Are you ready to host a tea party with a twist? Dive into the world of mystery and intrigue with a Tea Party Murder Mystery Party! Follow this comprehensive guide to ensure your event is a hit with all your guests.
What is a Tea Party Murder Mystery Party?
A Tea Party Murder Mystery Party is a themed event where guests take on roles of characters in a murder mystery storyline. As they enjoy tea and snacks, they work together to solve the mystery and uncover the culprit.
There are many different types of murder mysteries to choose from. Guilty Games uses a detective-style game, where guests get into character and question one another to solve the murder. No one knows who the killer is--not even the killer themselves! And every guest, including the host, gets to play along (because what's the fun in hosting a party you can't partake in?) No one has to play the victim-- everyone gets to work together to find the culprit.
In this interactive game, all guests have a party to play... and sipping tea is just the start.
Invitations and Character Assignments
Send out invitations that include character descriptions to each guest. Assign characters in advance to give guests time to prepare their costumes and get into character. Get the frilly dresses and lace gloves ready for a night of sipping tea... and spilling it. With fun characters with a range of different personalities, backstories, and motives, every guest will have a part to play. The more guests get into character, the better! Accents, crazy costumes, and sinister smiles are all entirely welcome.
Decor and Ambiance
Set the mood! Bring out the tea time snacks and decorations with these tea party decoration ideas:
- frilly table cloths
- fresh flowers
- pink balloons-- or letters that spell out "spill the tea!"
- thrifted tea cups
- candles
- tea pots
- cake stands filled with snacks
- doilies and placemats
Want to make it a garden party? Bring it outside on a nice day!
Set the tone with some sinister decorations-- blood splatter stickers on the floor and walls. A body bag or tape outline of a body where the victim "died." A prop knife left out--and not one used to cut the cake! Caution tape blocking the door, letting your guests know this is a crime scene!
Look to thrift stores for unique, vintage, affordable decoration ideas (plus, it's more sustainable!) The more decorations, the better-- after all, a murder mystery tea party is the time to go all out!
Guest Arrival
When your guests arrive, it's time to get into character and greet everyone with a cup of tea. We know that planning a party can be overwhelming-- getting the decorations, perfecting the invite list, and making sure everyone has a great time is a lot. But don't worry-- hosting a murder mystery party is just as fun as going to one with Guilty Games!
Have a cup of tea (or a long island iced tea--hey, we won't judge!) and snack on some finger sandwiches while you wait for your guests to arrive. Or make it a potluck-- some guests can bring drinks, snacks, entrés, or dessert. Once everyone is there, it is time to begin the game. Read the introduction and set the scene. Reveal the victim, the autopsy, and the clues surrounding the murder. And this is where the real tea is spilled! Everyone is guilty of something... but only one of you committed the murder. Follow the host guide to play along.
Every mystery includes detailed instructions of how to play, so we won't bore you with them here... but check out our FAQs/how to play for a deeper dive into how Guilty Games works. Every murder mystery is different, so make sure an unscripted, detective-style game is what you're looking for.
Spill the Tea -- Play the Tea Party Murder Mystery and Uncover the Killer
The mystery will unfold as guests play detective-- using the clues in their character packets to unravel the mystery, and learn who had the motive, means, and opportunity to murder. Once enough time has passed-- the games are super flexible, so you can do what feels natural-- the tea will be spilled; read the confession and uncover the killer, and see who guessed correctly! Feel free to hand out prizes, and enjoy your one of a ind tea party murder mystery-- a night everyone is sure to remember!
Planning a party can be stressful, but with Guilty Games, we make sure the host has just as much fun as their guests. And there is so much fun to be had-- the tea party murder mystery is filled with unique characters, shocking twists, and a grand reveal that will have everyone talking.
Shop our TEA PARTY Murder Mystery Game to start planning your very own murder mystery tea party-- a murder mystery that will truly steal the show for any occasion!