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place the food so the coffee table can hold the guest's plates and tea-cups.
Linen is always a nice option to use if you have some, on the coffee table, a side table where the food is set or other tables in the living room, it gives High Tea an authenticity and the linen doesn't have to match, any of your grand-mother's, aunt's or mother's tablecloths or linen napkins are fun to use.

Last but not least, having a proper tea set is also nice, but as long you manage to put it all together, with either a matching set, or miss-matched teacups and saucers gotten from antic stores, garage sales or what not is fun enough, you will find that guests love choosing what teacup they wish to enjoy their tea in! If you do have proper linen napkins, make sure the guests know to place them on their laps so no tea spills will ruin their clothing as tea does stain. If you do not, for a few dollars, you can get the most beautiful paper napkins in dollar stores or your own food shopping store.
If you choose to decide to serve more then one type of tea, you could always borrow an extra teapot from a friend, but if you are looking to buy a teapot, and wish for one that does not drip like most, the secret is all in the beak or spout, the thinner the tip, the less it will drip, if however, you cannot get your hands on such, simply pour with a clean cloth folded neatly under the spout so when you pull back and up, you elegantly catch the drip coming down before moving to your next guest.

Small details do matter, but what matters most is enjoying the guests, there is nothing worse then a stressed out hostess, so planning is key. With this in mind, make sure to have platters you can prepare ahead of time with perhaps only a few minutes of last touches to have ready to serve, and as soon the bell rings and your first guest arrive, smile, laugh and whatever happens, happens, they will be thrilled no matter what!

Small tips:

- Make a few lists to keep your head clear,
- Buy some of the pastries at a pastry shop, but ask to have them cut into smaller pieces, and do buy some of the appetizers already made if you can.
- Think to take out the dishes, plates, serving trays you will be using the day before, and give them a good wipe down.
- Be careful not to have to many dishes that need the stove or to overfill the refrigerator.
- Have the linen ironed if needed and close by, ready to use.

Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, Richelle Fortin.
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