A kitchen tea, or bridal shower, as it is sometimes referred to, is a very exciting day in any bride-to-be’s life and therefore we know as her bridesmaid, friend, sister or mother, you want to make it a special day that she will remember forever.
With over 15 years experience in the food and hospitality industry, the professional staff at Vineyard on the Hill Guest House in Nelspruit has a few expert tips on how to make planning a kitchen tea, quite literally, a piece of cake.
1. Set the Budget – decide on the budget and who will pay for what. It is important to make sure your venue and other vendors understand and respect your budget and are willing to tailor their services/products to your available budget.
2. Pick the Venue Decide on a place to host the Kitchen Tea. Depending on the theme and the time of year, perhaps take the event outdoors for an informal picnic-style lunch event or a lovely al-fresco tea party in the garden. Whatever your preference, make sure to pick a venue that offers clean facilities, privacy and safe parking while professional staff coordinate the event to make sure that you, the future bride and the other guests can relax and enjoy the party.
3. Book Professionals – When you’re booking a venue, keep in mind that you might need to hire your own tables, chairs, cutlery and glasses additionally from the venue or elsewhere. Our advice is to choose a venue that include all the necessary furniture, cutlery, crockery, glasses and table linen you will need.
4. Pick a Theme – Themes are great for tying together an event. Keep the bride and her personality in mind to determine the theme for the shower. Would she love a romantic French soiree, a vintage rock ‘n roll party or a nautical blue-and white seaside theme? You can also turn her favourite hobbies into a theme, like traveling, sports or gardening. The possibilities are endless. Once you have your theme in mind, think creatively about how you will incorporate the theme into the invitations, decorations and catering.
5. Decide on the Menu – Depending on the time of day, the menu can include anything from a tea-time scones and cakes to a delicious light lunch. Plan the menu for the event together with the other hosts, making sure that the guests will enjoy a good meal that suits the theme. Also, think about the beverages you would like to serve – if you are considering champagne or refreshing wine spritsers, remember to provide a non-alcoholic alternative as there may be guests who do not drink alcohol.
6. Decorations – Think about the flowers and decorations and how it will tie in with the theme of the day. A big plus is if your venue can supply the décor and do the set-up before the event.
7. Pick a few Games and Prizes – Games can be a great way to break the ice at any event. Get together with a couple of the other guests and think of a few fun games and prizes for the party.
8. Enjoy the Party – We know that the planning a any kind of event can be stressful, so when the day finally arrives and all the preparations have been done, relax and enjoy the memories you are making with friends, knowing your event is in the capable hands of the coordinators.
9. Clean Up – Part of your planning should be to decide who is responsible for cleaning up after everyone has gone home. Something to look for when hiring a venue is to ask if they provide the service of cleaning up the tables and dishes afterwards so you and the other hosts won’t have to.
Vineyard on the hill is the perfect place to host your kitchen tea in Nelspruit. If you are looking for an all-in-one event destination that will provide a beautiful space for your guests, delicious food and beverages, tasteful decorations to go with the theme of your party and professional, personal service, look no further than Vineyard on the Hill Guest House in Nelspruit.
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Contact us today for a personal quote.