Summer Anniversay High Tea

Nothing could stop a Wedding Anniversary High Tea – not even105 degrees in Orange County this past week. Joanna Hendrie Events and Fêtes set the stage for an iconic High Tea complete with Silver Samovar, linens and tea cups, dessert plates, tea pots and porcelain from Rent A Tea Party. The 75 guests supped on tea sandwiches – a smoked salmon and dill, a sundried tomato and crème fraiche, a sweet onion and mascarpone cheese on raisin brioche and a Madeira and red current chicken. Also, high tea is not complete without the the savories: Mini chive biscuits and country ham, cherry bread and hazelnut port butter, fig chicken pate and cornichons on baguette, and mini croque monsieur. Sweet petite cookies – macaroons, blueberry shortbread, French crème brownies, and bite size lemon squares shared each of the guest tables with Joanna’s trademark organic farm fresh strawberries and Chantilly Crème – the strawberries crowned dessert plates and trays and were scattered among two tiered serveware of savories, sweets and sandwiches. (Thank You Vintage Tea Leaf http://vintagetealeaf.com/) - Tea for the day was a green tea called Casablanca and an Oolong from Ceylon called Peaches & Cream served with fresh apricot scones.

The anniversary gateau was a two tiered chocolate ganache cake with chocolate fudge filling, piping and served with a sparking wine from the South of France.

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Wedding Etiquette 101 – Handwritten Thank You Notes

Writing hundreds of thank you notes takes time. But it is a very important activity. Your guests spent a great deal of time and money searching out the perfect gift. You in return must express your gratitude and the sooner the better.

Here are some tips – to get you started:

Get organized
Start immediately
Write one note at a time
Divide the job up
Set goals – five to eight cards a day
Create a space
– clean off a table in the den or set up a portion of your home office desk or dining table as staging area for note writing
Use dead time
- after dinner or early morning
Delay gratification
– do not use the wedding gift until after you’ve written and mailed the note
Divide list in to categories: family, his and hers, mutual friends
Write difficult notes first

Then – I like to reward myself after a meeting a goal – for me finishing a job is reward enough! Pick your strategy - whatever works. Whatever you crave - have at it!

Christian Lacroix Forever...

My favorite designer - Christian Lacroix - has always been one of the Paris season’s most anticipated shows on the Paris calendar.

Does anyone know if this is his last show? His new collection featured 24 pieces and are said to be dramatic, chic and elegant.

Now, take a look at pieces from his Wedding Collection - Rosa Clara for 2010 courtesy of http://fashionbride.wordpress.com.

Lacroix’s bride looks like a doll - sweet, modern and with the look of a silver screen dream - lots of muslin, organza, crepeline, lace and embroidery, fine stones and mother-of-pearl pailletes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Rent A Tea Party

My new pet rental firm in Orange County and Los Angeles – a service I now can’t live without – is Tricia Van Doren’s Rent- A -Tea Party. In addition to being extremely nice Tricia is accommodating, friendly and particularly responsive when working within deadlines. She has a first-class collection of Tea Cups and Saucers, Tea Pots and magnificent accoutrements you can’t wait to lay your eyes on – She has it all for your next tea party. Her tea pots are beautiful, big and colorful, with a mix and max attitude of flowers, vines, gold and pastels. Once grouped together these pieces look heavenly on a perfectly set tea table. From a “Tea for Two or for a party of 75 or more (Thanks Tricia - for everything I needed for last weekend’s High Tea), she has what you’re looking for. If she doesn’t have the piece you need I am confident she will find it.

I can’t wait to work with Rent a Tea Party again. Please stroll on over to Tricia’s website at http://www.rentateaparty.com, and give her a call and rent a tea party and create your own tea celebration this month