If you happen to be on the planning committee for any type of social event you will most likely have to come up with many sets of tea cups and saucers, as well as other crockery and cutlery. This can pose a bit of a problem if you leave it until the last minute. If you have an event coming up where food or drink will be served be sure to plan to purchase these items well before the day of the event.
Some people like to use paper cups and plates, and I suppose these do quite well for an informal gathering or for a less prestigious event. Other committees have invested in sets of plastic tea cups and saucers which are also serviceable. However, if you have some budget to work with I would recommend you look into purchasing wholesale cups and saucers. These are often sold in large cartons, with multiples of 12 cups and saucers in each case. In the long run it actually works out cheaper to go this route rather than always having to purchase disposable cups and plates as it is just a one time investment as opposed to a constant expense.
You can choose from quite a few different designs as well, both modern style and more traditional styles. Naturally you may not want to go for the finest china, unless you can afford it, as there does tend to be quite a few spills and breaks at events, especially those where alcohol is served. Another point to remember along this line is to buy a few extra cartons so that you will have plenty of replacement cups and saucers and other crockery available.
One unique idea for those who have regular events is to have your cups and tea accessories engraved with your committee or club’s name and emblem. If you are planning on doing this you may need to allow even extra time for purchasing, as it does take a little while to have cups custom made in this way. Taking it one step further, you can always also allow each participant in the event to take home their own set of cup and saucer as a remembrance of the event that they just attended!
