Hosting a DiY High Tea
How to book your DIY high tea hire
If you’re planning a DIY high tea, we feel you. It’s no small task and not jut a matter of shoving a handful of sandwiches on a plate. When you consider the baking, styling, invitations, prepping the house, and not to mention fielding a million and one questions from the mother-in-law. And if you’re also juggling a family, full-time work, and your besties boyfriend dramas, the planning of a DIY high tea event, no matter how big or small can become slightly overwhelming!
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! DIY hires are our main business with anything your heart desires when it comes to planning your own high tea. From teacups to glassware, drink dispensers to teapots and even the catering.
Getting started
1. Confirm your date
2. Estimate your guest numbers
3. Confirm your venue (will you be hosting your DIY high tea at home, in a venue or perhaps in a park?) Check out our list of local venues for hire
4. Determine your budget (note: our minimum spend is $200)
Making your booking
5. Check out our website and Instagram for inspo
6. Decide if you would like to self cater, use your own caterer or book one of our high tea catering packages
7. Select your package. We offer hire of just the crockery as well as packages with catering if you’d rather we take care of everything
8. Select your expected number of guests (min 20 for most packages), select “add to wish list” to add your preference to a wish list that you can then email to us along with further information such as date, location, email etc
9. We will email you a quote and terms of engagement for your high tea event
10. Pay the 50% booking fee and return the booking form to accept the quote (payment of the booking fee legally confirms that you agree to our terms)
11. When your booking fee has been received by us, your booking will be confirmed
12. Two weeks prior to your event, final numbers will be requested and a final invoice prepared
13. Payment of the final invoice will be due two weeks prior to your event. Please note that a bond will be charged at this time. The bond amount will be listed in the original quote and is refunded to your bank account/credit card once the equipment has been returned and checked by us if no breakages or lost equipment is discovered
Collection/delivery of your hire
14. You will be sent the address for collection when the final invoice is raised
15. Collection is from Beecroft on Friday and return on Monday for weekend events and day prior until day after event for weekday events
16. If you have opted for the equipment to be delivered the above also applies
17. You will be emailed the week prior to confirm a collection/delivery time
Setting up your high tea (DIY)
18. Iron your tablecloths/napkins
19. Position your tables and chairs
20. Cloth your tables
21. Assemble and place the cake stands
22. Fill the creamers and sugar bowls
23. Position the teapots – 1 per 6 (do not fill yet)
24. Position your flower arrangements amongst the crockery
25. Set each place with a cake plate, teacup, saucer, teaspoon and cake fork (as well as glassware if hiring our Portobello Road package or above)
26. Set any place cards if necessary
27. Start plating up the food just prior to guest arrivals (leave sandwiches until last or cover with cling wrap to keep fresh)
28. Fill teapots with boiling water just prior to guests being seated to ensure piping hot tea
29. Enjoy!
Wrapping it up
30. Carefully move the crockery to the kitchen for washing (pro tip: place a beach towel on the bench to avoid chips)
31. Hand wash the equipment OR for hires that have opted for us to take care of the washing upon return, carefully scrape, rinse and place the equipment into the boxes provided
32. Leave china to airdry. Cutlery and glassware should be dried with a lint-free cloth to avoid water marks (and bond deductions)
33. Carefully pack the equipment back into the boxes and return to us prior to 1pm on Monday
34. Leave us a review!
35. Your bond will be refunded within 7 business days
36. Pour yourself a glass of wine and put your feet up, you’ve earned it!
