An Afternoon Tea Bridal Shower
This updated post from a few years ago is loaded with good ideas for an Afternoon Tea Bridal Shower. Such as an invitation you can design with Canva and the decorations and menu.
My sister Teresa suggested giving a tea party bridal shower for my daughter, Alexandra, the bride-to-be. And she loved the idea! She grew up with lots of tea parties as a child. Two of my sweet friends agreed to host it with Teresa. It was an elegant but relaxed affair and we all had a wonderful time.
Afternoon Tea Bridal Shower Invitation
I asked if I could design the invitations for them on Canva (it’s fun for me). We did it one day while I was staying with Alexandra and she gave her input, too.
Bridal Shower Venue: The Peninsula Hotel
It’s a good idea to check out private rooms at local hotels for your venue.
The Peninsula Hotel is a beautiful venue. Look at our room…
The Intimate Guest List
The guests were Alexandra’s southern California friends and relatives.
This is Alexandra’s future mother-in-law, Francesca below. Can you believe that Francesca knitted the gorgeous blue scarf that she is wearing?
It was a fun excuse to get dressed up!
Alexandra’s dress is a vintage Mexican wedding dress.
Tea Party Table Setting Decorations
The table was set with beautiful china tea cups, saucers and plates. The centerpieces were soft florals of hydrangeas and
The Afternoon Tea Menu
We started with rosé Champagne. Each guest had their own tea pot in a British tea cozy and a selection of teas such as Earl Grey black tea, chamomile, caffeine free mint, peppermint green tea and jasmine.
Each guest had their own three-tier cake stand of delectable tea sandwiches with eggs, and smoked salmon. Scones were served with jam and honey and pretty cookies, cakes and mini tarts.
So much food that everyone took scrumptious goodie boxes home.
We were saying that it would be great to try to duplicate this at home with each person bringing an element (like say, scones or cucumber sandwiches) for the group. That would be a fun gathering!
“Wildly Inappropriate Sexy Night Gown From Mom”
That was according to Alexandra’s friend, Jane (who was keeping the thank you note gift list). But, hey, I want grandchildren! (spoiler, we have a little granddaughter now with a grandson on the way).
Thanks again, Teresa, Laura, and Debbie for this wonderful, celebratory day!
Here are some more bridal shower ideas: Elegant Blue and White Bridal Shower and A Magical Evening Bridal Shower in Newport Beach.
Update: Alexandra and Luca had a beautiful small destination wedding in Madrid, Spain with a local reception in Santa Monica, California.
I love the”wildly inappropriate “ lingerie! Would love to give my daughter this also! Where did you purchase it?
I got it at Saks years ago.
You looked beautiful, as did your daughter! I love the tea party idea—a fun twist on a luncheon. Thank you for sharing the invitation, menu, and photos. Lots of great ideas for any special occasion with lady friends and family. Please keep us posted as wedding planning progresses. I have no doubt you will have many lovely creative ideas we’ll want to see and hear about.
Thanks, Shay. It’s not going to be super traditional…but it will be meaningful!
What a beautiful, wonderful celebration! Alexandraś dress is absolutely beautiful – I love everything about it!
Me too, Kathy!!!
Loved Allie’s dress!! You all look so gorgeous and happy!! So happy for Allie and Luca. Can’t wait to celebrate them!!
Thanks, Cindy!!
OH MY GOSH!
YOU GOT TO DO EVERYTHING SO BEAUTIFULLY!
HERE COME THE GRAND BABIES!!!!!!!!!!
XXX
It was so fun!!
What a lovely celebration! Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials! Hopefully will get to see the pics! Have a safe and happy 4th!
The Peninsula Hotel is certainly a beautiful place to have a bridal shower tea for a gorgeous bride to be, her family and girlfriends. What a very special day.
I’m having the same issue as Katie regarding the title fonts. Letters are very light except those with a shadow. Another concern that wasn’t happening before, opening picture has gone sideways. None of these things will/can deter me from reading your lovely blog.
Mary Ann,
This is such a great time for you. It’s been a few years since our two sons were married, respectively. I have lovely daughters-in-law that included me in so much of the wedding planning. You’ll have so much fun and make so many memories.
Alexandra looks so happy. Congratulations.
xo,
Karen
Maryanne,
What a beautiful shower for your gorgeous daughter! I know you were thrilled with how it turned out! I love a tea party for a shower theme, it’s always a hit.
Best,
Martha
Thanks, Martha!
Loved the “wildly inappropriate sexy nightgown”!! What a beautiful place to have a bridal tea and shower.
Ha!! We had fun.
Meant to ask in my earlier comment….does anyone know the name of the china pattern in the photograph of the place setting used at the tea?
I don’t know but perhaps you could call the hotel?
Everything looked beautiful. Especially you. Would you share where you purchased that gorgeous dress?
Thank you!! Max Mara Weekend from Bloomingdales.
You’re a breath of fresh air! So lovely to catch a glimpse of the darling shower! Congratulations!
You are so sweet, Rebecca.
The tea bridal shower was amazing on every possible level. The detail to everything was noticed.
Alexandra just radiates total beauty inside and out. I loved your gift, so gorgeous and feminine.
Thank you for sharing such a joyful day.
I’m still smiling, Katherine from having such a fun time.
I love the new blog look! I am having trouble reading the font used for your blog post titles though. Where the letters go from thin to thick, the thin parts virtually disappear. I thought it was just on my phone, but it is on my PC as well.
I will check into it. Looks good to me though, Katie.
How exciting for you. The Tea Shower looked amazing and beautiful. Funny that you gifted the “totally inappropriate bedroom attire”. We just had our first grandchild (boy). And I must say we are smitten. We moved temporarily from Michigan to New Orleans and rented a “shotgun” apartment in their neighborhood (Historic Algiers Point). Now I have a new place to decorate! Thanks to you for your input in our virtual Design Session in Michigan when the pandemic was going on, I will use your ideas from that to help with the new apartment. Many best wishes to you and your family.
Oh Lisa, that sounds soooo marvelous! Congrats on the baby boy.
What a beautiful shower your daughter had. Alexandra is such a beautiful girl and I cannot wait to see her as a bride. She will be gorgeous!
Thanks, Tricia! Alexandra is beautiful inside and out…and has such talented and sweet friends.