Minnie Mouse Tea Party

My cousin and her two young daughters, ages 5 & 8 years old, were in town visiting from Portland, Oregon. As a way to get the family together, my cousin's daughters requested a Minnie Mouse tea party for them to enjoy. With only a week to prepare, I wanted to create a cherished memory since I don’t get to see my nieces often. Here are a few ways I was able to organize a themed tea party with little time. 

Disney Teapots and mugs used as vases.

My first task was to gather the guest list and plan out the details. I sent out invitations to all family members for a head count of adults and children. Once I had a solid number of guests, I ordered the food. As a teacher, I have limited time to cook and bake for people. I love using my local Stater Bros. Market because they have a tasty selection of sandwiches and pastries that make my tea parties unforgettable:

• Sandwiches - Stater Bros. Market has a tea party tray that is perfect for any event. It includes a variety of savory croissants and sandwiches. The tea party tray also includes delicious chocolate-covered strawberries. 

• Custom Ordered Cupcakes - I also ordered custom cupcakes from the market's bakery. I asked for the cupcakes to be garden themed to match my garden tea set. They exceeded my expectations! 

Deli Sandwiches & Custom Ordered Cupcakes from local Market.

Panera, a chain of bakery-cafes, is also another good place for baked goods:

• Scones & Cookies: Scones and cookies were a delightful addition, especially for family members with a sweet tooth.

Table Setting

My rule of thumb when setting the table, is to use what you have and add on as you go. I knew I wouldn't have much time to go shopping during the week. First, you want to have the basic tableware for a tea party: 

• Dessert Plates, Tea Pots, Tea Cups & Saucers, Utensils and Three-Tier Stands

I combined my Lenox Butterfly Meadows Tea Set with some Minnie Mouse touches throughout the table setting. As an avid Disney collector, I already had some Minnie Mouse mugs, tea cups and teapots. In the photos, you’ll see the Minnie teapots, teacups and saucers purchased at Disneyland. Nowadays, many store brands have collaborations with Disney and sell Disney themed tableware. Keep your eyes open because Disney themed products go fast! 

Once I knew what I had, I came up with a color scheme. I used colorful plastic plates from Target and round paper placemats with a wood design to add a whimsical look to the table setting. The three-tier stands are a staple for any tea party. If you like to have tea parties it's a must-have piece to own. I purchased mine at Crate and Barrel (and they're reasonably priced!)

I love to entertain and have to be careful with my budget. I made sure new tableware pieces like: tea cups & saucers, dessert plates, and teapots can be used with my existing collections for future themed parties.

Floral Centerpieces

Floral centerpieces and greenery add a magical touch to any table setting. Since I didn’t have many Minnie Mouse decorations, I used the Minnie mugs and teapots as flower pots. The flowers and greenery were bought at Trader Joe’s. The bigger bouquets of flowers were used to decorate the teapots. The smaller bouquets of flowers were used to decorate the mugs.

Floral Centerpieces using Minnie mugs and teapots.

Drinks

We had adult beverages, tea, juice, and apple cider as drinks for the tea party. I used champagne flutes to separate the adult alcoholic drinks from other glassware that were filled with juice and cider for the kids.

Tea is the main star of any tea party. I introduced both adults and children to a sweet Vanilla Lavender Tea bought at Burke Williams Spa. It's a delicious and fun way to introduce tea to kids. Let me tell you, everyone loved it. Good thing we had several pots of this tea. It's always enjoyable sitting down to eat and have a cup of tea.

After whipping up a Minnie Mouse Tea party in a few days, my cousin and her daughters were in awe with how wonderful everything looked. As the hostess, I bought two Minnie Mouse plushies as decoration and later gifted to the girls. They were so excited and it warmed my heart to see their happy faces. My cousin thanked me for creating such a magical experience. In her words, “The tea party exceeded my expectations!” and thanked me for creating a beautiful experience that she and her girls will remember. For me, this is what tea parties represent, a way to create cherished memories with the ones we love.