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, I like the idea of savory pastry @Duchessofmuchness . Will add quiche and pinwheels. Thank you for the suggestion.

When I was about 15 I went through a phase of pretending to like Lapsang Souchong tea. Sooooo sophisticated 😆

I just feel I have to comment here that it is absolutely possible for things to be both "fancy" and "cut price". Which is a glorious fact, given so many of us are short of money these days. But with thought, creativity and careful shopping, it is possible to do a pretty fancy afternoon tea on a fairly tight budget ....

Not suggesting that OP needs to - no idea if money is tight for her or not - but I think when lots of us are struggling it's important to remember that things don't have to cost the earth to be worth enjoying!

@Muffinbutton white linen napkins from Cyprus - they match the tablecloth. Family heirloom. Must remember to iron.

Russian Caravan tea is far more accessible the lap-sang

Important point @Ilovelurchers

If you really wanted to go posh, some of the sandwiches could be on mini brioche buns (okay, maybe it isn't that posh, but if it's good enough for Cunard afternoon tea...)

That will be lovely.

I don't really understand why you'd come on here and ask for anything you've forgotten for a lovely afternoon tea...then when people say you've forgotten to provide decent sandwiches you say "tough shit, that's what we're having"

I think bunting from corner to corner so it hangs over the table always adds a very festive touch!

Sounds lovely Op. you are putting a lot of thought into it. The recipient is very lucky .

Matches for the candles.

That’s really made me want a tomato sandwich! Love ‘em especially with black pepper & salad cream.

The menu has perked up now you've added scones and improved the sandwich range.
l'd add mini sausage rolls (vegetarian) and some quiche made in tartlet tins, perhaps mushroom or asparagus, also some cheese straws.
I'd also do shot glasses of chilled soup, eg gaspacho or pea & mint.
And I'd add small glasses of strawberries or raspberries with cream.

Perhaps change that cranberry drink to Pimms?

Loose leaf tea and strainers
Cute milk jugs
Agree add scones, clotted cream, jam
Also agree an extra sandwich, maybe cheese and pickle as well as egg mayo
Dust the scones with icing sugar once on the cake stand
Little vases with flower posies
Figs and grapes to decorate cheese board

replace “fancy” with cut price

Unessecarily mean. How about hummus and roast pepper on ciabatta bread cut into little square. For bread variety.

Tbh though, if there is tea, scones and clotted cream I am happy so I'm not best to judge!

Nothing wrong with tomato sandwiches. I worked in a very expensive hotel as a pastry chef and we did tomato as one of the sandwiches (7 varieties of ribbon sandwiches - egg & cress, ham, cheese, roast chicken, smoked salmon, cucumber and tomato). But don't make them too early or the bread will go damp 😀

personally I'm not a fan of fiddled about with tea sandwiches. I always serve the above ribbon sandwiches made with thin bread if I do tea.

Thank you everyone!
Some great suggestions.
Pimms isn't a bad idea! I love a pimms!
And yes, figs!!

The guests are all coming in the spirit of celebrating someone we all love, so tbh they won't be harsh critics!!

I've got to admit, I'd be very disappointed at the lack of smoked salmon sandwiches and beef & horseradish sandwiches. The tomato and the cucumber sandwiches sound good in addition.

Scones (plain and fruit) with jam and clotted cream are a must alongside a selection of bite-sized cakes.

Cheeseboard is unconventional, but I thoroughly applaud it! May I suggest St Felicien as a lovely creamy French cheese:)

I'd ditch balloons as environmental nightmare and a bit tacky. Fresh flowers all the way.

Tea, coffee, bubbles fabulous!

Loving the sound of freshly ironed linen.

Have a lovely time.

I’m assuming the birthday girl is a vegetarian, so the guests are probably prepared for there to be no meat or fish.

Unless everyone is driving I would buy more champagne than you think you’ll need!

I'm pretty sure even the most committed meat eater can manage to get through a meat-free afternoon tea

Also I'd consider a savoury choice of cheese scones with cream cheese and chilli jelly or onion confit

I consider those a lot 😂

Sandwiches are usually good quality ham and mustard, smoked salmon with cream cheese, both on brown bread. Egg mayo, cheese and Branston pickle on white bread, all cut into fingers with no crusts. Scones with clotted cream and a good strawberry preserve are a must. Tiny squares of fancy cakes plus macarons. Drinks are whatever you want.

Used to love tomato sandwiches as a child always had them for picnics with salt and pepper fancy one now. However home grown tomatoes are the best so quite a wait.

Sounds lush. If you can get it, may I suggest Lady Grey instead of Earl? I find it fresher.