What to Wear to a Church Tea Party
There’s nothing quite as exciting as getting invited to a church tea party - but that excitement can quickly turn to stress if you don’t know how to dress for a church tea party. There’s a fine line between being underdressed and overdressed
We get asked about what to wear to a church tea party more often than you'd think. So, we’ve talked it over with our style experts and came up with this guide to help you figure out the dress code and step into the event looking and feeling your best.
Some of our recommendations will come straight from our catalog. This is your one-stop shop for dresses for church and church suits for women no matter the level of tea party you’re attending. We've helped women put church tea party outfits together for over 30 years. Get in touch today and we’ll do the same for you!
What Does a Church Tea Party Entail?
Your church’s women’s ministry is likely running the tea party you’ve been invited to. It could be a holiday event, fundraiser, or just fellowship for the sake of bringing women together. Whatever the case, these are so much fun - and a great opportunity to strengthen your faith and connection with other women of your church.
The common theme, regardless of the occasion, is tea service, real china, tablecloths, and centerpieces. Trust us when we say the women running the table put thought into every detail. They notice when someone shows up looking like she didn't.
Is There a Dress Code for Church Tea Parties?
There’s rarely a printed dress code, yet, there's always an expectation. That’s the tricky part. What to wear to a church tea party depends on which kind you're walking into. A fellowship hall with white tablecloths doesn’t call for the same standard as a courtyard with folding chairs and lemonade.
Safe to say, though, the standard is higher than your average Sunday service across the board. Don't forget it's still a church event at the end of the day!
To some extent, figuring out how to dress for a church tea party really depends on that specific church. You should be familiar with the vibe if you've been before. Otherwise, call somebody who has.
We always tell women the same thing: go dressier than you think you need to. Nobody at a tea party ever looked around the room and thought, “I wish I'd dressed more casually.” Better to be the woman everyone looks at with reverence for dressing so well than the “slob.”
Think about your denomination as well. Baptist churches are usually stricter on hemlines and necklines, especially at hosted events, than a Presbyterian church. That being said, the best way to figure out what to wear to a church tea party is to get more specific about the type of party you’re dressing up for.
What to Wear to a Church Tea Party: Outfit Inspiration For Different Tea Party Themes
You’ll align your church tea party outfit with the theme. These are the most common types of tea parties we see in churches, and some tailored outfit ideas you can fall back on if you’re not sure where to start.
High Tea Parties
It doesn’t get more formal than high tea at a church. It’s worth buying something new for this caliber of event. Women go all out for church tea party outfits for high tea.
You can’t go wrong with a silk skirt suit from Lily and Taylor or a Giovanna jacket dress in a jewel tone. We sell tons of two-piece ensembles featuring fitted jackets, so just ask for a specific recommendation. A hat feels more necessary than it does optional for this type of tea party, too.
Afternoon Tea Parties
It’s more than likely this is the type of tea party you’ll be invited to, usually after the Sunday service to unpack the message and catch up with other women of the congregation. Not as buttoned up as high tea - more aligned with your typical Sunday best.
That means you can probably just wear a floral print midi dress, or something in a soft solid color. Donna Vinci's knit dresses are a match made in heaven - comfortable for sitting and talking for a few hours, but still, plenty of sophistication oozes from the outfit.
Questions about color? Pastels are perfect for church tea party outfits for afternoon events. Especially blush and lavender. Keep it fun, floral, and bright. Can’t go wrong!
Garden Tea Parties
These usually take place outdoors in spring or summer - a lighter setting with a dress code to match. Cotton or linen dresses, trousers/blouse combos, or skirts in a print or pastel. Light fabric.
Our rule of thumb with church tea party outfits for garden settings is you want to look pretty, not wear something precious. You're on grass, so wear flat sandals or low wedges instead of heels (unless you want to aerate the church lawn).
Formal Tea Parties
Some churches hold tea parties for anniversaries, honors, or special recognitions. These are more in line with what you’d wear to a gala - sophisticated and upscale. Our special occasion church dresses are worth a look for this type of event.
We've seen women wear floor-length gowns to formal tea parties. Or for something that really stands out, a suit with embellishment. Whatever you wear, it should be something you consider your best piece. Pair it with a hat and real jewelry to tie everything together.
Vintage Tea Parties
Vintage is the most common theme we hear about for “themed tea parties.” Most women go 1950s, but the era changes the outfit. Fit-and-flare with a full skirt, cinched waist, and gloves if you have them. Pearls everywhere.
This one is meant to be a little more fun, so don’t sweat it too much if you’re having trouble nailing the theme. Putting in effort matters more than anything else. You’re already doing that if you’re here looking for tips on how to dress for a church tea party!
What Type of Hat Should You Wear to a Tea Party?
Half the women we talk to pick the hat first and build the outfit around it. After all, tea parties and church hats go together like…well, tea and biscuits! Church hats are expected at high tea and formal events. Wear a wide-brimmed hat in a color matching your outfit.
The Donna Vinci and Dorinda Clark Cole hats we carry were specifically designed to go with their own suit and dress lines, so there’s no need to guess on the color coordination. Just ask our team to point you in the right direction for complete outfits.
Garden and afternoon tea parties call for something lighter. A smaller hat or a fascinator feels more appropriate for the setting. Never worn a hat to a church event before? A tea party is actually the perfect place to start. Everyone else will have one too.
Footwear and Accessory Guidelines For a Church Tea Party
You’ve got most of it figured out by this point. But accessories are just as important to deciding what to wear to a church tea party.
First things first, get the footwear right. Low heels or dressy flats inside; wedges or sandals outside. Think practicality over personality. You have to be able to walk around, which means your footwear choice matters more outdoors.
Pearls are the default. Nobody ever looked wrong in pearl earrings at a tea party. Our rule of thumb, though, is to only have one statement piece - your accessories or your outfit itself. Plain dresses can be elevated with flashier jewelry. On the other hand, you’d want to pull back on the jewelry if you’re already rocking an embellished outfit.
One more thing to keep in mind - tea party tables are tight. We've watched women knock over centerpieces reaching past an oversized bag for their teacup. Leave the tote in the car, stick with a small clutch or handbag for this occasion.
What Should Men Wear to a Tea Party?
We have a feeling this doesn’t apply to you, because men don't show up to church tea parties as often. When they do, though, they want to make sure they look the part. Perhaps it’s a couple’s tea party, and you want your other half to look dashing as well.
The good news is that figuring out what to wear to a church tea party as a man is simpler than it is for the ladies. A suit for most, or at least dress pants with a collared shirt and a tie if the tea party is more relaxed.
Just don’t wear all black. A lighter color or even a patterned tie is the right vibe for a tea party setting. Our men's church suits come in colors that actually work for events like this, not just funerals and Sundays. Take a look and see!
Steer Clear of These Outfits at a Church Tea Party
Use your best judgment, and trust your gut. Anything you’d grab for Saturday errands after church is probably no good. That means no jeans or sneakers. Probably no shorts, either. All-black head to toe gives funeral, not tea party. Any obnoxious colors (like neon) are best avoided as well.
The Perfect Tea Party Outfit is Here at DesignerChurchSuits.com!
You should feel super confident in how to dress for a church party at this point, so what are you waiting for? Everything you need for a church tea party is right here at Designer Church Suits:
Silk suits
Knit dresses
Jacket dress sets
Hats to match
We’ve handpicked all the best brands and their most recent releases, so you can dress up for any church event looking and feeling your best. Donna Vinci, Lily and Taylor, Giovanna, Dorinda Clark Cole, and many other world-renowned designers in sizes 4 to 34W.
Want help picking the perfect church tea party outfits? We do this all day, and we’d be honored to help you. Give us a call at (908) 378-1470 for one-on-one guidance today!
Final Words on How to Dress For a Church Tea Party
Church tea parties are one of the few events left where getting dressed is half the point. And honestly, it’s not something you need to stress over. Know the theme. Read the room. Wear something that makes you feel like you belong at that table. Follow our tips on what to wear to a church tea party, and you’ll get nothing but compliments!
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