The Emily Carr-themed afternoon tea currently available at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
This summer’s most viral entertaining trend is a throwback to an old tradition: tea parties.
These English-style gatherings, complete with requisite finger sandwiches and pots of clotted cream, have been a popular way to entertain since the 19th century. Now, owing to pop culture and social media, they’re making a comeback.
According to Pinterest’s 2024 summer trend report, searches for ‘high tea food ideas’ are up 177 per cent year over year on the platform and people looking for inspiration by searching “afternoon tea party ideas” increased by 165 per cent.
In particular, searches for ‘Bridgerton tea party’ are up 430 per cent on the platform, indicating that the latest season of the well-loved, Netflix series set vaguely in the Regency era might be driving the entertainment trend.
There’s a lot to love about a tea party. Amanda Gamble, the executive director of the Friends of Fort George, a Niagara-on-the-Lake-based organization that plays host to Jane Austen-themed tea parties, says that tea parties are so popular because they’re social, feature shareable foods, are aesthetically pleasing, provide opportunities to dress up and can transport guests to a different time.
Darcy Hagan, director of weddings and luxury events at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – responsible for organizing the hotel’s themed afternoon teas – says that the Bridgerton effect is real.
“Bridgerton and other shows like that are bringing people back to the era when tea parties were very popular,” she explains. “People are looking for unique opportunities as well, which is why we put a little spin on our afternoon tea and have different themes so people can experience it multiple times.”
Right now, for example, the Fairmont is putting on an Emily Carr-themed afternoon tea, inspired by the painter’s works and the landscapes she loved. Think: B.C. Forest Mushroom tarts and Huckleberry cheesecake.
Here, Hagan and Gamble share their tips for hosting a successful tea party.
Look for references: Gamble always starts planning for a Jane Austen tea party by returning to the source material. “There are so many movies out there to give you a visual concept,” she says. She also does research into dining customs from that period and emulates them in her own parties. The food at the Jane Austen tea parties is served buffet-style, and Gamble says that big dinners from Austen’s time would’ve had very symmetrical place settings, which they try to recreate. “It looks really nice and period accurate.”
Engage all the senses: The best way to create an immersive experience and transport guests is to use all five senses. “When the guests arrive, what are they going to see first? What are they going to hear? What about smell?” Hagan says, recalling her own tea party checklist. She ensures that there’s on-theme background music playing, an eye-catching set-up and she plays with scent by lighting candles that evoke the theme or location she’s trying to emulate. For the Emily Carr tea party, Hagan says that the aesthetic leans heavily on west coast naturescapes, so she has a woodsy candle burning to immerse guests in that place.
Get creative with the menu: Tea parties have traditional dishes that are always served – finger sandwiches, scones and other pastries are expected fare. But using that menu as a jumping off point and remixing the traditional dishes will ensure that your party is memorable. In the case of the Jane Austen tea party, Gamble says that they use recipes from that period. “It gives the event a historic flair,” she says.
Even if you’re not serving Regency-era recipes, you can still add a twist to the classics. Hagan says that the chefs at the Fairmont riff on the finger sandwich recipes to elevate them. “A layer of cream cheese with thinly sliced cucumbers on top of the sandwich, instead of just inside, adds a fun pop of colour,” she says.
Presentation goes a long way: What distinguishes a good party from a great party is how everything is presented. Place settings with names and printed menus, for example, are “little touches that help tie everything together,” says Hagan. Plus, these details are easy to sort out: Hagan says that she finds templates online for her menu printouts.
Serving sandwiches and pastries on a tiered tea stand will also maximize the visual impact of the food. You can find tea stands in thrift stores or online. If you can’t find one, Hagan says they’re easy to make at home: you just need a riser that you can put plates on. “Having all the food on different levels elevates the whole experience, and it’s an inexpensive way to improve the presentation,” she says. You can also dress up the tea stand with flourishes like edible flowers.
Using unique dishware also elevates the experience. Gamble uses Blue Willow China teacups, which were popular during Austen’s time, for her tea parties. It’s both a practical choice, as well as a visual detail that adds to the event’s immersion.