How to Host a Tea Party in 2025
Happy Monday, ladies! Today, I have a special treat I am calling How to Host a Tea Party in 2025.
No, I did not host a tea party, but a new friend and boutique owner, Addie, nailed one yesterday!
I want to share with you why I believe this was such a success and invite you along to experience some of the sights I enjoyed.
It was such a pleasure for me to be invited to this tea party since I am a new resident and I felt very connected to the women I met there.
Allow me to get my outfit outfit out of the way…. I chose to wear:
The Chico’s CUT-OUT OPEN FRONT CARDIGAN over the CUT-OUT SWEATER TANKin the Dried Roses color I love so much for my new spring palette.
And the pieces which received the most notice and compliments were the cut out pants…..the BRIGITTE CUTOUT PULL-ON CROP PANTS...in the dark mineral green.
I have owned my cross necklace for a while, but Dillard’s still sells them.
It is the Southern Living Two Tone Cross Pendant Pearl Long Strand Necklace.
I felt this was perfect for an event held on Palm Sunday.
I will explain to you my cup in a moment…..
HOW TO HOST A TEA PARTY IN 2025: BEGIN WITH A FUN BOUTIQUE
Addie of ADDIE’S BOUTIQUE has hosted the tea party on Palm Sunday for several years.
So, her clientele looks forward to it. I was pleased to be invited, and had no idea what an incredible event the tea party is.
Addie certainly does know how to host a tea party for 2025.
You are looking in this graphic above at some of the models…there were many who changed often and they walked around with samples of the museum artwork…more on that later.
At the tea party, I watched Addie interact with her customers …making suggestions.
It was almost 100 degrees yesterday, and so many of these women were ready for cooler fabrics and lighter styles.
And Addie was ready to meet their needs.
She has been so kind and helpful to me…and I have asked her many questions since moving here.
Addie’s Boutique is a place “where everybody knows your name.” Whenever I go in there it is like a girl party…trying on and discussing clothes with women of all ages.
Her excellent eye for curation of sustainable, unique, fun brands is another thing that made this tea party.
It was the first time many of customers saw these clothes for summer.
She had two wonderful ideas for savings…bring your own tea cup and you received 10% off.
Then there was a bingo-style game where you received checks for the tasks on the card and that will result in savings in our emails next week.
I so appreciated this part, because one of the squares was to meet someone new…and that helped me to reach out to more women and introduce myself.
Another was to try on clothes…and that line was long….plus it motivated more women to walk out with clothes purchased on sight.
Every garment was marked for the color palette it fulfilled which is amazing…boutique owners, you need to do this!
When I said I was a Spring, one woman turned around and said…Oh My, I have never met a Spring! So, I guess I am unique!
Doesn’t this look remind you of Monet?
The fashion was perfect for the venue…which takes me to the next point of how to host a tea party…..
HOW TO HOST A TEA PARTY IN 2025: NEXT ADD THE PERFECT VENUE
The next step in how to host a tea party in 2025 is to have a perfect venue.
Addie selected that with the 1117 Studios & Gallery where independent artists rent studio rooms to show their work.
The marriage of art and fashion could not be more perfect to host a tea party in 2025.
Enjoying the fabulous artwork while models walk among them made for an amazing afternoon.
And the gallery owner? Well you can see here was one of the most fashionable women on the tea party scene.
I really enjoyed spending time with Carmon Carnes and experiencing her artwork.
Her style was so much for this over-60 creative lady.
She found her top in St. Thomas and liked it so much that she came home with two in different color schemes.
For those who might want to know more about Carmon and her beautiful artwork, you can find her on Instagram @carmoncarnes.
HOW TO HOST A TEA PARTY IN 2025: FINALLY ADD A GUEST LIST OF FABULOUS WOMEN
The woman of Abilene brought their style!
I had so much fun watching the women and they inspired me. I wish I had all of the outfits the guests wore pictured here.
And many were quick to tell me that their looks came from Addie’s Boutique.
It would have been fun to guess their personal style adjectives!
You can tell this is a group who love fashion and love to stand out and make a statement with what they wear.
What a great afternoon this was with art and fashion…and, yes, incredible food.
Served with choices of tea!
I want to congratulate Addie on her tea party…she certainly knows how to do it right.
If you have any comments or questions on how to host a tea party in 2025, then let me know.
I hope you enjoyed going to this one with me!
See you tomorrow…until then…
KEEP SMILING!!
By Pamela Lutrell
Whether shopping new arrivals or clearance sales, please shop with the links on my SHOPPING PAGE…thank you, thank you to all who shop this way in order to support the blog.
What a fun, creative spring event! I love the bingo card idea to get everyone circulating and interacting – such a good icebreaker. I couldn’t help noticing the large butterfly painting in the collection of art photos, now that you’ve got us thinking about them. Your outfit was party perfect, and you are glowing in the new spring pieces you’re wearing. I saw those in person yesterday when I went to Chico’s to pick up an online order, and was hoping you had brought them home since the color suits your new palette so well. I know it will be a busy week for you and many readers as we prepare to celebrate Easter and the observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. I offered to host my family’s Easter celebration since my new yard lends itself well to egg hunting, so there’s a lot of preparation to be done this week. I’m hoping you might have time to share some of what you’re planning to serve for Easter. You always make your family gatherings so special, from the tablescapes to the menu, and I always get great ideas from those posts.
I am so happy to see you really enjoying your new home and meeting new people. This tea party sounds like such fun, a great meet and mingle and clever store promotion. Thanks for sharing it.
I love to host egg hunts! I wish all of our grands were here to do that with. I am missing the ones in San Antonio so much…hope to see them soon. Have fun with your new home events.
You are so welcome, Irene. It is a stroke of genius for a boutique owner to do something like this. She was the ultimate hostess.
What a creative and fun event for those customers of Addie’s business. And to label which season items fall in would be a welcomed addition to encourage those of us who think in terms of “ our “ season to purchase. Tea parties used to be such delightful events among some aspects of society so this event would be anticipated all year by her customers. Your outfit is so colorful and approachable which I know is one of your adjectives. I’d sure you met many lovely ladies and had such a delightful time. Thank you for including us !
So happy to take you along, Celia. It was a special time…especially for me being new here. Thanks so much
Well, I started smiling when I saw the opening picture, and haven’t stopped! What a marvelous idea. I can see joy and fun we’re overflowing at this event. Thank you for taking us along!
I love to take this audience special places!
What a fun idea! Addie could give some of my favorite retailers a lesson in merchandising and customer service; she certainly is a professional! I love the Chico’s cut out set but it is not available in either of the 2 closest stores near me; I refuse to order from them. Thanks Pam for sharing!
Why do you refuse to order from them, Linda…just curious. The Rewards program does give free shipping…are you a member of that?
What a nice way to spend the afternoon. Thank you for taking us along. It looks like Abilene has some great small businesses. What a fun boutique!
Addie’s Boutique is lovely. I enjoy visiting there and this event was a great way to spend an afternoon. Thanks Paula!
My past experiences with ordering from Chicos have not gone well, Pam. I have been a rewards member for many, many years and I know about free shipping. My hesitation to order also has to do with sizing since I can go up or down a size with them. Often returning to the store is not pleasant whereas Talbots does not make one feel somehow wrong in returning, Chicos salesgirls are just the opposite, at least in this store I now go to. This is my opinion; I know different stores have varying sales help and a better vibe. At my age, I go where it is a satisfying experience and not a chore (and where the sales help smile and actually give one some help!). How lucky are you to have Addie!!
I am so sorry it has been a bad experience for you. I have shopped Chico’s for 30 years and never experienced shipping issues or in-store problems. They have been nothing but lovely to me in-store. I wish it was the same for you…and yes, Addie has been a blessing to me in more ways than one. Thanks for letting me know…I will pass your comment along.
Looks like fun for all of you at the tea party! The House of Colors tag with the season is a brilliant idea! It would be time consuming for the analysts to label a store full of items. Perhaps Addie or one of her associates has that training? It is definitely worth the cost to her for that labeling on clothes. I saw that periwinkle blue top labeled summer and yes I can wear that and if there, I would have purchased it.
What a fun event! Addie sounds like the consummate shop owner, & I love that she indicates the “season” on her clothing.
She ships online, Sydney! Let me know if you are interested.
She really is, Becky!
I so enjoy attending a tea. Our church has a huge tea early December, the tables are decorated by individual ladies so beautiful, the food is so special and different each year, and oh yes, the men serve!
Also my daughters and granddaughters have on occasion gone to a boutique and have had the very best tea with each course a new delight.
The tea you attended would have been a treasured choice. Thanks for letting us be a part of your day
And thanks for sharing your tea parties! I would love one where the guys served! How fun!
Sweet Pamela, thank you so, so much for coming to the party! What a joy it was to see your smiling face at the door yesterday. You looked so beautiful.
Thank you for featuring our party on your blog!! My goodness, but you humble me. Thank you for participating so fully, for taking such lovely pictures, and for being willing to be part of our little shop fam!
What a treasure you are to me. I am so glad you wandered into the shop, so that we can be friends!
Thank you, Addie! You are so smart and talented! Thank you for this wonderful event and very kind words.
Fabulous Pamela, what a delight and pleasure to meet you and share two lovely events last week. Thank you for your awesome style and energy. We love your over50feeling40.com and the supportive community you have created here. Thank you for supporting the Abilene arts and our fantastic 1117 Gallery and studio artists. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Happy spring 2025 🫡
I am so excited to see you here! Loved your artwork and your style, Carmon. I do hope to see you again, soon!