Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, and what better way to celebrate the woman who brought you into this world than by letting her feel like the Queen of England for a day and pampering her to (or organizing yourself) an afternoon High Tea?

There are several excellent places in Reno and the surrounding areas hosting High Tea events for Mother’s Day this year. Still, before you jump into one, we thought we’d give you a rundown of the dos and don’ts of High Tea etiquette so you’re not caught with your pinkie up or your spoon in the wrong place!

Proper Etiquette for Attending a High Tea Event on Mother’s Day

Dress Up: While there usually aren’t dress codes at venues that host High Tea events, you should dress on the fancier side. Enjoy yourself! Doll up and throw on a fancy hat. What’s the point of pretending you’re Queen for a day without a fun hat?

Pinkies Down, Ladies: Contrary to popular belief, one doesn’t extend their pinkie finger when drinking tea. It’s actually an insulting practice that is considered very elitist. It comes from an outdated belief that “cultured” people held their treats with only three fingers – thus having the pinkie finger extended – while “commoners” grabbed treats with all five fingers. Therefore, extending your pinkie suggests that you believe you are above others.

Stir It, Don’t Swirl It: Never swirl your tea around your cup as you would a wine glass. This risks spillage. As well, don’t stir your tea in circles around your cup. Instead, proper etiquette dictates that we stir our tea back and forth across the cup and be careful not to let our spoon touch the sides of our teacup.

Where To Put Your Spoon: Never drink your tea with the spoon still in your cup. Also, don’t put the spoon in your mouth. Its sole purpose is to stir your tea once the milk and sugar have been added. Once you’ve stirred it (in a proper up and down motion, of course), place your spoon on the saucer either on the right side of your cup or behind it.

Saucers Down: There is no need to pick up your saucer while you’re sitting at the table drinking your tea. Leave it where it is. The only time you’ll need to pick it up is if you are standing with your tea in your hand.

Let The Tea Cool: Never blow on your tea to cool it down. It’s disrespectful, as saliva particles can be expressed across the table when you blow onto your cup. Let the tea cool on its own before drinking it.

Just Break It: One should never use a knife to cut open a scone or roll while attending High Tea. Instead, simply break it apart with your fingers and add the jam and/or cream afterward to each piece.

I Wanna Scoop, Baby: Don’t put your knife in the bowl of jam or cream and spread it directly onto your scone. Instead, scoop some jam or cream from the bowl onto your plate and spread it onto your scone.

Eat With Your Hands: For this one moment in time, you can forget all of the times your mother told you to not eat your food with your hands. At High Tea, proper etiquette tells us that finger foods are called that for a reason. Everything from mini sandwiches to pastries can be eaten with your fingers, and your knife is only used to spread the jam or clotted cream.

Doggy Bags Are For Dogs, Not High Tea: It’s considered rude to ask for or simply take a doggy bag with you when leaving a High Tea event, so please, don’t.

No Cell Phones! High tea is a social event, and it doesn’t need to be spread across social media. Leave the cell phone out of it for an hour or so while enjoying an Afternoon Tea with your loved ones or friends. If emergencies, they may be placed on your chair, left in your purse or car, but do not place them on the table.

Enjoy Yourself: We know that this may seem like many rules, but they’re pretty simple to follow. The number one rule of High Tea is to enjoy yourself. 

 

Where To Attend High Tea In Reno

Now that you know the rules, it’s time to put them to practice. If you’re looking for a place to bring your mother for a beautiful High Tea event in Reno and the surrounding areas, look no further. We’ve compiled a shortlist for you.

Put together a Mother’s Day Italian Picnic with Perenn Bakery. Shower your mother with love and yummy treats with their all-inclusive picnic basket that includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic spritzers, Italian Cornetti, side salads, and tiramisu. 

Visit Bouchee Confections for the ultimate High Tea experience, now taking reservations for Mother’s Day. For the low price of $40 per person, you and your mother will be treated to four-finger sandwiches each, seasonal house cream scones, a large selection of homemade desserts, and a bottomless pot of tea. Reserve today!

If your mother is less Queen Elizabeth and more Kitty Foreman, then Grafted Whiskey & Wine Bar’s Mother’s Day High Tea with a Whiskey Twist may be more her style. All Mother’s Day event guests will enjoy a glass of champagne followed by whiskey-infused teas, mimosas, and various finger foods, all while enjoying some live music. 

 

Organize Your Own Mother’s Day High Tea With bukit

Maybe you and your Mom aren’t the going-out types. If that’s the case, organize a High Tea to remember in the comfort of your own home with bukit. Don your fancy hats, and get to ordering!

Check out Reverie Picnic’s Beyond the Basket Tablescape, which includes everything you need to throw together a whimsical and elegant High Tea for your Mom.

Each rental includes:

– Table runner

– Two decorative chargers

– Two dinner plates

– Two linen napkins

– Three sets of glassware

– Cutlery set for two

– Four votives

– Six tapered candles and decorative candle holders

 

Choose between white, red, pink, and black napkin colors.

Thankfully, bukit has you covered if you wish to throw your Mom or friends a High Tea party of your own. To create the perfect ambiance, you can purchase your own tablescape from bukit with service for 8. Each set includes:

 

– 8 pink and gold porcelain teacups and saucers

– 8 gold flatware settings (teaspoons, forks, and knives)

– 8 pink and gold porcelain dessert plates

– 8 pink and gold chargers

– 8 pink glass champagne flutes

– 2 pink and gold porcelain double-tiered stands

– 1 gold and white porcelain teapot

– 1 gold and white porcelain cream and sugar set

– 8 gold sparkle cloth napkins

– 8 rhinestone napkin rings

– 1 linen runner white with gold polka dots

– 2 white and gold porcelain teacups with a saucer for flowers

– Quilted china storage containers

 

Whether you’re taking your mother out to celebrate Mother’s Day at one of Reno’s incredible High Tea events, or you plan to surprise her with one of your own, making your Mom feel like a queen for the day is sure to be something she remembers forever.

We here at bukit want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there! We hope your day is filled with love, family, friends, and fun.

Whether you’re taking your mother out to celebrate Mother’s Day at one of Reno’s incredible High Tea events, or you plan to surprise her with one of your own, making your mom feel like a queen for the day is sure to be something she remembers forever.

We here at bukit want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there! We hope your day is filled with love, family, friends, and fun.