So how do you make a Tea Tour?!

We’ve had 2 Legs + a Summer Tour, on this California Tea House Tour. I still hear it, just yesterday- “I didn’t know there are that many places to have Afternoon Tea out here?!?!” We started with 12, I added 12 more (Leg 2), and then had a handful of stragglers (Summer Tour) that trickled into the end…before our long break in 2018.

So I find all these places to visit, then what? What’s my process… What’s the procedure… Well, keep reading! (wink)

1) About 2 months before I intend to visit the Tea Spot, I send a save-the-date to my guests.

When I first started the Tour, it was a mass text to all the girls I knew that expressed interest in being invited. Then it would be whoever wanted to come. If there were limited seats for whatever reason, it would be a ‘first come, first serve’ type of situation. We’ve had from parties of 3 to parties of 12! It was cool cuz, some girls didn’t know each other… So it was neat to see them meet, and some even became lifetime friends.

This time around (especially coming out of Pandemic), I have curated my guest list. I have handpicked each group of no more than 5-6 people. And it’s been so nice this way! I enjoy the smaller groups and have been able to get to know new friends on a more intimate level.

2) 6 weeks before my intended visit date, I send a formal invitation (just by text mmkay, we not that fancy!).

This is the time I notify them of tea service prices and collect deposits if the particular spot requires one. When everyone is confirmed, I will make the reservation.

3) TEA PARTY DAY!

At Tea (a ‘Working Tea’), I’m collecting quite a bit of information! I’m taking photos of the outside (if I could), only a few of the interior (I like leaving some of that out so yall can experience for yourself), and a variety of shots + videos (now for reels, rolling my eyes) of the actual tea service. I’m writing down notes of everything I’m tasting, sometimes even getting quotes from my guests. And a new thing I’ve added this Leg: I’m posting real time thoughts on our Threads account, so our Threads community can have a little taste of what’s to come on the blog post!

4) I marinate.

I’ll take a few days to process all my thoughts + feelings about the Tea Spot we’ve just visited. If it was a good time, I’m excited to start digging in! If it was mediocre, I’m indifferent about it. If it was bad, I’m usually dragging my feet to have to write about it!

5) Upload photos.

Depending on how much is offered at the tea service, I have a good hundred photos on my DSLR to upload.

6) Approve photos.

Of that 100, I have to narrow it down to one photo per item. A blog post I share has on average 10-15 shots included from my visit. So it’s a lot to go through and decide! (sweaty emoji) I do not edit my photos, because I want to share as authentic an experience as possible. I may brighten a shot just a bit, but only because lighting may not have been good in the tea place or I may have been seated in the corner or something like that.

7) Write post.

With my notes, their menu, and my photos in front of me, I take myself back to that day and in that venue. I write how I talk, and include details that are important to that moment. Everyone already knows about my (quote/unquote) brutal honesty, that I never thought was a “niche” but simply a part of who I am. I’ve been told I have a polarizing personality. I am of the rare breed that says what they mean and means what they say. So OF COURSE you will find that in my writing. I am never intending to hurt any one person or company…just stating the facts, the truth, and my experience. And if it helps my Readers save money in the process, then that’s a plus in my book!

8) Publish!

I add some tags, set the date*, and click publish! Then, I will generally let my Threads community know first…before posting on Instagram that it has been released. Also, Followers/Subscribers of the Blog will get notice in their email. So if you haven’t entered your email yet so you could be the first to know, scroll toward the bottom of this post and do it today! (*Dates are input on day of visit, even tho post has taken me a couple days to write.)

I had a little apprehension about writing or sharing this post. If you remember a few About The Author posts back, I talked about being copied all my life. Now I cooould say right here: You’ll always be a step behind… I’ll always be first… You can’t do me… BUT, thas not me. Who am I? What am I about? I will say- there is enough room for ALL of us to win 🙂

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