“Stay Calm and Ring Carson for Tea,” is such a popular Downton Abbey saying that there’s actually a tee shirt with that saying on it. All things Downton Abbey have inspired wedding trends, from the elegantly hand-beaded dresses to the ladies’ pincurl hairstyles to the men in morning coats, and when you mix that with our love for William, Kate and all things royal, you get a romance with the tradition of afternoon tea.
Thus, a delightful trend for bridal showers is planning an afternoon high tea, complete with delicate teacups, romantic table settings featuring centerpieces of roses and other pretty florals, tiny sandwiches, mini scones, petits fours and other refined edibles displayed on antique tiered platters with little silver tongs for genteel self-serving. With a cream and pink color scheme, and little tiny touches of light green frosting on those petits fours, the bridal tea is a ladylike gathering with high style and high class…and since the menu is comprised of tiny bites and tea, it’s also one of the most budget-friendly bridal shower themes possible.
Add some extra fun and flair to your party by inviting guests to wear Downton Abbey or royal family-esque dresses, hats or fascinators, and ribbons in the girls’ hair, to make the experience more authentic and capture fabulous photos of your guests’ pretty ladyship style.
And bring in a top wedding trend of setting up a tea bar, where guests can explore the different types of teas, and learn a bit about them via your tea ID cards!
And now, for the tea itself. I discovered Davidson’s Organics Teas, which not only provides a dazzling array of tea flavors, but they also donate a portion of their profits to The Organic Center, Friends of Nevada Organics and Casa, the latter being a volunteer organization helping with the needs of abused and neglected children. Since a wonderful aspect of weddings now is ‘giving back,’ a tea company that’s charitable-minded is all in good taste.
For your bridal shower tea party, serving organic tea is a wonderful way to adhere to your green-living values, and share them with your guests. So print out pretty cards identifying each of your tea flavors, and sharing the ethical values of the company from which it came. Davidsons Organics ensures that their teas come from estates that don’t use pesticides or fertilizers, care about the health of their workers and families, maintain the sustainability of the land, and respect surrounding wildlife. A tea box with this information is a very smart and inspiring bridal shower favor to offer.
For your British-inspired high tea, here are just some of the flavors I love at Davidsons Organics, in regular and decaffeinated blends:
Classic Teas:
- English Breakfast
- Earl Grey
- Spiced Pear
- Cinnamon Vanilla
- Darjeeling
- Orange Spice
- Chamomile and Fruit
Green and White Teas
- Lemon Ginseng Green
- Moroccan Mint
- Jasmine Flower
- Green Tea Garden
- White Pomegranate
- White Orange With Clove
Red Teas
- South African Rooibos
- Red Vanilla
- South African Honeybush
Chai Teas
- Herbal Classic Chai
- Mandarin Chai with Anise
- Rooibos Spiced Chai
Tea With Honey
- Bing Cherry with Almond
- Meyer Lemon
- French Vanilla
- Spearmint Orange Spice
Trying such unique flavors of teas, when your guests may be so used to, and loyal to, their usual brands and flavors, creates an experience that’s very much like an adventurous wine tasting. They discover new flavors and blends that delight, all the while knowing these organic flavors exist to make their healthy tea ritual more adventurous and perhaps exotic. For instance, I never knew there was such a thing as Dessert Teas (designated as ‘after-dinner teas) designed to taste like a dessert (Cherries Jubilee, Coconut Vanilla, and Raspberry Cream Caramel being just some of the flavors at Davidson’s Organics.)
Keeping your tea party gorgeously green, set on each table tiny trays or bowls of organic sugar cubes, raw organic brown sugar cubes, agave, stevia and other sweeteners that might also be new to your guests, as well as tiny pourers of organic almond or soy milk for those who partake.
Play period-style classical music during your party, and you have the perfectly-themed bridal shower that’s a refreshingly unique experience for guests, young and old.
Check out Sophie’s Taste of Tea post to discover a wonderful collection of organic teas you might wish to add to your bridal shower menu as well.
