Every month we will be featuring one of our fellow High Tea Lovers as our HTL (High Tea Lover) of the Month!  Every featured HTL receives a beautiful box of cup cakes as a thank-you for sharing their tips and talent with us all!

Our newest High Tea Lover of the Month is Jessica Ricciardo, who recently hosted a Pink Baby Shower for her Sister-in-Law, Bernadette.  Jessica has been kind enough to share some of her favourite pics from the day and answered my probing questions on how she created such a charming event!…

 

What was it that inspired you to host a High Tea Baby Shower for your Sister-in-Law?

A high tea was the perfect way for a bunch of Bernie’s most loved ladies to celebrate the  next exciting phase of her life.  I really loved the idea of a high tea with a vintage twist.  Naturally, my first stop was Google and then I discovered Antiquitea!  Their crockery and service was perfect for what I wanted.   TIP:   having someone turn up and set up your tables, linen, beautiful crockery, urn and decorations takes the ache out of hosting, BUT having someone take the dirty dishes away at the end actually makes you want to kiss them!

Baby Shower in full swing!

 

What were your favourite little touches that you added to the event?

• Because we knew Bernie was having a girl, Antiquitea co-ordinated the vintage crockery to be different pinks and it looked superb.  Their bunting looked gorgeous strung around, I just smiled when people complimented me on my sewing skills.

• The best and cheap non-alcoholic pink punch.  Schweppes Apple & Pink Grapefruit fizzy drink into the punch bowl.  Add ice, mint and mixed berries for a good time.

• We had 25 different loose teas set out for people to try and mix together.   T2 have sample packs you can buy that are easy.  I also had some yummy ice tea available with fruit and mint in it.

• I decorated a blank book for everyone to write messages and advice in. We spaced out the messages of love and filled the gaps with gorgeous photos of the day. It turned out to be a great memento Bernie can keep forever.

• The one thing I wish I had done but ran out of time was have vintage gloves for everyone on arrival – would have been cute, you can hire them from costume shops for cheap.  I did have vintage parasols that people used when they arrived in the garden – girls sipping pink punch, holding vintage umbrellas and giggling  in the sun is a beautiful thing.

      

 

Your gift bags for your guests were so sweet, what did you put inside them?

Each guest got a small tin of unique yummy tea and filled the remainder of the bag with whatever they liked at the pink lolly table.  

 

Cute Gift Bags to fill with goodies from the lolly table below!

 

 

 

What was the most popular item on your high tea menu?

Cucumber sandwiches are a must at a traditional high tea. I used a mixture of wholemeal and white bread http://www.kolarsky.com/family/cooking/english_cucumber_sandwiches.htm

I don’t cook much, but managed to pull these off  (the key is cream cheese). http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=+Mini+Quiche+with+puff+pastry&view=detail&id=A65AA188FB455009E3E0AA8ED3D1DAFE2C4141E3&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR 

 

Jessica (in peach!) and friends at the end of a wonderful afternoon 

 

Thank you so much Jessica for sharing your day with us.