Any experience of 'vintage tea party'?

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

Am thinking of doing a 'vintage tea party', celebration for DDs 1st birthday and celebrating our return to UK from a stint abroad. All family and closest friends (incl their DCs) would be invited.

I'm thinking of hiring vintage cups/saucers/teapots/milk jugs etc and serving sarnies cut into triangles and plenty of cakes (think I might just buy all M&S), plus of course tea, traditional lemonade and champagne.

Don't really want to go to the expense of a marquee and seating but thought pretty picnic blankets and big cushions would do for most people plus a table and chairs for the oldies.

Want to do an afternoon thing and of course in summer (I know - a bit early but I have a lot of time to think about these things whilst on mat leave!)

Does this sound cute or crap? DH not convinced and now put doubt in my mind.

I haven't but my dd (6) went to aMad Hatter's tea party recently. There were a lot of china cups, saucers and plates, all mismatched and lets of teapots and milk jugs so they could do their own pouring.

It was a very pretty outside in the garden party.

A thought might be to go to an auction to pick up some tea sets.

Sounds gorgous.

My friends and I often do an afternoon tea on a slightly smaller scale. Cakes, scones, sandwiches, pots of tea, picnic blankets, children, lemonade, nice china... it's a lovely way to get together.

Some olde music (I did somehting similar, and got a Charleston album from iTunes to play, which was fun).

It's a 'girly' idea - whuch is why your dh maybe doesn't get it. Girls will think 'vintage' boys will think 'granny' iyswim.

Sounds lovely. Ask your local charity shops to save crockery

Thanks everyone, great ideas x