Do you fear entertaining because you think it is too much work? Here is A Victorian Tea In 10 Minutes.
A Victorian Tea In 10 Minutes
I recently received a phone call from a dear friend who wanted to stop by. We hadn’t seen each other in ages and I welcomed the opportunity to visit. I quickly put together a pretty Victorian inspired table using thrift store and estate sales finds. Here is how you can do it too.
Disclaimer: I keep ironed tablecloths hanging in a coat closet and pressed napkins ready to go in my decorating closet.
The bouquet of flowers was already sitting on the dining table. I regularly buy arrangements from the grocery store. It brings such happiness to the home for under $10.
Minute 1 and 2
- Boil water for tea.
- Set out a tablecloth and candlesticks.
Candlesticks in the daytime. Oh yes, we’re breaking ALL the rules here. I like the bit of sparkle they add to the table.
Let’s add in some fairy lights to make it truly magical.
Minute 3 and 4
- Lay down your place settings.
I found the white chargers at Pier 1. The silver plate and pink damask napkins belonged to my grandmother, Mary. The white plates are the “Richmond” pattern by Johnson Brothers. The pink floral loving cups are Haviland Limoges. I purchased both at a recent garage sale for… are you sitting down? $5. There were only four of each but I couldn’t pass these gems up.
Minute 5 and 6
- Center your floral arrangement.
- Add a teapot and a few serving dishes.
Minute 7 and 8
- Brew the tea
- Fill the serving dishes with store-bought bonbons and cookies.
This sweet cherub dish is perfect for a Valentine-themed table. It came from an estate sale for $2. Pink (raspberry) Lindor chocolates are so yummy and can be found at most grocery stores.
Minute 9 and 10
- Set out the cream and sugar.
- Answer the door.
- Pour the tea.
Has anyone noticed that NONE of the serving dishes match? It doesn’t matter. Miss Manners isn’t attending the tea.
Everything on the table is either crystal, pressed glass or within the same color palette of white and pink. Sticking to the same hue helps create the illusion of a lovely, well-arranged table. Why you could even use PAPER plates and cups. There are so many pretty patterns available today. I give you permission to go ahead. Remember, it’s the friends, family, and memories made that are truly important.
Let’s Do It Again
A few days later another friend was coming by. I simply removed the spent flowers from the floral arrangement and made a smaller bouquet in an antique biscuit jar.
Everything else on the table remained the same.
I hope this will encourage you to enjoy sweet little things in life.
Laura
So pretty – I love company, cooking, and a happy table, but find myself ducking out on opportunities for hospitality due to sheer lack of preparedness. Definitely need to correct that this year!
oh wow.. looks lovely.
http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
Looks beautiful. We often forget that the most important thing is the time we spend with our friends rather than making sure everything is perfect (and often, it’s already perfect to our guests!) . I too keep my linens hanging and ready to go. I have an over the door towel rack in my linen closet where I hang my table cloths.
Great encouragement to embrace hospitality !
I love how you didn’t let not having loads of time keep you from having tea with a dear friend. Great information for a quick get together!
hugs, Cecilia
I suspect that Miss Manners would be delighted that you used real everything and that the matching (or lack thereof) would not be an issue.
I wish you could have been at our Betsy-Tacy Valentine Tea Party yesterday, I think you’d have been blown away.
A possible expedition to Walnut Grove to visit Laura was discussed……
Awesome, Laura!
So pretty, Laura! I know your friend felt special.
Love your tea cup collection on the buffet. You find the nicest things at garage sales. Those Limoges cups were a great find.
Your table is beautiful.
Looks delightful!
Such a beautiful embrace of hospitality! I know your friends felt well loved and special to you. I look forward to meeting you next week, Laura! blessings ~ tanna
ps I have cup envy of your $5 find!
Simple and lovely!
Laura, this is so pretty and you make it sound so easy! (Of course the real trick is not having to go to the store to buy the cookies or candies!) My guest room closet is all hanging linens (well, that and the stuff on the shelves and such — the “rod, ” at least. Makes it so much easier, doesn’t it?
So lovely. I wish I could come and have tea with you someday. Well in a way , I am, because I’m sitting here reading your post with my cup of tea and a cookie
Love your hints for a beautiful table using what you have. My friends and I had a rotating monthly tea party that was such fun. Each hostess had a
theme for her party. I wish we could have continued but alas, peoples’ lives are so busy now that some found it too much stress.
I’m looking forward to your sewing project for the Dickensian Tea. You’re an inspiration to us DIYers.
I think I could do that in 10 minutes LOL if the kitchen wasn’t in a mess as usual.
I really like that tea caddy holding your teapot and cups on your buffet
Aren’t impromptu teas the best?? I love that you keep already ironed linens on hand for those times when a friend might just stop by ~ lovely idea! I have been ironing my napkins before putting them in their big plastic box so they are ready for company and for photographing. 🙂 One of the friends that I visited while in California does the very same thing as you. She hangs her freshly ironed tablecloths gently folded over hangers in her craft room closet or lightly folded lengthwise and clipped on pants hangers. Great ideas!
It would be lovely to attend the Dickens Festival tea next December ~ would you like some company?? I’ll go online and see if I can’t secure a spot now and hopefully they are still available. Might have to do some sewing of my own. 😉
Wonderful china and lovely table!
Who wouldn’t love coming to your house for tea, Laura?! You make everything look simply so lovely and yet simple. I’m sure your guests felt so welcomed and loved.
I forgot to mention that I adore that teacup/teapot stand!! Where did you find it??
Well, you pulled it off beautifully! Love your rack with teacups. I have one that is brown. I planned on painting it white tomorrow. Now I know that I will love it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Of course, I love doing a loads-of-work, full-on afternoon tea for my friends, but this is such a lovely way to make a friend feel special with a few minutes of extra effort! Lovely!
I love this! And those cups and saucers are sheer perfection. I’m a great lover of all things tea related. In fact, my first blog was called “Tea With Dee”.
I love that you have a decorating closet. I have something like that too. It’s just spread out to a couple of antique armoires and a sideboard. Adore the mismatched china. I’d like to attend a formal tea at the Lasker Inn!
You sure inspire me, your tea table is lovely. I just love all that pink! Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
Love your sweet tea setting. I have an antique candy bowl that I have hidden away because I have no use for it, but love how you used a similar bowl for your sugar cubes. I’ll be getting it out and cleaning it up. Such a great idea. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it!
Your table is gorgeous! Wish my dining room table wasn’t always covered with blogging paraphernalia all the time lol My mom had Haviland china, it’s a favorite of mine. That Christmas tea sounds fabulous to this tea lover! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! xoKathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Congratulations!
Your Post is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week and will be pinned to our Features Board. Thanks so much for sharing with us and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen