Well, we did it! We survived having two birthday parties in the span of just one week. Yes, the "Tea Party" was this past weekend and I have to say that it was a great success. My daughter had a wonderful time and I think all the party-goers (all 16 of them!) did, too. Due to the fact that I have a ton of photos (and the fact that I am completely exhausted), I am going to show you the party details over the course of two posts.
Today, I will be sharing the tea party buffet table and goodies. Given that the party was scheduled for right after lunch, I focused only on sweets and decided to forgo any savory items like tea sandwiches. I've given a great many tea parties over the years and my experience has taught me that kids will always choose a cupcake over a watercress sandwich. :-)
I made some of the desserts myself, bought some, and "embellished" some. My pale pink petit fours were by far the biggest hit and not too, too difficult to make (I think I have finally mastered the art of poured fondant!).
I was so proud of my butter cream forget-me-nots...
There were mini vanilla cupcakes with vanilla butter cream...
I actually bought these at Whole Foods and just added some butter cream flowers.
We dipped some strawberries in chocolate...pink chocolate, of course.
These mini sprinkle cookies were quite popular (Martha's basic sugar cookie recipe)...
And a tea party isn't a tea party without piles of pastel meringues...
These were mint-chocolate chip...
I added some dishes of pretty candies...
...and my fancy sugar cubes...
And let's not forget the cake!
It was absolutely gorgeous! The bakery, Fancy Cakes by Leslie, did a fabulous job!
Just look at colors of the beautiful butter cream flowers...and I love the touches of edible glitter!
For "tea", I served strawberry milk and pink lemonade in glass pitchers (sorry - forgot to take a picture). As for table decor, I clearly went with a pastel, shabby chic look. A floral-sprigged tablecloth and lots of white and pastel dishes and cake pedestals...
I bought several shades of pink roses and some Hydrangeas (because they are my favorites).
I will post Part II of "The Tea Party" later in the week and show you some more of the favors, crafts, decor, etc...
And don't forget to come back tomorrow for "Target Tuesday"...this week I will be posting on Liberty of London's new line for Target. So unbelievably cool! You're gonna love it!
:-)
Jessica
gosh, i can't imagine having such a lovely party. how lucky your daughters both are! everything is so pretty. i love the little vanilla cupcakes from whole foods and you made them look even sweeter. really beautiful!
xo
elyse
Posted by: elyse | March 15, 2010 at 08:56 PM
Martha's got nothing on you, my dear! Your table was absolutely lovely. Such attention to detail! All your little extra love touches made for one lovely spread!
Posted by: Victoria | March 15, 2010 at 09:26 PM
what a fabulous tme
Posted by: charlane | March 15, 2010 at 09:30 PM
WOW! I think my daily requirement of eye candy has almost been satisfied!! What beautiful photos!
Your blog is always such a treat for the eyes!
Posted by: debi | March 15, 2010 at 09:31 PM
This is absolutely lovely! And that cake is beautiful!
Posted by: Holly Brooke | March 15, 2010 at 09:55 PM
gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Love all that great vintage glassware you displayed. I have a collection, but never get to use it.
Posted by: Erica@ZunkyChic | March 15, 2010 at 10:14 PM
oh my gosh!! just adorable, don't know what else to say ;0)
Posted by: Helene | March 15, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Beautiful, Jessica!
Lucky little girl!
Posted by: gabrielle | March 15, 2010 at 10:40 PM
Hi Jessica: Can believe you made the petit fours - I have tried to make them about 5 million times - and can't get the dang icing to cover. HELP. Tell me your secret. Would love for you to show pictures of how you made them.
Posted by: Myke Holt | March 15, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Very sweet (and sweet)!
Am especially attracted to the petit fours!
Posted by: Laurie | March 15, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Gorgeous as usual. Everything looks amazing!! I'd love a party like this for me let alone the kids. LOL. I'm going to have to do those sugar cubes now.
Posted by: Cheryl | March 15, 2010 at 11:08 PM
So so Pretty! That cake is simply gorgeous! Can't wait to see the rest of the party photos!
Posted by: Heidi | March 15, 2010 at 11:19 PM
You are such a girl after my own heart! Beautiful party. I love all your tea ideas, and have learned to throw a party the way you did. A little of mine, a little of my nearest grocery stores, and a little I have "spruced" up. Much easier on my family as I don't get to stressed over the tiny details that way.
And I so love the new Liberty line at Target, they had to mop the floors after me today when I was there, too much drooling! It's great to have beautiful things back at Target.
Kate
Posted by: kate | March 15, 2010 at 11:23 PM
This is beautiful!
I just love everything on your table, starting from the tablecloth. Your dishes are gorgeous! The colors are so lovely, and you take very good photos. Do you have a full table photo as well? That would be the only minus (but a very small one) of your wonderful photo posts, often I want to see the 'big picture' as well.
This was very inspiring. I have a 6 year old birthday party coming up in May! I think I got some ideas. Thank you!
Henna-Maria
Posted by: Henna-Maria | March 16, 2010 at 01:51 AM
Oh what fun! I've been looking forward to seeing this party (and I'll be excited to see even more!). I'll look forward to hearing your tips/recipes etc. on the petit fours and meringues, they look perfect! In fact, everything looks beautiful!!! Wonderful job!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Glory | March 16, 2010 at 02:07 AM
Wonderful, what a lucky girl to have a clever mum. I'd love a party like this!
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | March 16, 2010 at 06:56 AM
Oh doll! That is just amazing! Such perfect, pretty colours. The cake is incredible! By the way, when you make pastel coloured foods, do you just use regular food dye?
lm.x
Posted by: laura may | March 16, 2010 at 07:01 AM
So beautiful!
Posted by: Melanie | March 16, 2010 at 07:38 AM
Oh wow, it's so pretty, I love it !
Congratulations, it's fantastic !
Posted by: Marie | March 16, 2010 at 09:25 AM
so totally pretty!
Posted by: Pamela Angus | March 16, 2010 at 09:35 AM
Oh my goodness...I have not visited you for a while...you have been so busy. You really do amaze me!!! Your talent and ideas are beyond words. Thank you so much for sharing. Those tea bag treats are the most adorable thing I have ever seen. xoxoxo
Posted by: Koralee | March 16, 2010 at 11:20 AM
So fun to see all these photos. Will you share your recipe for petit fours and your technique? Would love to know!
Posted by: Molly | March 16, 2010 at 11:31 AM
this is unbelievable! everything looks so professional that they all look store bought! can i please have one of those mini sprinkle cookies? :)
Posted by: youngmi | March 16, 2010 at 11:56 AM
Just perfect. I always love an afternoon tea. It was Mother's Day here on Sunday, so I made tea for my little girl and I. She's had a 'tea party in the garden' for her birthday each year (she's 3), I hope as she gets older she would like to continue with it. We're British, so the chances are pretty high!
Thank you for showing such lovely photos.
Posted by: sadie | March 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Wow. I'm so in love with your blog! What a fabulous party...can't wait to see more!
Posted by: Abby | March 16, 2010 at 12:14 PM
I am totally blown away by these pictures. Everything looks amazing! I just came across your blog via a link to your wallpaper candy bars on Intimate Weddings. They look wonderful! I would love to link to them if you didn't mind.
Posted by: Rachel | March 16, 2010 at 04:46 PM
Love the forget-me-not embellishments.
Posted by: molly | March 16, 2010 at 05:49 PM
Everything is just beautiful, how lucky are those girls!!! You do such a lovely job decorating your treats. Would love the recipe to your meringues. So pretty. I am anxious to see part 2.
Ginger
Posted by: ginger | March 16, 2010 at 08:35 PM
Once again, amazing! Such fine attention to detail, and your pictures are fabulous. Can't wait for part II !
Posted by: Paris Hotel Boutique | March 17, 2010 at 02:04 AM
What a gorgeous party you put together. It is all so pretty from the cute meringues and rosebud tablecloth to the gorgeous cupcakes. Beautiful!!
Posted by: Amanda | March 17, 2010 at 04:05 AM
Wowzaa, but that is some cake! What a lovely setup - I think your hard work paid off in spades :)
Sighhh, I guess my invite is stuck in the mail ?!
Posted by: Heather | March 18, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Everything looks absolutely lovely and so perfect! I am wanting to make petit fours for Easter and yours look lovely! Would you mind sharing your recipe/technique? I'd especially love the recipe for the poured fondant you use (yours looks so smooth and opaque).
Posted by: Amy Kelly | March 21, 2010 at 11:48 PM
your blog is such a delight every time :-)
Posted by: Jen Kim | March 29, 2010 at 04:11 AM
Insane girl! Beautiful work. I have my own tea party coming up for a 3 year old princess, you have totally inspired me!
Posted by: Marcie McMurray | February 02, 2011 at 07:43 PM
My church is having a Mother& Child's tea parties, I would love to see some more ideas. Thanks,Connie
Posted by: Connie Barnett | April 21, 2013 at 10:20 PM