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?

Tea cosy or some way of making sure the tea is HOT

It sounds lovely

Glasses for the cold drinks?
Sounds lovely, I love an afternoon tea 😍

I really want afternoon tea now. Here's the last one I did, far too long ago.
including the perfect tea sandwiches 😂

Why the drama? I’m sure they’ll be civilised, but you seem to have asked for opinions only to be snarky when you get responses.

This plus small posies in jars

I'm loving the idea of cheese. Do have any spare spaces?

Thinking about how afternoon tea is usually sandwiches & savoury bites on the bottom, scones in the middle, then little fancy cakes & mousses. Could you add some figs and nuts to the cheese plate to give different textures?

@PointyMcguire "Do all the other guests have the same dietary preferences? If not I think they might be disappointed with no meat/fish options."
Presumably not if they're coming to a vegetarian's party!
Definitely scones.
Cucumber sandwiches?
Mini quiches?
I'm assuming that patisserie covers sweet stuff, so I might make sure there are enough savory things.

personally cant have an afternoon tea without Egg and cress or egg mayo sandwiches OR really posh... smoked salmon and cream cheese Haha Ugh now i want sandwiches

Sounds great. You will need to provide knives if people are spreading their own scones but you could present them ready prepared. You will need enough champagne glasses plus water and soft drink glasses.

Haven't RTFT but you forgot the tea! Preferably caffeine free and fruit or herbal teas too.

Forget the balloons.
Perhaps put a floral wreath on the front door.
Have somewhere for people to put their coats rather than hanging on the back of their chair.
Maybe some little takeaway boxes for people to take their leftovers home in, or a slice of birthday cake? Preferable to putting it in a paper napkin!
Make sure your bathroom or cloakroom has lovely soap and guest hand towels, as people will want to wash their hands after having eaten finger food.
Are the chairs nice and comfy? If people are going to be sitting at a table for an hour or two, maybe have some cushions they can grab.

I must admit given the choice of tomato sandwiches or the smoked salmon and cream cheese I'd far prefer the latter. Also scones with clotted Devon cream and premium strawberry jam an excellent idea. Cut the crust off the sandwiches too.

More types of sandwiches
Crackers for the cheese
Crudites and fruits

That looks great!

Very important that the scones are warm, cold scones are dry and horrible. Mary Berry's scone recipe never fails for me, get them coming out the oven just as the guests are due to arrive. Clotted cream or well whipped double cream and Bonne Maman conserves or supermarket equivalent.

This recipe for scones is really simple and turns out perfect ones every time. Make a batch with sultanas and one plain batch - they freeze really well so you can make ahead of time. I often do a bowl of strawberries as well with a cream tea - nice to have something lighter to offset all the carbs and sugar (although not the case of you want to dip them in cream 🤣).

I must admit given the choice of tomato sandwiches or the smoked salmon and cream cheese I'd far prefer the latter. Also scones with clotted Devon cream and premium strawberry jam an excellent idea. Cut the crust off the sandwiches too.

To be fair, the OP did say that the guest of honour and suggested tomato sandwiches so OP is a bit hamstrung here.

I think by providing scones and a few alternatives it will be OK and people will have enough to eat. Especially as there going to be cheese.

Scones will be made last minute. Very interested in the freezable recipe @stringbean , but too nervous to try it for the first time at the party.
It's been interesting to learn how strongly people feel about afternoon tea sandwiches. I would have thought that the scones, cakes, pastries etc were the main attraction?

@StiffyByngsDogBartholomew that looks glorious!!

Sounds lovely what a beautiful idea. I'm sure it will be wonderful ❤️

I really look forward to the sandwiches! I think a choice of four or five fillings is ample. They must be made with thin bread and daintily cut into triangles or rectangles. I think you have gone to great trouble to please everyone , and it will be a resounding success!

Do make sure none of the guests have dietary requirements. I couldn’t eat anything on your menu because I can’t eat gluten!

You and me both @TarnishedMoonstone ! Luckily I'm the only one, and I'll be busy hosting, not eating.

Sugar cubes and sugar cube tongs.

To be honest, I've always cheated in the past and bought a platter of sandwiches or wraps from Sainsbury's or Waitrose. And then made my own scones/cake. No-one will know!

if you're getting figs, then figs and marscapone could be a nice gluten free desert?