Along with village fetes, and barn dances, tea parties are inspiring brides-to-be looking for a quirky, laid back feel for their big day.
Via VintageChinaParlour
As a nation of tea drinkers, we Brits love a good excuse to get out a teapot and some pretty china and enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake. There's something very cosy and nostalgic about holding a tea party or attending a village fete, something that feels right for a special afternoon with family and friends.
There are lots of different ways you could incorporate a tea party theme into your wedding reception.
Like your vintage? Who doesn't want an excuse to dress up flapper style? Then why not have a Twenties/ Thirties prohibition style party, and serve cocktails from tea cups - mine's a GandT. Check out this Twenties themed Wedding shot by Rosie Parsons (via ruffledblog)
Tea cups and tea pots make really pretty centrepieces. I think they work especially well with wild country blooms, but they would look great with funky brights, like Gerbera, Dahlia and Anthuriums.
If you're going to have a go at arranging your own flowers, try not to obscure the handle or spout otherwise you lose the shape of the tea pot and then you might as well just use a vase...You could go wider and wilder, always my tendance, but I especially wanted the teapot to be visible for these shots.
Here I took my lead from the colour of the pots and used blues and pinks for this funky navy teapot.
Also think about the proportions - of the arrangement to the tea pot, and the flowers that you're using. Using larger/heavier flowers and foliage lower down and smaller light flowers for adding height and span keeps a good balance to the finished arrangement.
As a nation of tea drinkers, we Brits love a good excuse to get out a teapot and some pretty china and enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake. There's something very cosy and nostalgic about holding a tea party or attending a village fete, something that feels right for a special afternoon with family and friends.
There are lots of different ways you could incorporate a tea party theme into your wedding reception.
You could have afternoon tea instead of a sit down dinner, with fingers sandwiches of cucumber, smoked salmon, egg and cress, home made cakes and pots of steaming tea to sup and share.
(via tumblr - sorry not sure who's it is, let me know if you do)
Plants are a great fuss free option for a decorative touch and look great planted in tea cups - try using pansies or succulents.via elizabeth ann designs
Use cups and teapots to decorate the venue, mix and match crockery along long trestle tables, or have groups or a single pot on round tables.Ask your florist for their advice, as there are infinite ways you could adapt this to work with your theme.Via Pinterest - thebridescafe)
There's a glut of companies now hiring vintage china tea sets, and props from bunting, books, to suitcases and hay bales. Vintage China Parlour is one such company that I've just discovered. They are able to provide lovely vintage tea sets and all the accoutrements necessary to make your afternoon tea party go with a swing. As well as vintage they have chintzy Burleigh and more contemporary Emma Bridgewater designs in their collections. Follow the link for more details.
Here I took my lead from the colour of the pots and used blues and pinks for this funky navy teapot.
Also think about the proportions - of the arrangement to the tea pot, and the flowers that you're using. Using larger/heavier flowers and foliage lower down and smaller light flowers for adding height and span keeps a good balance to the finished arrangement.
I hope I've given you a few ideas and handy hints for your own tea party. All this talk of tea is making me seriously parched, only thing to do is decide which lovely brew to have Earl Grey, Assam or Oolong?
