- well more ridiculous rather than unreasonable - to really want a girly tea set?

[JoshandJamie]

I have secret yearnings for a girly tea set. Something pretty, dainty, probably floral but possibly not. Along with the tea set I want a tiered cake stand - probably white/cream. I also want pretty floral bunting. And I want to combine all three and have a lovely, girly tea party with lots of little cakes or tiered cream-filled big cakes and dainty sandwiches. All of this will take place on a sunny morning or afternoon, with no husbands or children in sight.

The tea might possibly give way to champagne at some point...

But in reality a) I don't really think any of my friends would go for this type of thing (they'd all just want to move swiftly onto the champagne) and b) it's only likely to happen about once a year - if that, so doesn't justify the cost of getting a lovely girly tea set, does it?

Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by boys, but my inner girly-girl is dying to get out. My husband thinks I'm barking. Am I?

I am so glad you have a proper cloth, I think I'd cope with paper napkins. I am tempted to polish my cruet and make some cucumber sandwiches.

God i am really starting to think reading this that, Sod the summer music festivals, someone should be putting on a huge girly tea party in a park with ALL OF THE ABOVE mentioned on this thread. No horrible Indie bands, burger stands, dance tents; just pretty little tables and dainty little tea pots. Can you imagine?! And i feel it should perhaps be a women only event (perhaps there could be a little Gay men's corner). I do truely believe the tickets would sell like hot cakes (excuse the pun). I know for a fact that at least twenty of my girly mates would be WELL into the idea. I guess we'd all have to wear frocks, perhaps a little cardigan if it got a bit chilly. I really doubt we'd need any other entertainment other than the tea, scones, bunting, tea sets to admire and coo over. Do you think that would go down well? Hmmm, wonder how much it is to book Regents Park for a weekend next summer.

go for it peasoup. I'll do the PR for it.

This is sooo my idea of a lovely afternoon.

Go for it

Sorry I've not read the whole thread, but has anyone mentioned the gorgeous little tent at Glastonbury, near the theatre and cirucus field where you have tea and cakes on lovely dainty china, and everything is very pretty. Its a joy when knee deep in mud, with 3 day old hair

I have lots of cake stands and girly vintage tea party stuff!!! I buy them sporadically from charity shops (think old fashioned cut glass etc that your gran used to have). So they are a little mismatched, but cute. If anyone ever comes over. I make lemon drizzle cake and get one of the cake stands out. I also have a set of cake forks and cake slice with a mother of pearl handle (I go the whole hog!!). I keep them on a shelf on display in the kitchen - It softens the whole stainless steel masculine look my DH seems to have done in there . I'm currently making some pretty bunting to go round said shelf.
Embrace your inner girlie. (Generally I'm not girlie at all - until the hostess gene is required then I seem to come over all Martha Stewart/Stepford Wife!!)

I am actually starting to scare myself. I've now just bid on a silver plated tea pot because my set doesn't have a teapot. DH is going to lose the plot.

This is just the loveliest thread I've read for ages. Very inspiring!!!

I love the sound of this..lovely thread. maybe a Mumsnet Tea Party/afteroon tea should be arranged?

We could have morris dancers as entertainment - or is that going a tad too far?

possibly a bridge too far tootired. But a string quartet might be quite nice as background music

Do you see - i have let the side down, my working class roots showing through

You are all going to be so jealous of me. I'm going to tea at the Lanesborough this afternoon. It's going to be very girly with about 8 to 10 of us going. We all went last year too and it was fab.

To make you even more jealous I have two vast tea services that my grandmother gave me (I think about 20 settings in each). I hardly ever use them, I should do really.

I got one of these for my birthday a couple of years ago. It doesn't get used much but I love to look at it. It comes with matching teapot and milk and sugar containers

pretty

ooooh here's the set

Bran -

Bran - How much does it cost for Afternoon tea there? - Looks great!

Got the bunting today , but Bran. That looks amazing.

Are you back yet or has it escalated into a drinking session?

Joshandjamie You've got my mind racing over this huge girly tea party festival idea now; especially as you can do the PR cos really that's the crucial bit. The rest is easy peasy-it sounds really like it might work well as a "Bring your own tea set" type of affair judging from the sets that sound like they need to be shown off on this thread as they aren't getting much of an airing sitting in cupboards at home. I haven't been to the tea tent at Glastonbury-haven't been since 1987 , showing my age now, but frankly at my time of life I feel I need the tea party element without the mud and the drugs. Do you know what? I've just remembered one of the mothers at Mum and Toddlers' husband organises big festivals in regents park; will have to have a word with her! Or I guess it might be sensible to start small; love the Mumsnet Tea Party idea. Are any of you tea fanatics around the London area or are you all clustered up North around Betty's Tea Rooms in harrogate?

peasoup I am in St Albans & would to go to a massive Tea Party in Regents Park

Hmmm; better make sure there are plenty of pretty marquees about (with obligatory bunting of course) Not much fun eating scones in pouring rain. Plenty of time for us to get this thing organised for this time next year. The only other entertainment I could forsee being needed on the day is perhaps a corner for painting your own tea set for the more creaive of our numbers.

Hell no, I love bubbles and although my son is 11 and he finds this sad I still buy them. What the hell, were not old yet!

This is the best thread!

I did have a string quartet at my wedding, morris dancers good but a little more beer festival than tea party!

So JandJ are you in PR in RL? My DH is featured in PR Week this week, as we run one of the top 50 PR (tech) agencies (80 something overall for multi client discipline) in UK - that may sound like boasting, but actually I'm very proud of him (and I don't say that very often!) He started it himself and (with lots of help from me ) has built up a pretty good client list.

I think The Great Mumsnet Teaparty would be fab, I'd love to do something like that

I'm back, it really was fab! They have a tea sommelier for goodness sake. We told him what sort of tea we were interested in and he recommended the most fabulous blend of green and other teas with rose.

It was £39 for a glass of champagne with strawberries and cream, then there was a 3-tier thingy with assorted sandwiches, various cakes (marble cake/carrot cake etc) and fabulous patisserie-style fancy cakes on the top tier. This was followed by tea cakes and scones with jam (with big strawberry chunks in), clotted cream and lemon curd. It was really nicely done and the staff were lovely, friendly but not overly chatty or hovering, and very knowledgeable about tea. Without the champagne and strawberries and cream it was £30 (I think). Be wary of ordering a second (or more) glass of champagne though as it was £14 per glass.

It was such a girly thing, we didn't even notice the time passing while we were all chatting and laughing (and eating). It was a great excuse to get dressed up. We were there from 4pm and it was 6.20pm before anyone even glanced at their watch. Then we all had to scurry home, precision timed to be home after the bedtime routine but just in time to get a hug and a kiss goodnight.

JandJ - what a great thread. I am very near you so can I invite myself to your girly party?
I will also be on the look out for a very girly tea service as well...have told DH I want one for my birthday...