Valentine’s Day Tea

January 25, 2022March 19, 2022

Welcome, Friends, it’s the time of year when we celebrate that special person or persons in our lives with “heart” felt expressions of love. Today, I’m joining a group of 20 table stylists for a Valentine’s Tablescape Blog Hop. You’ll find links at the end of this Blog full of Valentine’s Day inspiration.

I’ve prepared a very special Afternoon Tea to share with you today. Pour yourself a “cuppa” and join me for an enchanting Valentine’s Day Tea.

Let’s start with a bit of pre-tea preparation. This tablescape was inspired by the colors in the flowers. And yes, everything on the table and the tea cart other than the food and drink was thrifted.

I love the pink and deep rose colors of the flowers mixed with the delicate white of Baby’s Breath. The scalloped, cut glass vase was a perfect venue for displaying the roses and carnations used in this arrangement. The vase sits on a Battenberg Lace tablecloth covering the tea tray. The beautiful embroidery of the tablecloth can be seen in the photo above.

A second arrangement for the table was made using the same flowers with some foliage from my garden. It was done in the round so it could be viewed from all sides. I kept this arrangement low to the table so there would be no difficulty having meaningful conversation (and maybe even a flirtatious look) with the person sitting across from you.

I first added the greenery using an oasis base and then added the flowers. I ringed the flowers with Baby’s Breath and set it in a rose and green pottery bowl with scalloped edges. The flowers sit on a Battenberg Lace tablecloth that was placed over a recently thrifted flowered tablecloth.

Above is a closeup of the two tablecloths layered together. I think it adds just the right peek of color, don’t you?

The plate stack consists of three different plates all in rose colors with blue or gray accents.

The Mikasa dinner plate, Grande Ivory, was a recent find. I paired it with Bristol by Crown Derby for the salad/dessert plate and a Johnson Bros. plate with a beautiful rose design for the top plate in the stack.

I was going to make a rose from the napkin but decided that a heart would be fitting for the day, as well as add a nice backdrop for a simple floral embellishment. This is a really easy napkin fold and shows the embroidered flower on the white linen napkin. I added a small fabric flower to tie in with the plate colors and with the basket favors.

Little baskets found at a thrift store a few weeks ago were filled with homemade potpourri. Two tea bags were filled with organic green teas – one jasmine and the other a heartier green tea – and added to the baskets. Kisses in pink, red and silver add a touch of chocolate to the basket. The baskets are decorated with two fabric flowers and a silver bow that ties in with the table colors.

The baskets are a nice remembrance for guests to take home when the afternoon is over.

The water and wine goblets are Opal Innocence by Lenox and filled with water and champagne (what is a Valentine’s Tea without a little champagne for toasting?). Individual tea cups hold Earl Grey black tea. It’s one of my very favorites. I chose a nicely embellished silver-plate flatware with flowers on the handles. The floral patterns in the silver-plate, on the crystal and the china blend with the Battenberg Lace tablecloth creating lots of interesting designs on the table. The flower centerpiece picks up on all the colors and pulls everything together.

Over on the tea cart the goodies for the Valentine’s Day Tea are all assembled. A three-tiered tray, using the Mikasa dinner plates, holds savory cheddar scones in heart shapes, three types of sandwiches; roast beef, turkey and Swiss, and egg salad which I cut into heart shapes and topped with lettuce and watercress. Desserts adorn the top tier; chocolate layer cake, and chocolate eclairs, and on a Valentine flower plate sit tempting cream cheese cupcakes.

Ironstone ceramics from my collection are used for the teapot, creamer and sugar. I love the look of the ironstone on a footed silver tray. The tea set is complimented by silver candlesticks with tall, white candles. You can see how the flower arrangement adds to the beauty of the tea cart. Wish you were all here to share in the goodies!

I added a string of hearts in the window to echo the hearts on the table and the tea cart.

A closer look at the food being served.

Above, a view of whole room. I love how the light fills the space and makes you part of the outdoors while still being cozy and warm. The table is all ready for you to join me for this Valentine’s Day Tea.

For more Valentine Table Settings click on the links below from my talented fellow bloggers. This Blog Hop was organized by the creative Rita @Panoply. Be sure to visit her there.