Hen Party Ideas: Vintage Afternoon Teas

When we discovered Vintage Afternoon Teas, we knew we had to feature this lovely company on our blog. Run by Gwyneth from her home in  Cheshire, Vintage Afternoon Tea Parties started out just offering traditional Afternoon Tea Parties.  Working with her partner, Jo Johnston of French Knots Craft Studio, Gwyneth now also offers Crafternoon Tea Parties including tea and sewing. Today they even offer  “Vintage Experience Days” as a bespoke package.

Over to Gwyneth as she explains what makes her Crafternoon Tea Parties so special and why she is so busy, she is turning hen parties away!

Gwyneth: They are good fun, and I’m not just saying that because we’re doing them (!), we’ve had older ladies and young bridesmaids all joining in and what works well is having plenty of time to chat and get to know each other – often those attending don’t know each other, some are school friends, some are family, some are work friends, some are Uni friends.  It is so nice for them to get to know one another before the wedding day. The dancing is a good ice breaker and a way of working up an appetite for tea, the afternoon tea and sewing are a lovely opportunity to chat away as there are no external distractions. And the sewing involves making something as a momento or sometimes something for the wedding. We’ve had guests all make a bunting flag which then sewn together has been used at the wedding (all planned to tie in with the colour scheme), others have sewn lace garters and then worn them on their evening out later on and at the wedding.  Our parties also suit drinkers and non drinkers alike.

My biggest advice to organisers is to agree a budget with everyone attending up front and get the money up front, that way if anyone drops out you don’t end up footing the bill. And be sensitive to people’s likes and dislikes, some people will enjoy a makeover, others won’t. Everyone can hand sew based on my experience, even those who haven’t picked up a needle and thread since school!

The Vintage Experience Hen Party 

Here are the different options that hen party planners have with Vintage Afternoon Teas.

Options and Ideas 

• Afternoon Tea served on vintage china and table linens, with finger sandwiches, lashings of tea (or fresh coffee), scones with clotted cream and preserves and a selection of tea time cakes and fancies.
• Sewing Time: making hair clips/fascinators, lace-trimmed garters, fabric brooches, crocheted button necklaces or your very own wedding bunting with the help of Jo Johnston (of French Knots Craft Studio) and her wonderful selection of vintage fabrics and trimmings. Suitable for beginners or more experienced sewers.
• Vintage Hair and Make-up: choose from a full makeover or just lips/eyes and quiff/roll/waves
• Jive or Charleston demonstration and dance class with with our partner dance teacher Velody
• “How To Be The Perfect Housewife”: a tongue-in-cheek household management lesson with former National Trust housekeeper and afternoon tea expert Jane Ellis
• Cupcake Decorating Lesson: learn three ways to pipe frosting and make pretty flower decorations for your cupcakes, take your own six cupcakes home in a box
• Photographer for an hour to take pictures of the party. We can’t provide alcohol but we’re happy to chill and serve your own fizz in teacups or vintage babycham glasses.

Timings

• A Crafternoon Tea Party with sewing followed by afternoon tea takes around two and a half hours.
• A Dance Demonstration and Class takes two hours.
• Hair and Make-up can take anything from fifteen minutes per person, with one make-up artist and one hair stylist taking two at a time.

Venues
Gwyneth’s home in Bowdon, Cheshire can accommodate up to twelve for sewing and afternoon tea activities. There is space available for vintage makeovers in an adjoining room. Alternatively (and definitely for dancing), to ensure plenty of space for tea, sewing and anything else, we’d propose booking one of a number of charming Cheshire Village Halls we use, with room for activities/dancing and makeovers and a separate “parlour” for tea and sewing. We normally decorate with signs, bunting and jugs/jars of flowers. Other decorations and/or prop hire can be arranged.

Hosts

Each hen party is hosted from start to finish by Gwyneth or one of her hosting team, all experienced tea-party hosts and event planners. Sewing is arranged by Jo Johnston’s team from French Knots Craft Studio. Other activity-providers are all trusted partners of Vintage Afternoon Teas. We’ll make the room look nice, make everyone feel welcome and at home, serve all drinks and the tea, generally make things run smoothly, take photographs if required and clear away afterwards.

Prices

Costs range from approximately £30 per head upwards, depending upon the size of the group, activities, venue etc. We’re always happy to provide a quote.

Want to hear what their customers think? Here’s what Sally said in February 2013 about Vintage Afternoon Teas “..what a wonderful time we all had at the weekend. The girls loved the garter making, even the ones who are not natural sewers! They all complimented your natural teaching style and patience with us novices. The garters went down a storm later on in the night and ensured that we stood out from the crowd as a hen party. Everyone stuffed themselves silly on Gwyneth’s delicious cakes. Thank you for a wonderful day.”