1. Bookings
– To secure your booking, we ask for a $200 holding deposit (bookings less than 100 guests) or $500 (bookings more than 100 guests). All booking enquiries that have not paid a deposit are considered as tentative and are subject to “First comes first served” policy.
– If you have a tentative booking and another party interested in the same date pays their deposit first, you may lose the spot.
Note: Payment of the holding deposit is the only way to secure a booking.
– Once the holding deposit has been paid your booking will be confirmed and you will receive access to our online High Tea Selection form. Please complete and sign our High Tea booking selection form at least 7 days prior to your event.
– The balance must be paid in full at least 5 days before the date of your event or function unless alternative arrangements have been made.

1A: Booking in advance
High Tea packages, Wedding packages & Gold Class Crockery Hire packages can be booked up to 8 months in advance.  Economy Crockery Hire packages can be booked up to 3 months in advance.

2. Refunds & Cancellations
When you pay a deposit, we no longer accept requests from other potential clients (for the services you have reserved).
To protect traders from bogus bookings, potential loss of income and to compensate for the time and expense devoted to the transaction, traders can retain a deposit in case of a cancellation. This policy is the same across the entire events industry.

Cancellation Schedule:
Less than 100 guests: 
– The client may cancel a booking but will forfeit all booking deposits.
– Cancellations between 14 and 5 working days prior to the event will incur a 50% cancellation fee on the invoice.
– Cancellations between 4 and 0 days prior to the event will incur a 100% cancellation fee on the invoice.
More than 100 guests:
– The client may cancel a booking 46+ days prior but will forfeit all booking deposits.
– Cancellations between 45 and 30 working days will incur a 50% cancellation fee on the invoice total.
– Cancellations between 29 and 15 days prior to the event will incur a 70% cancellation fee on the invoice total.
– Cancellation between 14 and 0 days prior to the event will incur a 100% cancellation fee on the invoice total

The above cancellation charges compensate for loss of assumed income as well as potential income on specified date and also for costs incurred such as items that we order specifically for your event, food production, order preparation as well as labour and administrative costs.
– Any cancellation fees will be invoiced and the client will settle the balance of the invoice by bank transfer within 7 days.
– High Tea Delights will refund the entire amount you have paid to us if for any unforeseeable reason we are unable to provide our services. This clause does not cover client initiated cancellations.
– Should High Tea Delights be unable to provide the service (or part of) due to extenuating and unforeseen circumstances, clients may not make any claim other than a full refund of deposit.

2a. COVID & Government Restrictions
– In the event of severe government restrictions (total lockdown or less than 15 guests allowed), you can postpone your event to a later date without penalty.
– In the event of moderate government restrictions (reduced guest numbers but more than 15 guests allowed), you can postpone your event to a later date with at least 7 days notice prior to your event without penalty, or proceed with reduced guest numbers.
– In the event of moderate government restrictions (reduced guest numbers but more than 15 guests allowed), if you postpone your event with less than 7 days notice, a 20% fee will apply to compensate for expenses already incurred (such as time to prepare your order, expenses on ingredients for your food etc..).
– In any of the circumstances above, if you elect to cancel rather than postpone your event, our standard cancellation policy will apply.
– Cancellations due to reasons not directly related to Covid-19 government restrictions, (personal reasons, anxiety over Covid, unhappy to proceed with reduced guests, etc…) the booking deposit will be forfeited and our standard cancellation policy will apply.

3. Change of Final Guest Numbers
Should the number of the final guests change, you need to notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. If guests cancel between 7 and 4 days prior to the event a 50% fee will apply. If your guests cancel within 3 days prior to the event, the entire amount is payable even if they are not attending. If your group falls below the minimum required number of guests, you will be asked to pay the minimum amount applicable to the high tea package you have selected.

4. Change of Organiser/Using a party planner:
Our service is multi-layered and for that reason we prefer to work with the same person from start to finish. If a new person/party planner takes over along the way, please forward them all existing correspondence & inform them of your booking arrangements. We will work along side the new organiser provided they have done their homework and they understand our services and your booking.

5. Delivery, Pickup and Parking fees – High Tea Packages & Premium Crockery Hire:
All High Tea Packages as well as our Gold Class Crockery Hire Package qualify for free delivery, setup and collection within 20 km driving distance from our base in Bexley NSW (by road, based on Google Maps). Deliveries beyond the 20 km attract a delivery fee. The fee depends on location and will be quoted upon receipt of your booking enquiry.
We can pickup our equipment on the same day or on the next day. Pickups on Sundays after 5pm are surcharged at $50 (groups up to 30 guests) or $100 (groups over 30 guests) due to the increased cost of labour on Sundays after 5pm.

5a. Parking
We ask for a parking space for delivery and collection of equipment. If you are unable to provide parking and street parking is not available, our delivery team will use a pay station (if a pay station is within range) in which case you are required to cover the parking fees. If  you have not made any provisions for parking and our team has to keep driving around in hope to find a spot, this may delay the starting time of your event. Please take this into account because we can’t be held responsible for circumstances outside our control.

Parking fees are payable directly to our delivery team or charged to your nominated credit card.

6. Credit Card Bond 
All bookings require a valid credit card as security. There will be no charges to the credit card provided unless in accordance with paragraphs 2 & 3 or if the value of damaged/lost items exceeds the damage bond. The charges for each damaged or lost item are outlined at the end of this page.

7. Chargebacks
If you believe you have been incorrectly charged you should speak to us first. False credit card numbers and chargebacks to avoid paying for received services or for damaged items will be reported to the authorities.

8. Cleaning of China and Silverware
Our china is valuable, old and rare. Leftover tea and food can cause permanent stains. We ask you to help us preserve the beauty of our china. If you have booked a High Tea with us, items should be rinsed by hand in cold water. There should be no tea residue and scrap food present, or a $100 cleaning fee will apply. All liquids and food scraps must be rinsed off. Strictly no dishwasher!
If you have booked crockery hire, you need to hand wash all items with soap and water prior to collection. Strictly no dishwasher because it will damage the delicate china!

9. Delivery and Collection (High Tea Packages & Gold Class Hire Bookings)
High Tea Delights will deliver & setup the day prior to your function or early in the morning on the day of the function in line with the arrangements made between you and High Tea Delights.
Equipment will be collected at the end of your function or the next day as per arrangements between you and High Tea Delights. At least one person from the hirer’s end must be present during collection of the equipment.

9a: Pickups and Returns (Crockery Hire Bookings)
– The hirer must account and inspect all items upon delivery/ collection to ensure complete satisfaction. High tea delights will not be in position to make amends in the unlikely event of human error or malfunctioning equipment, as no staff are available on weekends to deliver/exchange hire items.
– Delay in return of the hire items without prior arrangement will incur a late fee of 20% of your order total per day.

10. Items found after the function.
If a lost item is found after the collection, it is your responsibility to return the item to our premises.

11. Food quality
The food we provide is prepared by qualified staff in a professional kitchen using the freshest ingredients. High Tea Delights have taken all reasonable steps to ensure our food meets all health requirements & quality standards.

12. Food allergies
It is your responsibility and the responsibility of your guests to disclose any food allergies. We can not cater for every diet/food allergy and guest discretion is advisable.

13. Damaged items
Lost or damaged equipment will be charged at replacement value. If damage, or loss occurs, the value of the items is charged as follows:
Tea Spoon, Cake Fork, Sugar Tong, $10/piece
Classic Champagne/Wine/Water Glass: $5/piece
Crystal Champagne/Wine/Water Glass: $15/piece
Royal Albert/Miranda Kerr Teapot: $140/piece
Royal Albert/Miranda Kerr Cake Stand: $120/piece
Royal Albert/Miranda Kerr Teacup, Saucer, Cake Plate, Sugar Bowl or Milk Jug: $100/piece
Other Sets Tea Cup, Saucer, Milk Jug, Sugar Bowl, Side Plate: $35/piece
Other Sets Tea Pot or Cake Stand: $100/piece.
Other sets Serving Platter or Sandwich Platter: $50/piece
Miscellaneous Items: POA

14. Liability
Our products and services are provided to the best of our ability and like every other service provider, we rely upon employees, contractors, vehicles, weather & traffic conditions, as well as information and facts you provide.
We will make all reasonable efforts to complete the agreed supply of products and services within the time estimate that we agreed upon. However, we shall not be held liable for any loss or damage suffered because of any unavoidable or reasonable delay in completion due to unforeseeable circumstances outlined above, including your failure to deliver items such as payments, documents or information.
Furthermore, we shall not be held responsible for misuse of any products and services that we provide to you. You and your guests shall use our products and services only for the purposes that they are intended to be used for.

15. Acceptance of our Terms & Conditions
We have taken every reasonable step to inform you of our terms & conditions. Terms & Conditions may change without notice. However, the conditions applicable at the time of your booking will apply. Acceptance of our terms & conditions is required in order to proceed with a booking. If you have already paid a deposit before you made yourself familiar with our T&C’s and you wish to cancel, we are happy to issue a refund within 48 hours from the time and date the deposit was paid. After the 48 hour grace period our regular cancellation policy applies