The last thing a hostess wants is to throw a ho-hum shower. Instead of the usual pinks and blues, why not go with something totally different: an elegant, whimsical, literary-themed shower?
[the menu]
>> Turn to a traditional British tea for inspiration, and serve fresh twists on the classic tiny tea sandwiches: curried chicken salad; cucumber-avocado; smoked salmon with lemony, whipped goat cheese; and pan-fried halloumi with roasted red pepper.
>> Pair the sandwiches with an elegant salad of mixed baby lettuces, pecans, goat cheese, strawberries and homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
>> Wrap up the meal with sweet scones from Pint Size Bakery (3825 Watson Road) slathered in clotted cream and jam. As an extra sweet for guests to snack on, prepare tea-bag-shaped shortbread dipped in chocolate. Recipe can be found at twinings.co.uk.
[the refreshments]
>> Greet guests with mimosas, iced cucumber water and virgin sangria.
>> On a long table, place different tea varieties in tea kettles, each covered with a cozy to keep them warm. Place a card in front of each with a handwritten description, so guests can select their favorite.
[the decor]
>> Decorate in crisp, bright colors to avoid a stuffy feel. Rent mismatched vintage china and teacups from Borough Vintage (boroughvintagerentals.com).
>> Place simple, understated floral arrangements—think pink and yellow roses, succulents and
baby’s breath—in clear glass vases or tea tins atop a stack of leather-bound books wrapped with twine or lace.
[the entertainment]
>> Ask guests to bring a baby photo of themselves. Post the photos on a board at the shower, and have guests guess which photo corresponds to which guest. Reward the person who has the most correct answers with a tea-and-book-themed gift basket.
>> In lieu of cards, assign each guest an age range and ask them to bring a favorite book appropriate for that age. Have them write a special message to the baby on the inside jacket.
[the extras]
>> Check out the London Tea Room for fun, tea-themed guest gifts. Online offerings include tea mugs, tea cozys, literary-themed scented candles and a variety of teas.
>> Additional guest gift ideas: bookmarks, local honey in little jars, scone mix and miniature pots of jam.
