Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A Sneak Preview

Next month I will be hosting a bridal tea for my friend Glenda’s daughter Anna, who is getting married in October.  Where I grew up, a bridal tea is simply a tea, and the only gift the bride receives is something from the hostesses.

In Birmingham, the Bridal Tea is really a shower.  I learned that the first time I was invited to a Bridal Tea when the invitation read, “Registered at….”  I decided that was a clue that I was supposed to take a gift.

When a guest arrives at a Birmingham Bridal Tea, someone greets her at the door, takes her gift and whisks it to another room.  There someone else, not the bride, unwraps the gift and records it in the bride’s book.  Then another hostess takes the gift and displays it on a table for all the guests to see.

A few weeks ago, Connie, Wanda and I made a road trip to Oneonta, Alabama, looking for fabric so that Connie could make a special tablecloth for my dining room table.  We had in mind something that would work with the color of my walls.

As soon as we walked into B & B Fabric Outlet we spotted this beautiful silk, and the color was perfect.

tablecloth 001

Here’s a close up of the detail.

tablecloth 004

The good news is that it was 109” wide, so all Connie had to do was hem it.  After the tea, I’ll post pictures of our table.

New_size_125_tall Now for some real tablescapes, visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  Hundreds of blogger have been playing with their dishes this week while I’ve been recovering from playing with grandchildren.

28 comments:

xinex said...

What a gorgeous tablecloth, Kathy! I love the silky material and the color and the ribbonlike patterns on it....Christine

momma said...

that is absolutely beautiful!!

i hope you have a great bridal tea. i've never heard of that at all - just regular showers for me :) sounds like an interesting and fun day!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Kathy! What a lovely fabric! I can't wait to see all of the pictures. I have a friend from Birmingham, and she is hust horrified that no one brings gifts to teas here. I will have to tell her I read your post! :-)

That is an exquisite fabric, and it will be perfect on your table. Great job with that find. PLEASE post pics of the tea...

Happy Tablescape Thursday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Debby@Just Breathe said...

It is so beautiful.

Robin said...

That fabric is GORGEOUS! I need to find that fabric place!!!

We always defined a "tea" as a shower, but with no games or activities and guests could just come and go as they pleased (instead of sitting there for the entire 2 or 3 hour shower). The food, decorations and presents were still there, of course. Oh, and the bride-to-be always opened her own gifts. That's the best part of the tea! LOL!

I can't wait to see photos....but I know it will be hard to put anything on top of that beautiful fabric!

{{HUGS}}

Robin :o)

Chandy said...

What a pretty tablecloth! Wow, lovely details on it, and the color is gorgeous!

Sue said...

That is the most beautiful fabric, Kathy! While I have never been to a shower/tea where someone else unwrapped the presents for display, I think it could be a very practical thing to do. It takes so much time for the bride-to-be to unwrap and pass around her gifts in our showers. It can actually get a bit boring... sad to say. I'll have to e-mail you for more info, alright? hugs, Sue

Printersdevil said...

Gorgeous fabric. Be sure to share photos and the details of your bridal tea with us.

Don't forget to join us on this weekend for the final Christmas in July Tablescape Party on Saturday (some may spill into Sunday since the 25th is Saturday. I am having a real CIJ family dinner on Sunday, but will post my table photos Friday night and Mr. Linky will be up and ready at Playing Dishes.

Blue Creek Home said...

Hi Kathy,
I love the silk from B & B.
I get to shop there about 3 times a year (visiting relatives in Gadsden). I love it. They do have some great bargains.
I am glad I found you. I am following you so I can keep in touch!
Rhonda

Signing Out said...

Such beautiful fabric for the tablecloth. I can't wait to see photos of the shower.

Jane

Barb said...

Hi Kathy, your cloth is beautiful!!

Barb

Anonymous said...

Kathy, This fabric is beautiful and elegant. The bride will be so impressed!!! dw

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

Gorgeous!!! I can't wait to see the finished table!!!

Happy TT!!!

Enjoy!!!
XOXO
Cathy

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

The fabric is gorgeous. Can't wait to see the pics of the tea!

Christi

Anonymous said...

wow.. not opening your own gifts is definitely different! that's the best part of a shower! :D

beautiful fabric by the way!!

blessings,
-Tracie

Sue said...

P.S. I've tagged you to play along with a little game. Stop by to see what it is all about. I hope you will play and let others know more about yourself, Kathy. hugs, Sue

http://sullivanandmurphy.blogspot.com/2009/07/tagged-to-share.html

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What gorgeous fabric and perfect for a bridal tea. It is amazing that different parts of the country have different was of celebrating! I can't wait to see pictures of the tea. It is obviously going to be beautiful. laurie

Sandi (Meme) said...

That fabric is wonderful. I can't wait to see the photos of the tea!

Laura said...

What wonderful information about showers in Birmingham. The tablecloth is so pretty.

Enjoyed visiting,

Laura

Lori @ Dining Delight said...

Interesting facts about different customs for bridal showers/tea. Love the fabric you got!

DD

Joy Tilton said...

That tablecloth is one of a kind beautiful! I do love the old traditions of showers. We are far enough south that brides still have teas and several kinds of showers. It used to be about getting a new bride outfitted in the kitchen, now the groom adds to the list with tools, cameras and such. I don't know how I feel about that...

Denise Marie said...

WOWZA! ya'll got amazing fabric and it is reminescent of bridal tea so you've got your inspiration to really get all the touches. can't wait to see pics of the beautiful event.

Mary said...

Hi Kathy, Bridal teas have become very popular here in the bay area, but everyone brings a gift, not just the hostesses. Also very popular are birthday teas, even for children. They love it! The tablecloth fabric will make a beautiful settng for the wonderful menu you and friends will set before the lovely and beautiful bride - she will be blessed! I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures!

Mary said...

Kathy, I had to go back and read some of your older posts, and laughed silly when I read the one about your husand's new razor. My hubby has an electric razor, that he asked for, that has been sitting in his dresser drawer for, oh, I'd say 6 years! Our son has the same one, and when he had to buy a new blade for it, which was $40, my husband decided he wasn't going to go there. Way too late to take it back to the store, so there it sits. You just have to love em, don't ya?

Unknown said...

That is a beautiful tablecloth. I'm anxious to see how it is decorated for your tea.

Susie Jefferson said...

That fabric is stunning - way too good for a table cloth - what if someone spills something! I could see it as a wedding dress!

Tonja said...

I love that fabric! I would have had to get enough to make myself a matching skirt!

Soosie said...

Kathy..I love the tablecloth so much..it is outstanding and will be an heirloom some day, unless a glass of sherry is spilled on it.
I am still in shock that a tea is a shower incognito in B'ham. It is not in Conway, AR. I just heard this story from a friend..she said her friend who lives in Dallas said, "I must get to Victoria's Secret to get SUE a bridal shower gift." "Uh-why are you going to VS?" asked my friend..
"because it said BRIDAL shower", she responded..the Dallas woman thought that meant Lingerie Shower.
Wouldn't that have been embarrassing if amongst all the
Calphalon and china, a lacy bra was opened!