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Updated May 03, 2023A Step-by-Step Guide to Hosting an Unforgettable Bridgerton Tea Party Bridal Shower
Your soirée will be the talk of the ton.
If you've gotten your hands on these society papers, you're likely planning a bridal shower for a Bridgerton-obsessed bride-to-be. (Or, perhaps you're the one saying "I do" and you're gathering inspiration to pass along to your bridal shower host.) Regardless of your role, a tea party bridal shower is one of our favorite party themes of all time. Plus, this theme is expected to be one of the biggest bridal shower trends of the year, especially with the arrival of the new Bridgerton prequel series, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
ABridgerton bridal shower is all about the details, from thoughtful event design and flawless decor to careful planning and logistics. To ensure that your soirée is the talk of the ton (in a good way, of course), we've tapped industry experts to share exactly how to plan a Bridgerton-themed bridal shower to remember. Follow our step-by-step guide below to throw a lavish celebration that's Lady Whistledown-approved.
In this article:
- What Is a Tea Party Bridal Shower?
- What to Serve at a Tea Party Bridal Shower
- Where to Have a Tea Party Bridal Shower
- How to Decorate for a Tea Party Bridal Shower
- How to Plan a Bridgerton Tea Party Bridal Shower
What Is a Tea Party Bridal Shower?
A tea party-themed bridal shower is inspired by traditional British afternoon tea, with light fare, baked goods and, of course, plenty of freshly brewed tea. Tea party bridal shower decor is classic with a dash of whimsy, and the color palette usually consists of pastel hues, such as blush, light blue, lilac, pale yellow and soft green. Guests are encouraged to wear semi-formal attire, such as dresses with hems below the knee (does the phrase tea length ring a bell?), sensible heels and hats.
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What to Serve at a Tea Party Bridal Shower
Turn to a classic afternoon tea menu when deciding what to serve at your tea party bridal shower. Traditionally, this includes a sandwich course followed by scones or other small baked goods (such as petit fours or macarons) and an array of jams or spreads. A soup or salad course is an optional appetizer if you're hosting a sit-down meal. Tea party sandwiches, which are usually bite-sized and served chilled, often include savory flavors like egg salad, cucumber and butter, and salmon and cream cheese.
Lastly, you can't host a tea party bridal shower without the tea. Serve a variety of herbal and caffeinated teas so that guests have plenty of options. English breakfast tea, Earl Grey tea, chamomile tea, peppermint tea and green tea are just a few varieties to start with.
Where to Have a Tea Party Bridal Shower
Elegant settings such as hotel banquet rooms and historical estates are wonderful options when deciding where to host your tea party bridal shower. Look for venues with details like chandeliers, ornate wall moldings or other antique fixtures to really emphasize the traditional tea party theme. If you're looking for something more relaxed, consider a flower-filled garden or backyard—both would work for a Bridgerton theme bridal shower. Start by browsing bridal shower venues on The Knot Marketplace to find locations in your area.
How to Decorate for a Tea Party Bridal Shower
No matter the theme, decorations are the key to hosting a bridal shower that wows both the bride and the guests. Tea party bridal shower decorations are romantic and whimsical, with vintage or antique influences. Think: dainty floral-patterned china, lace tablecloths, elegant candelabras, charming bunting banners and lots of fresh flowers. Create an atmosphere inspired by a Bridgerton ball with formal place settings, calligraphy invitations, a decadent dessert table and a playlist of instrumental tunes.
How to Plan a Bridgerton Tea Party Bridal Shower
Planning a bridal shower might seem like a lot of work if you're not sure where to start, but we've got it covered. Here's how to plan a tea party bridal shower inspired by a glamorous Bridgerton society ball.
1. Select a bridal shower venue.
The first, and arguably most important, step of hosting a bridal shower is selecting the location. When it comes to the setting, you can host your event at any place that fits your budget. While you can rent an event space or restaurant party room, you can also invite guests to someone's home for a budget-friendly option.
For a Bridgerton bridal shower, search for spaces that feel elevated and whimsical. "The best venues for a Bridgerton-themed bridal shower are those inspired by London's Regency era, which is characterized by elegance and achievements in art and architecture," says event planner Denise Lillie, founder of Denise Lillie Engagements. "When you envision a Regency theme, you think of vintage, regal and romantic styles coupled with the drama of exquisite backdrops," she adds, noting that scenic countrysides, vineyards and gardens would all make for thematic settings. Even local restaurants like a posh tea room or an upscale bar would make for appropriate locations.
It's possible to transform any space with thoughtful DIY decorations and floral arrangements too. While the venue is an important piece of the puzzle, it's simply a starting point to help carry out your theme. Even your own backyard can feel like theBridgerton set with thoughtful decorations, which we break down below.
For a Bridgerton tea party bridal shower, search for spaces that feel elevated and whimsical. "The best venues for a Bridgerton-themed bridal shower are those inspired by London's regency era, which is characterized by elegance and achievements in art and architecture," says event planner Denise Lillie, founder of Denise Lillie Engagements. "When you envision a regency theme, you think of vintage, regal and romantic styles coupled with the drama of exquisite backdrops," she adds, noting that scenic countrysides, vineyards and gardens would all make for thematic settings. Even local restaurants like a posh tea room or an upscale bar would make for appropriate locations.
It's possible to transform any space with thoughtful DIY decorations and floral arrangements too. While the venue is an important piece of the puzzle, it's simply a starting point to help carry out your theme. Even your own backyard can feel like the Bridgerton set with thoughtful decorations, which we break down below.
2. Choose a color palette.
Once you have a setting, start planning the overall vision for your afternoon tea party. We recommend picking a color scheme early in your planning process to guide subsequent decisions involving invitations, bridal shower decorations, party favors, floral arrangements and centerpieces, and more. A close viewing of Bridgerton will give you plenty of palette inspiration.
"Be conscious of the color stories that are associated with each character," suggests florist Amy Burke, founder of Amy Burke Designs. "The colors that surround Daphne are subtle, cool pastel shades of blue, gray and ivory. The colors that surround the Duke of Hastings are warm, earthy hues of beige, tan, caramel, white and black. Once they start their love affair, they become awash in a mixture of those warm and cool tones, which start to transition into lavender and light blush hues that speak to their warmth for each other."
Light pastels can serve as base shades for your color scheme, but Burke suggests also including pops of brighter colors to add depth. "It's important to incorporate the soft pastels of Daphne and the Duke, as well as the bright yellow, pinks and coral oranges that speak to the rest of the Bridgerton and Featherington clan[s]. Using analogous shades in a color story will translate into a softer, more romantic mood."
3. Establish the bridal shower dress code.
One of the most memorable aspects of Bridgerton was, of course, the fashion. We're already seeing Bridgerton-inspired wedding dresses and accessories rise in popularity, which means there's plenty of inspiration for your bridal shower dress code. When hosting a high society-inspired event, encourage guests to dress for the occasion. (It's what Lady Whisteldown would expect, after all.) "Include the proper dress code on your invitations," suggests Lillie. "Attire for a Bridgerton-themed event falls between business casual and semi-formal. This includes tea-length dresses and dark suits with long ties."
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Creative hosts might consider using custom dress code language to make the tea party bridal shower attire feel even more personalized. Lillie suggests using buzzy keywords like "Garden Tea Chic" or "Bridgerton Tea Time." The more context clues you give guests, the better—this will help them select an outfit that feels posh enough to land a positive review in the society papers.
Lillie also suggests giving guests themed accessories at the event, which can double as yourtea party bridal shower favors. "Consider giving guests tea gloves, hats, fascinators or pearl necklace strands as gifts upon arrival," she says. "Accessories will elevate any look to match the afternoon tea ambiance."
4. Send the bridal shower invitations.
After you've confirmed the important details like the date, time, location, dress code and color scheme, send invites to guests. Bridal shower invitations are a key element of your party theme. This is the first thing guests will see, making it a prime opportunity to set the tone for your party. We'll let you in on a secret: You can buy tea party bridal shower invitations on The Knot, and we make it as easy as possible to find designs that match your event theme. Find our extensive selection of bridal shower invites here, and customize your search with style categories. (For a Bridgerton bridal shower, we recommend browsing invites labeled as "Floral," "Romantic," "Elegant" and "Whimsical.") Use our customization options to make your invites a seamless extension of the theme.
5. Invest in the bridal shower centerpieces and florals.
The next step when planning a tea party bridal shower is styling your event. If your budget allows, consider working with professional vendors, like planners, event designers and florists, to bring your vision to life. (Psst: Head to The Knot Marketplace to find pros in your area.) If you are able to work with pros, do some preliminary brainstorming about the kind of tea party bridal shower decorations you want to include. (For those working on a tight budget, check out our roundup of bridal shower decorations for pieces you can buy at all price points.)
One area to focus on is floral arrangements. "Bridgerton had so many outdoor garden scenes, so it's important to mimic these textures and patterns in floral elements to create a thematic party," Burke explains, noting the importance of blooms for any themed event. "Flowers are one of the biggest design elements that you have to work with when styling a party."
Consider working with a professional florist or a local flower shop to source in-season blooms that fit a regal, high society tea party aesthetic. "In the show, flowering vines like wisteria, flowering hedges like camellia and garden rose bushes are most common," Burke says. In addition to decorating your venue with flowering vines like these, she encourages the use of delicate blooms like butterfly ranunculus, sweet peas and hellebores on tablescapes. She also suggests styling flowers like delphinium, snapdragons, anemones and honeysuckle vines to add drama.
Use flowers to decorate every part of your venue, from the entrance to the table settings and even the cake stand. To stay within your budget, Burke suggests using greenery and leafy plants as a base, then weaving in additional florals as needed. "Using various types of foliages in arrangements is a great way to save on cost," she explains. "Choose plants that have a range of leaf sizes and shapes, as well those that are bright green and contrasting gray."
6. Focus on creating a charming ambience.
Florals aren't the only way to create a memorable ambiance for your party. In addition to fresh flowers, details like tablecloths, teacups and teapots, place cards and serveware are important party decorations that'll carry out your theme. If you're able to hire a florist for your event, Burke suggests relying on their expertise to provide styling guidance. "Themed parties rely on additional props and rental items along with florals to create the mood," she says. "These costs can get expensive, but a great florist should have lots of options in their inventory to use for your even. They may also be able to point you towards a rental company that does have what you're looking for."
One way to up the wow-factor is through additional lighting. "If you are hosting a Bridgerton-themed party, go heavy on the candles," she says. "I suggest using variously-sized taper candles, as well as period-specific candlesticks." A trip to your local thrift store may help you source vintage decorations and accessories for your tea party bridal shower. Create decorative vignettes on tablescapes and throughout the venue to make it feel thoughtfully styled.
7. Plan your tea party-inspired menu.
When you've nailed down the event design, it's time to focus on the menu. Guests will likely get hungry throughout the course of the celebration, and it's important to provide enough offerings. The best bridal shower food ideas depend on the style and time of your event. "You could arrange a full meal or cocktail party for a Bridgerton-themed event, but I suggest a high tea menu," says Cherry Levin, owner of California-based rental company Frances Lane. "The hostess can start with a seasonal fruit course, a small salad or a soup, then transition to tea sandwiches and cakes, as well as specially-brewed tea and cocktails."
For a trueBridgerton-inspired bridal shower brunch menu, offer guests light finger sandwiches, crudités and hors d'oeuvres. Perhaps most important, though, are the sweet offerings. Tea parties are known for elegant pastries, cakes and scones, so consider having a dessert spread with plenty of choices. We suggest serving treats like sugar cookies, macarons, cupcakes or a variety of small cakes for guests to enjoy with a cup of tea or champagne.
8. Organize bridal shower games and activities.
Finally, no bridal shower is complete without a few fun activities. Plan to host a few bridal shower games to give guests something fun to do in between mingling with others and sipping on tea. For a tea party-themed bridal shower, we suggest having a few Bridgerton-specific activities to further amplify the theme. We love the idea of creating your own printable society pages for a game of trivia or bingo—or, leave them blank so guests can write well-wishes and advice for married life Lady Whistledown style.
Keep in mind that a greatBridgerton-themed bridal shower isn't about one showstopping element. Rather, it's more important to focus on a variety of small, personalized details that create one memorable event. "When you're building an overall look, it often boils down more to how the elements complement each other," says Burke. "The key is to make your choices feel purposeful." Adds Lillie: "It's important to make your event personal to whoever you're celebrating. Rewatch a few episodes of the show and highlight the things that resonate with you—you can't go wrong."
