Gail Said:

Where did the tradition of doing a kitchen tea party before the wedding come from?

We Answered:

I am in the U.S. and have never heard of it, but I see references to it on South Africa and Zimbabwe sites...does that help?

Tara Said:

I have to plan my best friends 'Kitchen Tea' party got any ideas on what do do?

We Answered:

Depending how many girls are going to be at the Kitchen tea/bridal shower. Have you thought of a pamper evening.

Aromatherapy, have Aromatherapist/consultant come in, she could do a foot and hand spa demo.

Or a Skin care specialist such as Mary Kay.
The consultant making a great fuss over the bride, and everyone is treated to a relaxing pampering evening.


Or for Home-wares
Tupperware party/demo
Linen party/demo

How does this work?
Ask each guest to give money rather than a gift, (money placed into an envelope). Add all the money up and when the party/demo sales are added, present the bride with the money, and she buys what she needs for her new home, and she also gains the bonuses made.

I was given a Tupperware kitchen tea before I married,and it was fantastic, as I was able to purchase a heap of things we needed and in the style and colour I wanted.

I have also included some links.

Good luck and have fun!

Agnes Said:

Sisters Kitchen Tea Party....?

We Answered:

Suzie,

How many people are you expecting to invite? What is your sisters color palate for the wedding? I would go with those colors for napkins and table covers. Are you going to have individual tables, or a buffet? If a buffet, Have a seperate table for the cake and cookies.

For food I would serve finger tea sandwiches, elegant cookies, and of course tea. Make a tray of assorted regular and decaf flavored teas, and borrow a coffee urn and have it filled with hot water. Go around to the local thrift shops and second hand stores and look for tea cups and saucers. They have beautiful pieces and you can pick them up for a song. You can go on line to English tea store, they have teapots in a variety of colors for as little as $3.95, as well as wholesale pricing on teas and accessories (these items can be given as gifts to the guests)

For a centerpiece I would do something whimsical like pastel colored daises, and maybe do them in silk, in a teapot or clay flower pot. For the wishing well, I would have each guest bring either a spice, a recipe card and a box to put them in, or a kitchen gadget, ie potato peeler, dish cloths, dish detergent scrubbies, sponges, you catch the drift.

Decorations---how about wooden spoons and forks, spatulas, oven mitts, pot holders etc, put each item together and tie therm with either some curly ribbon, or some raffia around them and hang them around the room.

As for invites, make the invitations into a kitchen shape, like a blender, or a stove, or a cabinet, and put the info on the inside. You could also use a recipe card. Make the front look like a regular recipe card and on the back, Put the invitation information make it look like a recipe.

Games---get one or two little door prizes and wrap them up. you ask a series of guestions (4 or 5) whoever answers the last question get the prize.

Cake----I don't know what kind of a budget you are working with, but you may want to check Cake Alchemy. Laurie has been on weTV and she can pretty much do anything you want. The cakes are a little pricey, but are well worth it. Everything is done by hand and made from scratch.

Since the bridal party usually goes in on a group gift, why not make a basket with a bone china tea set, some teas, and accessories.

Hope this helps. Use your imaginationn and have fun!

Marcus Said:

I am hosting a kitchen tea for my best friend, the bride-to-be, and could use some help on some fun things?

We Answered:

i remember when i went to a kitchen tea there was this one game when the bridesmaids had to dress up the brides dress in toilet paper and whoever could dress up the best was the winner.

Andrea Said:

kitchen tea/bridal shower during time of engagement party???

We Answered:

You don't throw showers for yourself. You might consider an open house to invite people to see your new home. However, you can't tell them to bring a specific type of gifts or that's asking for gifts as well.

However, if anyone asks if you need anything for your new home you can certainly tell them you are trying to buy things for the kitchen. Chances are great they will get the hint and want to give you a kitchen gift.

Tracey Said:

How to get order at the dinner table? It's like a chimp's tea party in my kitchen!

We Answered:

Our dinner time is a riot and I love it. There are 5 of us and we laugh all through dinner. (and yes sometimes our humor is off-color and inappropriate) My kids are 11-17 and I have to remind them not to act like this at restaurants or other people's homes, but they know that. As long as they aren't being disrespectful and destructive, have some fun.

Ethel Said:

Help what's the difference between HEN'S NITE and A KITCHEN TEA?

We Answered:

generally a bride has both a bachelorette party (called hen's nite in the UK I guess) and a bridal shower. both are for girls and women only. no children. the shower can be held at tea time, it's usually earlier in the day like lunch or early afternoon so light food is served. and that's usually done about 1 mo before the wedding. people bring gifts because the point is to buy the bride stuff she needs for her new household. now the bachelorette party is quite different, usually a late nighttime affair full of debauchery, maybe hire a stripper, and only the guests around the bride's age will attend. usually her girlfriends from work or school, and same age relatives. no grandma's or aunts or moms. in the US sometimes they make the bride wear a cheap fake veil so when she goes into the bars everyone knows it's her bachelorette and maybe she gets free drinks! that's usually done 1 or 2 weeks before the wedding. oh yeah and you can't invite anyone to either event who isn't invited also to the wedding.