Afternoon Tea Weddings: Is a Tea Reception Right for Your Day?

An afternoon tea wedding swaps the formal plated wedding breakfast for sandwiches, scones and cakes served at the table, and it suits couples who want a relaxed, sociable meal with time to talk. At The Sessions House, a Grade II listed Victorian courthouse in Spalding, Lincolnshire, afternoon tea on vintage china is one of the in-house wedding catering options, and up to 100 guests can be seated for it in the Courtroom.

Because every booking is exclusive use, the whole building is yours for the day, and couples who book plan their menu at a one-to-one chef tasting. Here is how a tea reception works, who it suits and how to plan one well.

What is an afternoon tea wedding reception?

Instead of a starter, main course and dessert, guests sit down to tiered stands of savoury and sweet food, with tea, coffee and drinks from the bar. Speeches and toasts fit naturally around the service. A typical afternoon tea includes:

• Finger sandwiches and other savoury bites

• Scones with jam and cream

• Cakes and small desserts

• Tea and coffee, alongside fizz or cocktails

It is still a proper meal, so the menu, portions and timings need as much thought as a plated dinner, especially if the celebration carries on into the evening.

Who does an afternoon tea wedding suit?

A tea reception works particularly well if you want:

• A relaxed, conversational meal rather than a formal service

• A smaller or daytime wedding

• A vintage, heritage or garden-inspired look

• More of your budget for the setting, photography or evening entertainment

It may suit you less if most of your guests expect a hot main course, or if your day runs from midday to midnight with nothing else to eat. Say on your invitations that the wedding breakfast is afternoon tea, so nobody arrives expecting a roast.

Which rooms at The Sessions House suit an afternoon tea wedding?

The building dates from 1843 and is built in the neo-Gothic style, so each room gives the tea table a different backdrop. You can see them all on our spaces page.

• The Courtroom: up to 100 guests seated for dining under tall vaulted wooden ceilings, with wood panelling, tiered pews and the original raised judge's bench as your top table.

• The Magistrates' Room: deep red and gold, with velvet curtains, a grand piano and a marble fireplace; private dining for 15 to 30 guests.

• The Chinoiserie Library: pink and black with cherry blossom and antiques among the law books; an intimate room for small dining and photographs, included in every wedding package.

• The Courtyard: private and walled, with a white pagoda, outdoor seating and an outdoor bar if you want one, for drinks before or after tea. There is always an indoor wet-weather plan.

What does an afternoon tea wedding timeline look like?

Your ceremony, photographs and guests' travel come first, and the tea fits around them. An example day might run like this:

• 12.30pm: Ceremony in one of the four licensed spaces

• 1.00pm: Drinks, canapés and photographs

• 2.30pm: Afternoon tea is served

• 4.00pm: Speeches and toasts

• 7.00pm: Evening guests arrive and evening food is served

• Midnight: Standard finish

Allow around 90 minutes for the tea itself. For a long day, add canapés on arrival and a proper evening option; in-house choices include evening buffets, grazing, food vans, nacho boxes and butcher's baps. Evening guests are free to invite, up to 180 in total, and you only pay for their food.

How do you plan an afternoon tea menu that keeps guests full?

A good tea menu should feel generous, not decorative. Questions worth asking at your tasting:

• How many savoury and sweet items will each guest have?

• Will there be anything warm, such as savoury pastries?

• How will dietary needs be covered? Menus here are adjusted for dietary needs and budget.

• What will children eat? Children's menus are available from four children.

• What will people drink? The Emerald Room has its own staffed bar with more than 300 lines, and a mixologist can create his-and-hers cocktails.

If you already have a favourite caterer, external caterers are welcome with no fee. They provide public liability insurance and allergen and food-safety documents, or you sign a waiver, and they bring their own linen, crockery and glassware.

Which wedding package works with an afternoon tea?

Packages to consider alongside an afternoon tea:

• All-Inclusive Wedding Package: venue hire and catering together, so your food is planned in one place with the in-house team.

• Intimate Wedding Package: for small weddings of up to 30 guests.

• Venue hire packages: Classic, Signature and Luxury; external caterers are welcome with no fee.

• Twilight Wedding Package: an alternative to a seated tea. It starts at 4pm and leaves out the sit-down meal, for an even more relaxed day.

Download the wedding brochure, or ask the team about prices.

Photo: Paul Aston Photography

Why hold an afternoon tea wedding in a Victorian courthouse?

The Sessions House is an indoor-first venue, so the weather never spoils a tea served under the Courtroom's vaulted ceiling, and our prices are the same all year. It sits on Sheep Market in the centre of Spalding, under 250 metres' walk from Spalding station, around 30 minutes' drive from Peterborough and about 1.5 hours from London by train.

As one couple put it in their review: “The venue was breathtaking, and the team took such great care of us. The food was incredible.”

One practical point for older guests: the indoor rooms are on the first floor, up 14 steps, and there is no lift. The Courtyard is step-free. Ask the team early if anyone in your party needs help.

The easiest way to picture your tea tables is to see the rooms. Book a viewing: a private 60-minute tour with the wedding team, or read our wedding FAQ first.

Afternoon tea wedding FAQs

Can you have afternoon tea instead of a wedding breakfast?

Yes. At The Sessions House in Spalding, Lincolnshire, afternoon tea served on vintage china is one of the in-house catering options for weddings, offered as an alternative to a two- or three-course wedding breakfast.

How many guests can have an afternoon tea wedding at The Sessions House?

Up to 100 guests can be seated for dining in the Courtroom at The Sessions House, Spalding. The Magistrates' Room suits 15 to 30 guests for private dining, and the evening reception can grow to 180 guests.

Is afternoon tea enough food for a wedding?

Afternoon tea is a full meal when it includes plenty of savoury food, but a wedding that runs into the evening also needs evening food. The Sessions House offers evening buffets, grazing, food vans, nacho boxes and butcher's baps.

Can we bring our own afternoon tea caterer to The Sessions House?

Yes. External caterers are welcome at The Sessions House with no fee. They provide public liability insurance and allergen and food-safety documents (or the couple signs a waiver), and bring their own linen, crockery and glassware.

Can an afternoon tea wedding menu cater for dietary requirements?

Yes. In-house menus at The Sessions House in Spalding are adjusted for dietary needs and budget, and couples who have booked have a one-to-one tasting with the chef.