Table of contents for May - June 2007 in TeaTime

Our office is abuzz with talk of romance. Our recent and soon-to-be brides are comparing notes on favored china patterns, best colors for bridesmaids’ dresses, and what to serve at a wedding reception. So many decisions to make in such a short period of time! My advice is to select a china pattern that reflects your lifestyle and that brings a smile to your face each time you use it. For bridesmaids’ gowns, try to choose a color and style that will be flattering to all your attendants. And for the reception, plan an event that will be remembered as an over-the-top special tea, complete with the most beautiful and delicious foods, and an array of teas, hot and cold. With our wedding-bound co-workers as inspiration, the TeaTime staff set…

Celebrating tea is an occasion rich in tradition and love, making it the perfect match with all things wedding. The care put into brewing a soothing pot of tea and preparing magnificent morsels for friends and family to enjoy is similar—on a smaller scale—to the planning required for wedding preparations. But the joy of sharing both events is immeasurable, and the memories priceless. The beauty of a tea gathering is that, unlike a wedding, it can become a lovely custom repeated frequently among your family, and an even lovelier way to spend time with your husband. Toast a new marriage with a tea, and continue for years to come celebrating that union in the same way, keeping the same setting or favorite menu to remind you always of that original…

From an early age, we realize there are basic tea wares you need, and imagination will only take you so far. The experience of tea is made finer not only with pretty teacups but also with a seemingly endless supply of tea accoutrements. And because a complete tea service suitable for anyone past the age of six is hard to find all in one box, it can be intimidating putting together a collection worthy of an adult. From strainers to caddies to sugar tongs, the options can be overwhelming. But once you have the basics in your cabinet, or displayed in your dining room, the rest will fall easily into place. First and foremost, a teakettle is a convenient appliance to have on hand. Today a kettle typically remains on…

As a gesture of friendship and sharing, the bride and groom bestow upon each guest a small but carefully chosen keepsake of the nuptials. Choose a wedding favor that is elegant and speaks eloquently to the spirit of tradition, and of course, to romance and love. A gift of five sugared almonds is a cherished custom, as each almond symbolizes an aspect of marital bliss: health, wealth, happiness, abundance, and long life. The almonds are often presented in a bonbonniere—a small ornate box or dish intended to hold candy. Easiest to find during or near the Easter season, a single, perfect chocolate egg is symbolic of newness and joy. A faux Fabergé egg or egg-shaped soaps are equally charming choices. Flower bulbs or seeds in beribboned glassine packets represent ever-growing…

N ot so long ago, most well-born young ladies were fluent in floriography, also known as the language of flowers. Each bloom was suffused with sentiment, and bouquets and tussie-mussies were crafted to communicate a specific message, often one of love. With a few carefully chosen flowers, a bridal bouquet or tussie-mussie today can be just as meaningful, and naturally beautiful, as those of yesteryear. RARE BEAUTY How appropriate to fill a bridal bouquet with daffodils, a flower that symbolizes joy, happiness, chivalry, and new beginnings. These delicate blooms are even more meaningful when combined with yellow tulips, which say “there is sunshine in your smile.” Though made with only two flowers, a tussie-mussie with yellow orchids and roses carries a resounding message for new brides. Yellow roses mean true…

Q I am engaged to be married, and I am not certain about the protocol for sending wedding invitations. Should I also send a “save-the-date” card, or is this necessary? A First, send a save-the-date card, simply because people are so busy today. Once this notice is received and posted on a guest’s calendar, your invitation will be expected to arrive four to six weeks later. Q Some of my dear friends are planning a bridal tea in my honor, and I am not sure whom I should suggest to pour the tea. Should I suggest my bridesmaids, my aunts, or my sister? A It is considered an honor to be asked to pour tea at an Afternoon Tea. The role of the tea pourer involves the most stylized and…

The Bridal Book is more than a keepsake of the wedding day—it is an invaluable tool to help brides organize thank-you notes for gifts, and an address book that will assist in assembling guest lists for future events. Because this book is one you will want to keep—and use—choose one that will be an elegant addition to your favorite writing desk. Also, let your Bridal Book serve as a happy reminder of your wedding every time you thumb through it. Along with the names and contact information, leave space for guests to pen in a special sentiment about the ceremony, or the reception afterward—whatever they might choose to share. These lovely comments will glow in your memory and help build lasting connections with those who provided them.…

The reception following a wedding ceremony is not only a chance for loved ones and well-wishers to join in the happiness of newlyweds, but also to greet them for the first time, as man and wife. What better way to toast such a momentous occasion than with a warming cup of tea and a buffet of savories, scones, and sweets? Ideally timed for afternoon weddings, a grand tea reception is an elegant and memorable celebration of both the couple and occasion. ALMOND BUTTER TEA SANDWICHES WITH SHAVED CHICKEN AND PEACH CHUTNEY Makes about 30 sandwiches 30 toasted 1/4-inch-thick baguette rounds 1 recipe Almond Butter (recipe follows) 1/4-pound shaved deli-roasted chicken 1 recipe Peach Chutney (recipe follows) Garnish: fresh chopped chives 1. Spread each baguette round with a thin layer of…

The bride and groom’s first dance during the reception is, by tradition, one of the most tender moments of the wedding day. The song that accompanies this romantic minuet should be chosen with care—an enduring, ageless melody the newlyweds will always remember as “their” song. “When You Say You Love Me” . . . Josh Groban “At Last” . . . Etta James “A Fine Romance” . . . Ella Fitzgerald “A Kiss To Build a Dream On” . . . Louis Armstrong “All Of Me” . . . Billie Holiday “Cheek to Cheek” . . . Fred Astaire “Days of Wine and Roses” . . . Andy Williams “Embraceable You” . . . Sarah V aughan “Fly Me To The Moon” . . . Frank Sinatra “I Only Have…

Pineapples have always been a symbol of welcome, and that’s just the warming sentiment a bride wants her guests to feel when joining her in celebrating what will be one of the greatest milestones of her life. And as surely as there will be a wedding, a bridal tea will precede it; this special event is as traditional a custom as veil and gown. For just such a tea, choose our Wedding Bell Scones. Lush and sugary sweet with bits of candied pineapple, these golden baked treats are not only delicious, but also symbolize the very spirit of the occasion. What’s more, one bite and guests will be asking what makes them so extraordinarily moist and rich. The answer? We’ve added a surprise ingredient to enrich the dough—cream cheese. Not…

Much like the aroma of a flavorful tea, love is in the air. Sweeten teatime with these beautiful accessories sure to inspire affection, either for yourself or for your favorite newlywed couple.…

Any occasion for tea is special, but when an upcoming wedding is the reason, there is something especially meaningful to celebrate. An aura of excitement fills the atmosphere, and love is literally in the air. To share the many emotions surrounding an engagement and marriage, friends and relatives traditionally give showers for the bride-to-be, and a tea party has been a staple for years in the selection of events. A bridal tea, though, isn’t just an everyday tea. This gathering beckons planning, enough sparkle to match the gleam in the bride’s eyes, and extra attention to detail. With so much going on, why should the bride be the only one with a book to help her plan? Try our suggestions for planning a perfect Afternoon Tea for the special bride…

It is customary during the reception to raise your cup in blessing to the bride and groom with a toast to their union. Try these time-honored words of hope and goodwill for new beginnings. God, the best maker of all marriages, combine your hearts in one, your realms in one. May the joys of today be those of tomorrow; the teacups of life hold no dregs of sorrow. May your hearts be as warm as your hearthstone. Those who love deeply never grow old. What is a vow, but an intention spoken out before the world so that the world, in hearing, might take part in aspirations of the willing heart? May your right hands be stretched out always in love, but never in want. May the flower of love…

The basic elements of a cake may seem ordinary—flour, eggs, water, and some sugar to sweeten—but these everyday ingredients can be combined to make something quite spectacular. Now, imagine the outcome when you add a very special ingredient to the concoction— bright and bubbly Champagne! Synonymous with celebrating, Champagne immediately adds pizzazz with millions of tiny bubbles rushing excitement to the top of the glass. Add those same bubbles to cake batter and you’ll create a cake worthy of the celebration. Though the bubbles are gone by the time the cake is baked, the light, sweet flavor brings to mind the same jubilation that comes with the pop of a cork. CHAMPAGNE BLUSH WEDDING CAKE Makes 1 (6-layer) cake 3 (181/4-ounce) boxes white cake mix with pudding in mix 13/4…

Brightly colored streamers, cheerful balloons, and a delightfully decorated cake are the images that come to mind at the mention of a birthday party, no matter the age of the birthday girl. Even though they technically mark the inevitable passing of another year, birthdays magically and simultaneously evoke childlike excitement in the hearts of all. Perhaps it’s the glow of the candles, the promise of a birthday wish, or even the anticipation of beautifully wrapped presents, but somehow even the most stoic personalities cannot deny enjoying their special day. A birthday is cherished also because it is the perfect day to lavish love upon the person of honor, something that all too often gets neglected in the busyness of day-to-day life. This day is uniquely and distinctly theirs, and special…

Cover Florentine Platinum tea set by Wedgwood~available at Bromberg's. Shannon crystal cake pedestal by Godinger~available at Christine's. Lindsay’s List Page 10: Heart-shaped infuser~available at World Market. Tea blend~available at Harney & Sons. Sterling silver heart dish~available at Nambe. Crystal letter opener~available at Bromberg’s. Cordless electric kettle~available at Cusinart. Gourmet tea~available at British Tea Company. Inviting Words Page 14: Bridal Book~available at Lamb’s Ears. Ltd. Promises to Keep Page 16: Hotel Silver~privately owned. Hand-sewn Linens from Madeira~available at Christine’s. Tea Primer Page 22: Silver Three-Tiered Tray~available at Alda’s Forever. I Do Page 26: Location~The Historic Rucker Place. Floral arrangements~Tana Avery of Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market. Wedding Cake~Savage’s Bakery. Table Linens~available at Party Time. Silk Flower Favor Boxes~available at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market. Happy Birthday! Page 48: Queen Victoria by Herend Dinnerware~available…