A Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea

On a breezy spring afternoon, a dozen ladies gathered under an ivy covered portico to sit down for a royal wedding afternoon tea.  The tables were set with teacups, fresh flowers, scones & clotted cream, dessert pastries, tea sandwiches, and gold cutlery and name cards.  We were there to celebrate the upcoming wedding of the royal couple.  It was a delightful al fresco tea!  There’s something so special about dining outside in the clear fresh air, with elegant decor, intricate pastries, and the warbling of nearby birds as a background for good conversation and laughter.   [Please note: I do not support the way Harry & Meghan have conducted themselves in the years after this wedding took place.  This royal wedding tea was more of a celebration of all things British, more than of the people getting married.  At this time no one knew how the events down the road would unfold.]

The moment that Kensington Palace announced the forthcoming marriage of H&M, there was one burning thought in my mind – “I must host some fabulous party to celebrate!”  For fans of English royalty and elegant occasions, a royal wedding is one of those rare occasions that we just can’t get enough of.  Seeing as they usually only happen in small groups every twenty to thirty years (with each generation of royals), I knew that something had to be done about it.

So I secured a gorgeous venue in our town, sent out a couple dozen invitations, and set to work planning the food, decor, and tea options.

The Tea Selections

After researching all the royal family members’ favorite teas, I chose to serve:

~ Royal Wedding Blend by Harney & Sons which had been created for William and Catherine’s wedding lunch.  It’s a white tea with flavors of coconut, almond, vanilla, and rosebuds and it’s delicate and delicious.

~ Liqorice & Mint by Teapigs – This one was presumed to be a favorite of Meghan’s since she once shared a picture of it online.

~ Blackberry Hibiscus by Choice Organic Teas – This one has no special connection to the royals, but added a spring berry flavor to the tea options.

I did consider serving Princess Diana’s favorite rose congou tea, but the Royal Wedding Blend already had rose petals.  I also thought of offering Queen Elizabeth’s preferred Twinings Earl Grey, but that seemed a bit too standard for such a festive occasion as this one.

The scones and sandwiches were catered by a local bakery, except for the gluten free sandwich option which I made with specific guests in mind.  The teacups & saucers were Gracie China available here, with golden spoons for stirring.

Tea Sandwiches and Scones:

~ Cinnamon chip scones

~ Cranberry orange scones

~Cream cheese and cucumber on white bread

~ Pecan chicken salad on wheat bread

~ Pesto and olive tapenade on gluten free bread

For dessert we had a mountain of meringues, chocolate and vanilla macarons, raspberry cream cake, coffee and chocolate torte, miniature cheesecakes, and fresh fruit.  On my way out the door, I forgot the adorable pink candy roses I’d molded the day before… Ah well!

For take-home boxes, I had assembled gold and white party favor boxes and placed gold or silver crown stickers on the front. Each box was filled with Walker’s shortbread fingers daintily packaged in creamy organza sachets, and individually packaged tea bags that I had custom printed with chandeliers and the royal wedding date.  This way, the women had a mini “tea party in a box” they could open to snack on while watching the royal wedding the next day at 4 in the morning our time.  (My husband and I did just that with our party boxes during the televised ceremony!)

Towards the end of the afternoon tea we had a royal wedding quiz I’d created – I was worried I’d make the quiz too hard, but the winner answered 7/10 correctly. It was quite a lot of fun for everyone and there were some funny answers on the multiple choice!  The winners received British made gifts and items made in the town of Windsor, where the royal wedding would take place the next day.

We then went around the table sharing our favorite wedding memories, either from our own marriage or one we’d attended.  It was marvelous to hear a collection of wedding memories from so many individuals’ experiences – there was laughter over something gone wrong at a wedding, and sweet images conjured up over what is often the most special day of one’s life.

Weddings, in a sense, tie us all together and symbolize the rites of passage from flower girl to bridesmaid, maid of honor, and eventually to the role of bride and beyond.   There’s a sense of sisterhood and kinship at events like these that span the generations and make us feel like we all belong to the one big family of women who carry on these traditions of bridal showers, weddings, and get togethers, encouraging one another and sharing a few hours of feminine conversation during a much-needed retreat from the fast-paced world.  That is what I wanted to capture at this afternoon tea, and that is why we all gathered to celebrate the wedding of a couple that we’ve never met, but we all wish the best for.

I hope these pictures have brightened your day, and I hope it inspires you to pull out your tea pot, bakes up a pan of scones or desserts, and sit down with a girlfriend to catch up and relax.

Till next time,

Katrina Holte