Tea Party Splendour
This inspirational shoot was created by the passionate team of Paras Mehta, Krista Fox and Lisa Allain, all highly experienced prestige wedding professionals as an extension of the classic afternoon tea experience. With all the regal focus in recent months for the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, we began to dream of a beautiful tea party in an elegant garden of a country manor. With our thoughts to incorporating elements of the past and present our photo shoot began to come to life. Our garden party was surely appropriate and fitting for a young Dutchess with all its fine tea elements amidst a sunny yellow palette.
Krista, Paras and Lisa truly worked tirelessly to bring this project to life with many late nights or early mornings creating all our loved custom elements. When we collaborate, the ideas flow with such excitement and ease. We are truly passionate about the creative process and we feel that this inspirational shoot exemplifies our best talents.
Our fictional couple are Diana and Ryan who celebrate their Engagement Party with much loved family and friends at the historic and beautiful Lakewinds Victorian Manor in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. Lakewinds is an exceptionally grand property and our gathering was set in an elegant and wonderful lattice covered courtyard. It was the perfect ambiance.
The fine details of this inspirational look were sourced meticulously. Lisa searched widely to find the perfect fabrics to create custom, hand sewn feather quill napkins, yellow polka dot fabric chair backs and a stunning table runner in an elegant modern swirl under Paras’ masterful eye, guidance and direction. Garden bistro tables in combination, wooden chairs and a gardener’s bench located by Paras made the perfect casual seating and whimsical effect beneath such a rich display of glassware and display pieces to showcase the artful and delicious treats as well as all the custom stationary.
Tea items combined by the team included a vintage well travelled antique tea chest, vintage and worn metal tea cans, modern stylishly designed tea containers and a gorgeous cream square tea pot which we cleverly nestled cake pops in a base of pure sugar as added decadence. Iced tea and lemonade were generously displayed in beautiful dispensers on top of inverted galvanized containers while individual lemonades were presented in vintage pop top bottles with Drink Me tags with the intention to make guests smile. Truly beautiful invitations with tea motif combined with personalized menus and thank you notes added the perfect customized touch created by Krista. Complimentary tags hung softly on grosgrain ribbons from the displays of each item to introduce them.
Paras’ breathtaking florals presented crisp white peonies and yellow craspidia happily sitting in mason jars down the length of the table. This was a touch of perfection.
Sarah, our extraordinary chef created the most delicious and stunning signature cake in cupcake tea cups, lemon cookies, filigree cake pops, lemon shortbread, French macaroons, coconut cakes and mouse served in crystal glasses. Our sweet table was both elegant and fun. Popcorn mini treats were placed at each setting and lemon drops awaited as take away favors.
A dreamy, bright, fun and very stylish afternoon was in store for loved and cherished guests. We respectfully and proudly present our Tea Party Splendour to you.
Produced by Lisa Allain, Visions of Platinum & Garnet (www.visionsofplatinum.com)
Shoot Co-ordinator – Ginny Chau, Visions of Platinum & Garnet (www.visionsofplatinum.com)
Concept, Decor Design and Floral – Paras Mehta, Design 2 Décor (www.design2decor.com)
Photography and Stationary – Krista Fox, Verve Photo Co. (www.vervephotoco.com)
Dessert items / fine cuisine – Sarah Locke, Yorkshire Pudding (www.ypcatering.com)
Candies – Indigo
Teas – Mother Parkers and Indigo
Charger Plates, Refreshment Dispensers, Galvanized Pails, Ice Cold Drink Buckets and Glass Pitcher – Pottery Barn
Side Plates and Tea Mugs – Crate and Barrel
Wine glasses – Anthropologie
Cake Stands and Tea Pot – Putti Fine Furnishings, Toronto
Stacked tea set – Indigo
Table and Chairs – Hofland
Fabrics – Designer Fabrics
Wardrobe – Winners, Toronto
Setting / Venue – Lakewinds (www.lakewinds.ca)
Model – Courtney Lodder, Bride to Be
Make up – Sarah Smith
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