I have a close friend who is a 14-month breast cancer survivor. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and because I love my friend dearly, I held a pink ribbon & roses high tea in her honor. The weather cooperated (thank goodness!) and graced us with 78-degree weather at 4 p.m. so that we could enjoy high tea on the deck.
We know that many people confuse high tea (heartier fare served later in the day) with the more delicate afternoon tea, which generally includes lighter food offerings at an earlier hour. My friends and I LOVE to eat, so a high tea seemed most appropriate
Ultra-feminine pink & white is always a favorite for high tea, afternoon tea, and ladies’ luncheons, no matter the time of year. For the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it seemed perfect! Today’s table is draped in floor length soft pink cotton and topped with a white mock quilted/damask linen.
This pretty, contemporary place setting uses Silvestri “Sculpted Rose” dishes. I like the kidney bean shape of the snack plates with the indentation to hold the cup firmly in place. The soft colors and profusion of roses balances out the decidedly heavy construction of the plates. The flatware is “Danish Princess”
The cups – used on this day for both soup and tea – are surrounded by doves.
These white cotton luncheon napkins are among my favorites. The corner design is so subtle. A simple length of pink ribbon adds color and again pays homage breast cancer awareness.
The tea set is so much fun! A combination of roses, doves and girlie ribbons make the set a favorite.
Indeed there was plenty to drink today! A champagne toast to start (and finish!) in honor of the breast cancer survivor present, iced tea with a slice of Granny Smith apple for color and flavor, and wonderful hot tea with apple & cinnamon to sip as the afternoon wore on and the air cooled.
As high tea calls for a heavier fare, these hearty tea-sized turkey & herbed cheese sandwiches on croissant with homemade broccoli-cheese soup fill the bill.
Crunchy, sweet butter cookies shaped like pretzels taste wonderful with the cinnamon-apple tea!
Fragrant pink roses in simple silver julep cups adorn the table. Each guest received a nosegay with a ballerina-tied pink ribbon as a parting gift, a reminder to stop and smell the roses AND to do that necessary breast self-exam each month.
To my sweet friend and to ALL breast cancer survivors and fighters, may you stay in the pink for years to come! And in memory of those who lost the battle, including my great-aunt Genevieve, this one’s for you.
Other pretty pink tablescapes on this site include:
Peaceful Peonies
Days of Wine & Roses
Peonies & Pearls
Chocolate Traditional
Platinum & Pink Valentine
Blushing Bridal Shower
Easter Floral
Easter Bloom
Pink Plaid & Posies
All A’Bloom In Pink For Spring
Princess Pink Birthday Dinner
Showered In Pink
Easter In Pink & Grey
French Poodle
Peony Power
Fairy Princess Party
Fairy Tale Wedding Shower
Blurred Lines With Shades of Pink
Pretty In Pink Birthday Luncheon
Coming Up Roses
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Pretty In Pink, Wicked In Spurs – Breast Cancer Awareness
Bald Is Beautiful – Breast Cancer Awareness
Pink & Purple Chocolate Christmas
I am pleased as pink punch to once again join Lady Katherine and all the lovely ladies (and gentlemen!) in her tea parlor for Tea Time Tuesday. For those of you who enjoy fine tea time activities, just click on the link!
Tablescapes at Table /Twenty-One 
Thanks for remembering “Aunt Genevieve”, my mothers oldest sister who passed away in 1982 with breast cancer. I had the opportunity to visit her on several occasions and on her death bed. She had lived a long, successful life in Minneapolis where she gave back to the community.
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You are a beautiful friend. Such a lovely tea set and tea party. Well done as usual.
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What beautiful roses to commemorate Breast Cancer AWareness month.
You are right, there is a lot of confusion over tea terminolgy. Especially here in America. Some tea shops even get it wrong.
This hopefully explains the different teas:
Low Tea (aka Afternoon Tea) was served in between the noon and evening meal, usually in mid to late afternoon. It might have included sweet or savory foods, perhaps cakes and pastries and maybe sandwiches and fruit or other goodies. Or it might have been very simple with only bread and butter and a cup of tea. It was sometimes served in the drawing room (a living room space, not a dining space) on a low table (why it got the name low tea) on what we today in America might call a coffee table. Ladies would rest their teacup in their lap and nibble on a few goodies and visit with their friends. Afternoon tea could be simple or fancy. A little bit of food, or a lot of food would be served. But it did not a substitute for a regular meal.
Sometimes it might have been called a Cream Tea if only scones and jam and cream are served. Or it might be called a Garden Tea if it was served outside.
High Tea, on the other hand, was the same thing as supper. It was served at a high table (the dining table or kitchen table) and a meat was served. It WAS the evening MEAL, and probably would have been served between 5- 7 pm. It was what the common folks did. Eat supper (high tea) early and go to bed early so they could get up at the crack of dawn to work.
The upper class, wealthy Europeans would have eaten their evening meal much later… 8pm, 9pm. That lateness is what started afternoon tea (low tea) to begin with.
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Thank you to Miss Garden of Daisies for expouding upon my much-abbreviated explanation. I, too, have noticed that some tea shops get it wrong. I suppose it just sounds so grand – HIGH tea – but it is really the less “foo foo” of the two in question. I often take afternoon tea alone as I work from home. For a fun ladies evening, though, a high tea is “highly” recommended! 🙂 Thanks again for putting it all out there for anyone who is unfamiliar. That will come in handy, I’m sure! Have a wonderful week!
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