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Make a Great First Impression

You'll want to send out your invitations at least 3 weeks before the tea party if possible and two weeks out at the very latest. As you know, family schedules fill quickly these days and you want to ensure your event gets top billing on guests’ calendars.

No matter what type of invitations you choose for your tea party, they should inform your guests of the basics: Who, what, when, where, how long and theme.

Below you’ll find various avenues you can take when deciding on the type of invitation to use.  From email to hand made invitations, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs and your budget.

Online Invitations

Another fun way to invite your guests is through e-invitations. 

Visit places like  hallmark.com or evite.com for more details on sending invitations via the Internet. 

Although these would be the least expensive of all, be cautious about using these exclusively to invite your guests. Not everyone opens emails like these and many email programs will automatically filter them resulting in missed invitations. 

Plus, since you’re having a proper tea party, the “proper” thing to do would be to mail or hand-deliver the invitations instead.

Printed Tea Party Invitations

Basic Invitations

This is the easiest, most inexpensive invitation. Just print your wording onto a pretty colored or decorated piece of paper. If there is only plain paper available, simply add some tea-time clipart or have your child draw a teapot on the invitation.

Sample text: 

Princess Tea Invitation

Cut a crown shape out of pink, gold or silver paper or cardstock. 

If you want the card to open, fold the paper in half before cutting, and leave a "spine" at the top or the side.  Don't feel like doing all that cutting? Just trace the crown design onto a half sheet of paper or cardstock, fold it in half crosswise, and you have a card! 

Decorate the crown with stickers, rubber stamps, glitter, or small glue-on rhinestones. Write or print something like "You're Invited" or "A Princess Tea" on the front if you wish.  Here’s some sample text you can use and modify to fit your specific party.  

Go one step further and print your invitations on linen stationary paper using a scroll font, such as Monotype Corsiva or Calligrapher, to make them even fancier.  Roll the invitations into a scroll and tie with colorful ribbon for hand delivering.  

You can also find some adorable, reasonably priced princess invitations at most craft stores and card shops.  

Formal Invitation

(Great for English & Victorian Tea Parties)

Pick an elegant, scrolling font on your computer, and print the invitations on a half sheet of vellum paper. Cut cardstock 1/4 inch larger than the vellum piece (the cardstock can be any color – white and ivory are always sophisticated). Remember that the color of your cardstock will show through the vellum. 

Place the vellum layer over the cardstock piece, and punch 2 holes, about 1 inch apart, through both thicknesses at the top. Choose a matching or corresponding ribbon, cut into 6-inch lengths, and poke the 2 ends up through the holes. Tie a bow.

Sample text: