Planning a fancy afternoon tea. Have I thought of everything?

[Mushroomwithaview]

Long table with white tablecloth and napkins.
Tea set - pretty cups and saucers , plates, cake forks, tiered platters, teapots etc
2 types of sandwich - tomato, and cucumber
Little cakes, pastries, and patisserie etc - all ordered
Cheeseboard (not traditional, but cheese is the birthday person's favourite)
Main birthday cake (making myself)
Candles
2 x champagne in ice buckets (don't think people will drink - it's more of a token, but there's extra Brut in the fridge if needed)
Soft drink (making a cran / lime / soda mix)
Water
Balloons
Enough chairs round the table
Background music

Is that it?

Yes. The reason was that I read the replies, took feedback on board and changed my plan.
When I first posted, I had not yet realised how shit my sandwich choices were.

I thought that was how these forum questions and replies work?
Sorry for the confusion.

You asked for opinions ??

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What an absolutely mad thread. I have just realised that 90% of the weirdly aggressive replies come from just one poster.
Thank you to the gorgeous posters who are giving helpful suggestions. I will def add scones, flowers, and better sandwiches.

Given I’ve been around these parts since about 2006, I’m pretty certain my knowledge on the guidelines regarding troll hunting and sock puppet accusations are solid. That said, do feel free to report my post to @MNHQ

Right??!

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And now you look at the rather carby menu and try to work out how to integrate a salad or fruit course.

You'll never win, just ride it out with magnificent flowers.

Not at all. I was agreeing with you. IT's a great sandwich.

I've done open sandwiches a few times - use rye bread and then toppings like Brie and caramelised onion chutney, egg mayo topped with cress and (I appreciate not for you) smoked salmon.

I'd usually offer a hot savoury as well - sausage rolls (you could do cheese and onion maybe) or a mini quiche/savoury muffin. The cheese may make this too much though!

And as everyone else said, scones are compulsory 😂

@Mushroomwithaview people go WILD over a food / menu thread. It’s brings out quite the crazy.

OP, unless I am being stupid (and I have read it twice) you haven't mentioned the actual tea (as in the hot drink). Will you offer different types? Posh tea or normal? And don't forget the milk and sugar. Depending how many people will you need to borrow some kettles, or need a tea urn? Will you offer coffee also?

Don't worry about everybody slagging off your sandwiches - they don't sound that bad to me. Everybody like different things. But personally I'd probably be thinking 4 sandwich options rather than two. Does depend on cost obviously.

If you like baking even a tiny bit, it's really easy to do homemade scones. The BBC recipe is foolproof. You can stick a few raisins in half of them if you wish. Clotted cream if you can afford it, whipped cream if not. I'd offer a couple of jams if possible. But if money is tight all the main supermarkets do a budget strawberry jam for about 42p in their value range, which is more like a jelly, but tastes lush on scones. You can decant into bowls to make it fancier.

Have fun! X

I did check to see if I accidentally posted in AIBU 😂

Smile and nod, @Mushroomwithaview , smile and nod…!

Good point @Ilovelurchers
I've got enough teapots. I'm borrowing an extra kettle.

I'll do Yorkshire tea, a chamomile or mint, and maybe an Earl Grey?

You've forgotten the pork pies!!! 😧

And NO cheese and pineapple hedgehog?

Speaking as one who loves to sample afternoon tea, what you’re planning is perfect!

I'd like a sausage roll or a mini quiche - can be veggie if only doing veggie. Or could do puff pastry pinwheels - pesto and cheese maybe - make ahead, freeexe , shove in oven for a few mins.

I think Earl Grey is a good choice - it's pretty popular. If you wanted to push the boat out on the tea front what about a spiced one as well. And maybe Lapsang Souchong - tastes like TCP to me but I think tea enthusiasts tend to lap it up? Tho I may be a little out of date on that......

You need some pretty napkins too

Tea - Darjeeling, Earl grey and bogstandard