good and completely alcohol-free tea cocktail. 

Some of our favorite Christmas tea party cocktail recipes are Santa’s Cranberry Apple Bourbon Bash and Rudolph’s Secret Reindeer Rum Chai. The most appropriate for this Winter Wonderland holiday tea party might be the classic Snowfall Earl Grey Martini. 

Hot Cider and Cocoa for Kids and Non-Tea Drinkers

Spiced cider in two glass mugs with cinnamon sticks, star anise, and citrus slices on a table with twinkle lights.

If you have children or non-tea drinkers coming to the party, set out some friendly options for them to enjoy. Consider heating up some homemade spiced cider. You can also set up a cocoa bar for the kids — the adults will love the nostalgia, too! 

Decorate the hot chocolate bar space with yummy cocoa additions like marshmallows and peppermint sticks. You can also decorate the space with fun characters like polar bears, penguins, and snowmen.

Winter Wonderland Menu Ideas

A white cup of tea on a saucer with dried orange slices and a chocolate-covered star cookie on a table with faux snow and fresh pinecones and pine tree branches.

It’s not a Christmas tea party without the thematic food to define your event. Here are some Winter Wonderland holiday tea party food ideas that are as fun to make as they are enjoyable to eat.

Like we said before, if you’re hosting a sit-down afternoon tea, keep the party at about six to eight guests. Anything more than that and you’ll want to prepare your food display buffet-style so your guests can help themselves and you have time to mingle with everyone. 

Seasonal Tea Sandwiches

An elegant display of tea sandwiches for a holiday tea party.

- Cranberry, chicken, pecan salad

- Cucumber with herbed cream cheese

- Egg salad with fresh chives

- Curried chicken salad

- Basil, tomato, and pesto with pinenuts

- Smoked salmon and dill cream cheese

- Ham, brie, and apple with Dijon mustard

Savory Bites and Trays

Christmas tea party platter with crackers, fruit, and dip

- Mini quiches - Lorraine, florentine, or mushroom

- Savory puff pastry bites with brie, roasted nuts, and a touch of honey or jam

- Crispy garlic and parmesan breadsticks

- Charcuterie plate with cured meats, roasted nuts, dried fruit, honey, and jam

- Cheese plate with three to five different cheeses, crackers, and fresh fruit

Sweet Winter Wonderland Treats

A cute gingerbread man cookie on a white plate next to a white mug of tea on a white table with twinkle lights for a holiday tea party.

- Snowflake sugar cookies with white icing and glittering sprinkles

- Gingerbread cookies with chunks of candied ginger

- Chocolate cupcakes topped with swirls of red and white peppermint frosting

- Earl Grey lemon bars

- Masala Chai poached pears with creme anglaise

Wintery Scones

A freshly baked scone on a white plate with a mug of hot tea for a Christmas tea party.

- Cranberry orange

- White chocolate with peppermint

- Candied ginger and lemon

- Cinnamon chip

- Traditional golden raisin or currant

Warm Winter Soup

A white mug of butternut squash soup with breadsticks and rosemary sprigs on a wooden table with a black stone slab.

- Butternut squash with fresh nutmeg

- Potato leek

- Cream of asparagus

- Winter vegetables and lentils

Finishing Touches with Activities and Entertainment

Holiday tea party decorated sugar cookies in the shapes of reindeer and trees.

If you want to create the full Winter Wonderland experience, you’ll also want your space to sound like the holiday season and resonate with joy and laughter. Here are some fun music suggestions and entertainment tips — especially for the young ones!

Spirited Music or Lively Holiday Soundscapes

Someone adjusting a record player in a wooden display.

Seasonal music is a must-have and at the very least a backtrack of holiday sound effects brings the Christmas tea party together. If you are so inclined, create a playlist of your favorite tunes and play them lightly in the background so guests can talk without raising their voices too much.

Kids’ Decoration and Craft Corner

Two kids decorating sugar cookies as an activity idea for a holiday tea party.

Games and activities are also a welcome sight at a holiday tea party — especially if little ones are involved. Set up a table for your guests that includes crafty decorating. 

You can make a paper craft station where they create chain garlands or make snowflakes. If you want to make it edible, bake sugar cookies cut out into fun shapes or a batch of cupcakes. Set out the frosting, sprinkles, and candies, and give them little bags or plates so they can bring them home. 

Letters to Santa Station

A red table with white paper and an envelope with wax seals and decorative cinnamon sticks with a small trinket that says “letters to Santa”.

Encourage the kids and the rest of your guests to write letters to Santa — or letters to their loved ones! Set up envelopes, colored pencils or washable markers, glue, safety scissors, stickers, and construction paper in a multitude of colors. You can even create a “magical mailbox” covered in wrapping paper so you — as the host — can send the letters off to Santa right after the holiday tea party is over. 

Christmas Tea Party Favors They’ll Love

Christmas tea party holiday presents with ornaments and pinecones

No Winter Wonderland holiday tea party would be complete without a party favor to send home with your guests. Here are some of our favorite ideas they will love to use and eat!

Holiday Peppermint Hot Chocolate Kit

Peppermint hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane in a mug with a wooden spoon as an idea for a holiday tea party favor.

Peppermint hot chocolate is a holiday tea party hit and it’s so easy to make. Simply wrap cocoa, marshmallows, and crushed candy cane pieces in individual bags with a bow. They can mix the hot chocolate kit into a mug of warm milk and enjoy it at home. Set out a basket by the entrance so guests can grab them as they head out the door when the party is over.

Irresistible Chai Cookies

A plate of chai cookies next to a mug of chai with anise and fresh cinnamon sticks on a white table.

Have you seen the recipe for our chai cookies? They are commonly known as Taylor Swift Chai Cookies, but we put our own — and much better — spin on these scrumptious sweets. Your guests are going to beg for this recipe. 

The Best Tea Kit

A tall glass mug of hot tea with cinnamon sticks and citrus slices on a table with holiday presents in front of twinkle lights as an idea for a party favor for a holiday tea party.

If you want to gift them something they’ll use all the time, we recommend a tea kit! Include a mug with an infuser and a canister of loose-leaf tea. Pack these in a bag tied with a bow for a gift that keeps on giving all year round. 

Homemade Tea Bath Bombs or Salts

Dried fruits and spices in a tea chest as part of an idea for a bath salt medley for a holiday tea party favor.

This time of year can leave people feeling overwhelmed with the abundance of sweets and treats. If you want to gift them something unique at your holiday tea party, go ahead and make a teacup candle or some bath salts. Infuse them with tea and add mixed herbs, spices, and dried fruit. 

We are all about using teas in unconventional ways and a handful of these ideas make excellent Christmas tea party favors for your guests. 

The First Step to Your Winter Wonderland Holiday Party

A woman in a red sweater sitting behind an elaborate holiday tea party tablescape with cupcakes, teapots, and a cake.

Where should you begin with your planning? If you’re having a Winter Wonderland holiday tea party, you must have a tea set that checks all the boxes. Anything from Teabloom will do!

Teabloom has the most exquisite and largest selection of borosilicate glass teaware that fits into any style of decor. These collections are designed with a range of classic to modern silhouettes. They are the perfect base for any and all tea party themes that you can host any time of year. 

Stock up on delicious USDA Certified Organic teas, and find wonderful treasures for you and all your loved ones. Explore all the magical possibilities for your Winter Wonderland tea party at Teabloom, today.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

www.Teabloom.com