A bachelorette tea party

“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature.”-Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Do you have a friend who seems to have always been a part of your life? That friendship that feels as special and as comfortable as your favorite piece of clothing?

What a joy it was to plan a bachelorette party for our dear friend, Heidi. Who else but a true friend would want exactly what I would want for a bachelorette party? No, not an extravagant trip to Las Vegas, nor an evening of bar hopping, nor (thankfully) some party with penis-shaped ice cubes and flimsy, gaudy lingerie. 

We are ladies, after all, so we took the opportunity to celebrate, and ran with it. We planned a day of brunch, spa appointments, and afternoon tea. 

There were only five of us for the tea, but we didn't let the size of the party limit the menu!

As we were all coming from elsewhere to meet in Kansas City, I reserved a hotel suite with a separate living room and bedroom, making sure it came with a small dining table. We also made sure the menu was made of foods that could survive traveling in a cooler, and reheating in a microwave if necessary.

On the food menu was chicken salad in puff pastry, sausage rolls, soft pretzel bites, cucumber and grape kabobs, strawberries with brie, chocolate cupcakes, and petit fours, We had a variety of teas, and mimosas, of course. A good mix of American food, with nods to the British roots of afternoon tea.

For the table, I hauled my great grandmother's real linen table cloth and napkins along (when else am I going to get to use them??), a variety of china teacups, saucers, and desert plates, tea pots with cozies, creamer, sugar bowl, and a flower vase. I'm sure it was more elegant than that hotel suite had seen in a long time.

In lieu of a banquette or sideboard, we used the room's wet bar/kitchenette area to set the food out. All together, this looks like just my kind of party. Plenty of delicious treats, and more importantly, time to relax with dear friends to celebrate a new chapter of life.