*sighs in a British accent and fails*
But the ending of one of the best British sources of sass and drama doesn't mean the ending of our enjoyment of aristocratic entertainment. Rather, I have an idea for us.
Let's have a tea party. An official, pinkies up affair that will leave us all feeling a bit more like the Crawleys.
What do you say? Do you want to learn how to have the best Downton Abbey inspired afternoon of your life? Below, the Dowager Countess and I will instruct you on the proper way to have a post-Downton Abbey Depression Tea Party.
Step One: Planning
As y'all know, I love to plan things, and the same goes for a tea party. You don't have to think ages in advance, but pick out an afternoon, make sure you have the necessary supplies, and invite your fellow anglophiles! Try shopping at the local thrift and vintage stores to find some decor and tableware for your afternoon tea. If you want to make this official, hand out invitations a week or two in advance. (I made a couple of invitation templates, but I can't figure out how to post them. Please email me at hannahgirl06@gmailcom if you want them!)
You mustn't make it look like you planned it all, though. The Dowager Countess wouldn't approve.
Step Two- Baking and Cooking
Here's where we role play our favorite servants. Food makes or breaks a party, and so the treats must take priority. I've got you covered, though! Here is a great resource for tea party fun, The Vintage Tea Party. In it you will find a host of ideas on tea, desserts, finger foods, and even beauty tips.
A couple of online recipes that I love for tea parties are The Pioneer Woman's Scone Recipe and Cookies and Cups's Tea Cake Recipe (pictured above). Both of these are simply, scrumptious, and delightful!
And one can pretend to be healthy as well. Strawberries add that nice pop of color! (Tip: cut them up half an hour beforehand, sprinkle some sugar over them, and wait for deliciously sweet juices to emerge!)
Step Three- Set the Table
I don't know why, but I really love setting the table. Something about the possibilities makes me excited and kid-like!
When it comes to setting your table, just have fun. Use what you have, be it wildflowers or your great-grandmother's china. 
You could also do what we've done in the past, where each person acts like a specific British character. Which is basically an excuse for me to live like sassy Elizabeth Bennet for an hour.
And we can't forget about dressing up. That's the most important part.
Step Five- Quote the Dowager Countess as Much as Humanly Possible
In case you forgot some of her best lines, I have a few stored up for you:
Or, when in doubt, just pull one of the Dowager Countess' looks. If you dare. 
And this concludes the Dowager and I's tutorial on how to have a tea party. I hope that you follow in the steps of Downton Abbey (even if you don't watch it) and throw yourself a tea party in the near future! Tell me how it goes. Also, comment below your favorite moments of Downton Abbey. What did you think of the series finale? Are you going to miss it tonight as much as me?
Have a splendid week!
Princess Hannah
Ahhhhh.....yes....this is perfect! I never kept up with Downton as I don't have cable at home and only got through the third season so I have decided to start watching it again because it is just to good!
ReplyDelete-Madison
www.minniemuseblog.com
You must finish it out! I know it can be hard without cable and such, but it is well worth it!
DeleteOoooh, I love this! How fun!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is fun, isn't it? One can never have too many Dowager Countess quotes!
DeleteYes!
DeleteI don't know if you saw, but I nominated you for the Liebster Award here: http://completelyforhim.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-liebster-award_12.html
It is a fun tag to do if you want!
Ohhh, so fun!!! I love all the ideas and photos. I've been wanting to have a brunch/tea party soon, and I feel so inspired:)
ReplyDelete-Elissa
(p.s. I nominated you for a tag over at my blog:)
YOU SHOULD!!!! Tell me how it goes! And please email me if you want to see the invites I made. They're nothing to fancy, but I just couldn't figure out how to link them...
DeleteAnd I can't wait to check it out!
If you do, Elissa, I'm tempted to invite myself because I'd love to get to know you better.;)
DeleteThis is such a fun idea!! I've actually never watched Downton, but i love tea parties! And your china is absolutely gorgeous, I love it.
ReplyDeleteIt is a capital experience! And you would like Downton Abbey! It is such a beautiful show!
DeleteThanks! My great grandmother gave us all of her china collection and we gathered other pieces up over the years.
Luckily I started late, so I am on the last parts of season five. I already have bought season six, however. hehe. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now. No more Downton Abbey episodes?!?!?!?!?! I cannot handle that thought. It's almost as bad as Matthew's death. I think I feel to pieces when he died. He's my favorite. But anyways, this is such a fabulous idea!!! I can't imagine the fun you had :)))
ReplyDelete-A
MATTHEW!!!!! I almost stopped watching the show after that. I went on strike and pouted for a week or two before coming around. Season three was hard. Very hard.
DeleteAnd tea parties are enormous fun! I usually have them when my Nana comes over, and that makes them even more special!
I agree. I was at my friends when I watched that episode and so I had to move on quickly because we were having a marathon to get me caught up! That was probably a good thing or I would have went on strike and pouted too!! Season three was all great and dandy until the finale and then it was just over.
DeleteThis is so fabulous and I totally approve. XD
ReplyDeleteI haven't finished Season 6 (savouring it while I can!) but I'm always a fan of a tea party and am actually concocting something of a similar nature for my graduation party this spring. Because who doesn't want to have high tea?
Yes, season six is wonderful, simply wonderful! And you should definitely have a tea party graduation! I had friends that did something similar two years ago and I loved it! They decorated with lots of vintage thrift store finds, used twinkle lights, and it was lovely all around!
DeleteI've never had the desire to have a tea party in my life, but now I really want to, so thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteThose gifs are absolutely brilliant. I could hear Maggie Smith in my head as I read them. Love that lady.
I consider my day a success now. Tea parties for the win!!!
DeleteMaggie Smith is boss. She is so brilliant and a fantastic actress! I had a blast looking for the best gifs and quotes!
It's really hard to convince myself that I am looking at Maggie Smith, the Dowager Princess, and not Maggie Smith as the Professor from Hogwarts. Downtown Abbey is one of the top five shows I need to get on-- so many good shows have ended early this year, and it's kind of sad that. I usually don't see how good they are until the last five episodes.
ReplyDeleteThe china looks gorgeous, and those scones-- even though I can't taste them, as I'm on the internet in the evening and enjoying break, they appear to be very scrumptious. ^.^ I'll really have to consider having my own tea party sometime, but the hard part is finding those who will want to do it with me...
xoxo Morning
Yes, Maggie Smith is fantastic! The character of the Dowager Countess is similar to Professor Mcgonagall, though, and Maggie Smith bring the same spunk to both roles.
DeleteYOU SHOULD TOTALLY WATCH DOWNTON ABBEY!!!
And you should also have a tea party and make the tea cakes and scones and invite everybody you know. If they don't come, more scones for you! But I think you'd be surprised how many people can have fun at a tea party!
So I'm not the only one who seriously missed DA this week?!?
ReplyDeleteYour tea party idea is pretty much the coolest thing and I think I'm going to plan one for my mom, my sister and I next weekend! We love Downton Abbey and are pretty sad about it ending! (Especially when I read that after last season, the directors projected AT LEAST 3 more...
Blessings!
You must have a tea party and tell me all about it!
DeleteI have a hope for us, though. The directors and actors are seriously talking about making a movie in the future! DA isn't over yet, not if we have a say!
Have you seen 'Secrets of HighClaire castle"? It's on Netflix and its about the castle from DA.
ReplyDelete(I think thats the title)
I have heard about it, but I haven't watched it yet. Is it good?
DeleteOh how I adore this post! Tea parties are one of my favorite things! Such a lovely & dreamy way to spend an afternoon! | www.hayleysolano.com ♥
ReplyDeleteOh how I adore this post! Tea parties are one of my favorite things! Such a lovely & dreamy way to spend an afternoon! | www.hayleysolano.com ♥
ReplyDelete