Bridgerton-Inspired Tea Party 2021
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It goes without saying that Bridgerton took the world by storm and my obsession remains strong. Like everyone, I love the costumes, the gorgeous interiors, looking at the Duke, and taking in all of the fabulous party scenes. When it comes to entertaining, this show has it all – we go from teas to balls to garden parties and I AM HERE FOR IT. I miss large gatherings so much, and this show brought just enough BPE (big party energy) to see me through these remaining days of covid. That said, I also think that Bridgerton is fantastic inspiration for smaller-scale gatherings this spring. So when Molly Sohr and I teamed up to shoot content, we knew that one of our tables had to be Bridgerton-themed. It was so fun pulling this together, and I’m thrilled to share our tips and tricks for bringing everyone’s TV obsession to life.
The overriding theme for this table is “antique English garden.” It was the perfect opportunity to pull out treasured family heirlooms – Nana’s china, Grandma’s silver and crystal – and pair them with modern items that complement the vintage, floral vibe. If you’re lucky enough to have tabletop pieces that have been handed down, I beg you to use them! Yes, a lot of these things require polishing and hand-washing, but it’s such a beautiful way to incorporate loved ones and family history into your table.
We designed this vignette around shades of blue and purple which always coordinate nicely. Love Shack Fancy recently launched a line of table linens, and this beautiful La Vie En Rose tablecloth is the perfect base, immediately setting the tone for a garden soiree. The place settings build on that theme, and we layered in tones of bluebell, mauve, violet, and plum to reinforce the color palette.
The placemats are from TableArt in LA, the dinner plates are old Williams Sonoma (similar here and here), and the dessert plates are from Alex’s grandmother’s wedding china. We chose India Amory’s Spring Blue napkins (outfitted with velvet ties and spray roses, naturally) to complement the tablecloth. The coupe glasses were my grandmother’s and we brought in some pretty stemware from Anthropologie (similar here and here), as well as flatware from Amazon, to match the plates. The pièce de résistance is the menu which is designed to look like a Regency-era dance card. We sourced these from Paper Colada on Etsy. The owner designs fabulous vintage paper goods, and she reworked her dance card design to make a menu (you can order both printable files and actual printed cards).
To fill out the rest of the table, we brought out every teapot, sugar bowl, and creamer we could find (a tip: these double as beautiful vases). One of my most special possessions is the antique, silver tea set that my parents gave me for my 30th birthday, and this clearly took center stage. Teacups (Ruban Blue by Vista Alegre) and an antique, crystal pedestal dish held drinks and sweets (petit fours from Southern Squares). For height and drama, we incorporated gorgeous silver candelabras (a very special wedding gift from Paul’s family).
We MUST talk about these incredible florals. Molly designs the most beautiful arrangements (read her tips here) and she totally outdid herself for this table. To create this amazing centerpiece, she actually just used a piece of oasis (set on a plate) for her base, and then built the arrangement out and up. The pastels coordinate with our color scheme perfectly, and the roses and Queen Anne’s lace practically scream “English garden” (the whole thing gives me Princess Beatrice wedding vibes).
A few tips to keep in mind if you decide to recreate this look at home:
Borrow, borrow, borrow! Molly, Alex (who works with me), and I pooled our tabletop pieces to create this vignette. I often borrow items from my mom, sister, and good friends when I entertain, and why not? It’s a fun way to get other people involved.
I’m lucky enough to have some heirloom pieces from my grandmothers, but you can find amazing things at antique shops, flea markets, and websites such as Ebay and Replacements, LTD.
For a table like this, more is more. Since we kept it mostly in a pastel blue/purple palette, we could keep layering until we achieved the arrangement we liked. Don’t be afraid to go a little over the top, and just have fun with it! The overall effect will be dramatic and fabulous.
It's hard to believe but Easter is just around the corner (it's early this year!) and soon we'll be in bridal shower/Mother's Day/graduation mode. Even if you don't go "full Bridgerton" for those events, this tea is great inspiration for upcoming celebrations – from the colors to the florals to the antique touches – and I hope you walk away with some great ideas for your own tables. The countdown to spring is officially on…22 days to go!
*All photos are Lele Fain Photography