Create Your Own Royal Garden Party At Home
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Every summer, royal garden parties capture something wonderfully timeless about British entertaining. They feature elegant afternoon-tea tables, gardens in bloom, and the simple joy of gathering together outdoors.
British weather is famously unreliable, but we still pour the tea, eat the sandwiches and cake, and make the most of every glimpse of sunshine. Royal garden parties take place whatever the weather - and so do ours.
Have you ever sat by the letterbox waiting for your invitation to a royal summer garden party invitation? No? Well, I have. It’s my fantasy to receive one in recognition of my services to baking! One day, maybe! We all need dreams...
In the meantime, these ideas should help you plan and style a beautiful tea party you'll love - whether on the day it rains or we're in the middle of a heatwave.
Setting up a garden tea party for rain or shine
Recreate a sense of thoughtful hospitality at your own vintage tea parties. From mismatched china and freshly baked scones, to carefully styled tables filled with flowers, every detail should be designed to help guests slow down and enjoy the moment.
Create an elegant background
For that touch of royal elegance you'll need to make sure your garden and any flower borders are playing their part. If you have flower beds, make sure they're neatly edged. If they have empty spaces, strategically placed pots filled are a lovely way to cover any gaps and add extra colour.
Provide a covered area
Royal garden parties often feature beautiful tea tents positioned across the lawns, so guests can
gather comfortably whatever the weather. While you might not have space for a 40-foot marquee, you could transform your kitchen into a serving area or a hire a vintage food van as a cosy tea and cake station for guests to enjoy.
Let people help themselves when they arrive
Because people often turn up at different times, a self-serve tea station often makes sense. If it's available as they arrive, it helps people feel relaxed and welcomed. A large pot of English breakfast tea alongside carefully arranged vintage teacups and saucers on a pretty table lets guests help themselves while you prepare the food.
Don't forget the cold drinks
Cold drinks are essential for summer entertaining too. A large jug filled with water infused with cucumber, lemon, or mint is lovely addition. When we cater for summer tea parties we always bring our large water dispenser. Vintage glasses next to the water cooler are an elegant and considered detail.
Decorate your outside space
Plan ahead for any weather with gazebos and large garden umbrellas. You can decorate these with bunting and even design a ‘Tea Tent’ sign to make it more authentic.
Dress the part
If you know the weather will be particularly hot or rainy, ask guests to bring brightly coloured umbrellas or raincoats. I go for a see-through raincoat or poncho so that my carefully chosen floral dress can still be seen.
Lighting and table decorations matter
If the day is going to be dull, you could hang some fairy lights among your bunting and perhaps some mirrored ornaments to reflect the daylight. Candles in a small glass or jam jar inside a larger glass vase look lovely, especially with small vases of bright flowers. Don't overwhelm the tables with lots of large, tall vases and flowers
Catered afternoon teas with a real vintage feel
This summer I’ll be bringing our vintage teashop and afternoon tea experiences to garden parties, celebrations, and local events across Surrey.
Among the little details woven into our tea parties are homemade jams, generous spoonfuls of clotted cream, and cake stands of freshly baked warm scones.
Some tables will be designed for slow, whispered conversation beneath pergolas framed with flowers and greenery. Other tables will bring guests together beneath softly sheltered gazebos filled with laughter, celebration, and the gentle clink of teacups. We design them to suit your guests and your party.
Host your own royal garden party
Afternoon tea in your own garden or on your driveway is a wonderful way to celebrate a special event with friends and family.
When we create garden tea parties for customers, we can bring our vintage food truck, which is a converted caravan with a 1950s aesthetic. We serve sandwiches stacked high on vintage cake stands and warm scones and brew loose-leaf tea and freshly ground coffee - all from the van.
We also create tea parties without the caravan. We bring our vintage crockery and all the décor for styling the tables. We even clear and wash up afterwards.
Come and see us at our events in June:
Old Woking Community Centre - Saturday 19th June, 8am-12pm
We have a pop-up teashop at the Old Woking Community Centre on the third Saturday of each month where you can sample some of our delicious teatime treats and cream teas. It’s an opportunity to experience our vintage tea parties and talk to us about your own upcoming celebrations.
Horsley Towers Community Picnic - Sunday 28th June, 11am-3pm
Our lovely vintage food van has been invited to offer cream teas and cakes at this wonderful event on the 28th June. Come along and help us to raise some money for Woking and Sam Beare Hospice.
Baking for Charity
During June I'll also be baking for charity groups close to my heart including the RSPCA Surrey (Woking and District Branch), and the Liberal Democrats, Woking. Please do consider donating to these worthy causes.
