The Midnight Tea Party

Will you always attend my midnight tea parties
As long as I set your place
If one day your sugar sits untouched
Will you have gone forever? Emilie Autumn, "Ghost"

The Midnight Tea Party, or "MTP" for short, is the primary way in which my close friends and I like to celebrate special occasions, or sometimes no occasion at all. So far there have been nine MTPs with themes as diverse as Doctor Who, Alice in Wonderland and Faeries.

One of the great advantages of an MTP is that it kills many birds with one big glittery stone. A typical MTP will incorporate many different activities and lasts longer than an ordinary party. The main attraction is, of course, the tea ceremony at 12 o'clock, but usually a party will start in the evening and continue into the small hours.

The idea for the Midnight Tea Party was of course inspired by my heroine and singer-crush, Emilie Autumn. Back in the distant early months of 2009, I was listening to her poem Ghost from Disc Two of Opheliac (originally from her collection Your Sugar Sits Untouched), and suddenly it occurred to me that an MTP would be something we could try. I seem to recall that I was sat in History at the time, and babbling to Terra about the idea. After months of thinking about it, the first MTP (60s, 70s and 80s-themed) was held at my abode in June 2009. Since then, there have been eight more MTPs, and I am proud to say that I have attended every single one. :)

Although every MTP is different, and every home that hosts one is different, there are certain components that are necessary for your party. I hereby presents J's Midnight Tea Party List!

• Cake. You cannot hold an MTP without cake. It's 100% important. Recently, I have discovered (and become addicted to) Earl Grey Cupcakes, which are perfect for MTPs. To make them, you infuse four earl grey teabags in the milk that you put in your mixture. For the full recipe, contact me or consult Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery, which is possibly the best cake recipe book in the world.
• Good quality tea served in teapots. You cannot beat a good leaf tea. It's best to give your guests a choice; I find you can't go far wrong with a quality ordinary tea and a lovely earl grey. My family purchases tea from the Golden Monkey Tea Co., based in Warwick, which also operates online. Their tea is really special. I've recently bought some of their cream earl grey, which is to die for.
• A theme. About two-thirds of our MTPs have had themes, and they're certainly better when everyone dresses up and takes the business of having fun very seriously! Our themes have been: 60s-80s, 1940s, faeries, Alice in Wonderland, Doctor Who and Victorian Asylum. I also intend to host a masquerade MTP at Christmas. Magical.
• Decorations. Faerie-lights are a fabulous way of injecting magic into the party; obviously if you can get hold of some real faeries to fly around spreading their dust then excellent! Cake decorations, pretty teacups, and flowers are good suggestions too.
• Movies. If you start early, it's always a plan to watch a film at some point before midnight. Comedies and musicals go down especially well (for the first MTP, we watched Across the Universe which has now become a favourite).
• Music. Absolutely crucial! Put music on a playlist and leave it playing throughout the party (it can fit in with your theme or contrast, it doesn't really matter).
• Conversation. The deeper the better.
• Yourselves and your sense of fun <3

The Midnight Tea Party is definitely here to stay, and long may it reign! :)

J xxx