Bridal Shower - The Afternoon Tea/High Tea

Thank you to all of those who made it out to the Original Wedding Soiree. It was really great to meet you all and I hope that you enjoyed the day.

The Bridal Shower is a chance for friends and family to come together and show the bride with affection and love by "showering" the bride with gifts.

The bridal shower began as an alternative to the dowry. A long time ago, there was a young girl who loved a young miller. The miller was a very kind and generous man but was also unfortunately very poor, therefore the maiden's father disapproved of the match and refused to give her a dowry. The village people loved the young couple and had desired their marriage. To make up the girl's dowry, each villager brought some treasured possession of his own until a chest had been filled with all household goods that a bride should have to make her new home. With these gifts they "showered" the maiden until even her father was won over and the young couple lived happily ever after.

The Afternoon Tea or High Tea is a lovely, elegant way to bring your friends and family together. One of my personal favourites is the Afternoon Tea at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. It's wide variety of tea and luxurious setting makes for a wonderful and soothing afternoon.

For us Toronto dwellers, The Windsor Arms Hotel is yet another beautiful and historic setting. Each teapot is different in colour and shape.

Afternoon Tea can be easily done at home. Your guests could all bring their own teapots and you could provide the tea along with sandwiches, (crust cut of of course :) ) a selection of cheeses and fruit and the most important, scones with devonshire cream. All piled high on a tiered serving dish.

Happy Planning

Jen