It’s the day to celebrate the woman who gave me everything – who spoiled me, disciplined me, celebrated me, encouraged me, wiped my tears, laughed uncontrollably with me, and most of all, loves me unconditionally. Here’s to my mom and all of the mothers out there – thank you for everything you do for us as children (and continue to do for us as adults).

This Mother’s Day I wanted to share 8 non-traditional ways to celebrate with your mom - one of them is an at-home tea party. I loved this idea because you can avoid the crowds and focus on time spent with just you and your mother. Admittedly, my mom and I are a bit girly, so this was perfect for us, but there are more ideas below! I had so much fun partnering up with my mom to concept this delicate, floral tea party tablescape. I think my love for hosting guests and knack for designing entertaining spaces definitely comes from her! I’ve been so grateful to watch her resourceful creativity and hospitality over the years, from Easter brunch to big Thanksgiving dinners. She always adds a thoughtful touch to the dining room table, a food spread for well over our guest count, and a bottle of wine to share with anyone visiting. This warm welcoming atmosphere that she fosters is one of the many reasons I love going home for the holidays so much. So, I dedicate this post to my beautiful mother. Thank you, for everything. 

Although Mother’s Day isn’t a traditional party, it is a reason to celebrate. Ditch the gift card to her favorite nail salon or reservations at that crowded brunch place. 

Here are some less traditional ways to celebrate the fearless, incredible women in your life. Plus! Most of these do not require reservations, so for those of you who always plan at the last minute (you know who you are) – this is for you!

8 (Non-traditional) Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

Make something for mom

1. Tea Party for Two –  A little décor and a spot of tea! Treat mom to a fun one-on-one tea party. Show her how much you care with a beautifully crafted table design and homemade treats just for her! It’s the perfect setting to catch up on the new things in your lives and reflect on all of the good memories over the years. 

Inside the Shoot: We chose to fill the table with petite flowers, and even topped off the fruit and champagne with blossoms for a posh touch. We used crystal wine goblets for the fruit instead of bowls to help elevate the setting. We also used my mom’s silver tea set to tie the whole theme together. My mom and I love tea, but we also love wine. So, we paired the tea with a glass of sparkling wine to give our tea party an extra touch of laughter.

Think about what your mom loves! Consider the tiny details you can add, and she will love all of the thoughtful touches.

2. Friendly Competition: Scavenger Hunt – Set up a fun scavenger hunt around your town for her. List out 3-4 fun clues to hand her once she makes it to each scavenger hunt location. If she enjoys biking or jogging, you can even add that as your vehicle to get around town. 

take mom out

3. Mama Movie Date – This idea is quick and easy, but a bit out of the ordinary for Mother’s Day. For the mom who is over “nail salons and flowers” and wants to do something different, try this! Give it a pop of posh with a fancy movie box filled with her favorite candies and a beautiful card with the movie tickets inside.

Quick Tip: Stuff it with tissue paper and hide a few little trinkets inside that she would like! Try this large pack of patterned movie boxes if you usually have a big gathering, or you can grab this small set of movie boxes with a pop of color.

4. Get Out of Town – Surprise mom with a fun day trip. Send her a card with instructions on what time to be ready, what to wear, and what to pack for the day. Arrive on time and whisk her away on a fun adventure, but don’t tell her exactly where you are headed. Whether it’s to the beach, a hike, a golf course (that’s not just for Father’s Day), or to her favorite restaurant across the state border, a little surprise adventure is always fun.

5. Summer Day Date: Farmer’s Market – Many Farmer’s Markets are open on Saturdays and Sundays. Take a look at your local Farmer’s Market times and consider strolling with mom through the aisles of fresh jams, colorful fruits and veggies, fragrant florals and unique hand-crafted items. If your mom is often busy on the weekends, this might be the perfect change of pace to enjoy some relaxing bonding time together.

6. Partner Workout Class – If your mom loves being active, treat her to a fun new workout class to start her Mother’s Day off on the right foot! There are so many awesome studios for yoga, barre, Zumba and more - you are certain to find something you both will love. There’s nothing like a challenging class to bond over and conquer together!

build something with mom

7. DIY Dinner Date – Choose a fun meal and get it delivered by Sunday. I was always so fortunate to have a mother that could cook amazing meals! (I like to think that some of her cooking skills rubbed off on me 😉). This time, let’s flip the script and create an easy, yet delicious meal together. There are so many services that make this easy to do – try Blue Apron or Hello Fresh.

Quick Tip: Try choosing a meal with a theme. Then, you can grab some small decorations to help adorn the table and turn on the right tunes to tie it together.

8. Craft and Create – For the mom who loves to create – knit, sew, paint, blog – this one is for her! For many moms, they have a personal hobby to enjoy “me time” or switch up their daily routines to indulge in their other passions for an hour or two. (I think we can all use those moments sometimes!) So, switch things up and join mom in doing her favorite thing. Take the time to ask her questions, get her to show you a little how-to demonstration, and lean on her for advice to make your partner project even better!

With all of these fun ideas, who says Mother’s Day can’t be a party? Don’t forget to find small, thoughtful ways to set the scene, start the party, and don’t forget to snap the memories. Special moments with mom are always worth capturing!