AFTERNOON TEA
A wedding shower is a time for the bride-to-be to celebrate with the women who are nearest and dearest to both her and her fiancé. What better way to make the event memorable and meaningful for the bride, her friends and family than with an afternoon tea party that blends time-honoured traditions with contemporary touches.
. . As host, this is your chance to finally put your fine china to good use. Bring out everything you’ve got, including grandma’s hand-me-downs and your own wedding finery. A playful mix of patterns will add whimsy to the occasion. Even eight place settings can be stretched to accommodate a much larger crowd if you use a little creativity. Repurpose a crystal bowl as an ice bucket to chill rosé champagne, or serve dessert in stunning glass barware. Dishing up soup in teacups is not only practical, but also helps further the day’s theme.
. . Let the tea party concept influence the gift giving as well. Ask guests to bring the bride a cherished dessert recipe alongside a teacup with which she can begin her own eclectic collection. Check out the Wedgwood Harlequin collection for inspiration.

Product credits (above): Cinderella chair, Pluto shag rug, marble Jacob table, rectangular tray and Terra daybed, all from Casalife; feather floor lamp from Trianon Interior Design and Antiques; Colada wallpaper in Black/White by Umbra.

COFFEE TIME
This is a tea party, but you wouldn’t want to leave your java-junkie friends high and dry, now would you? A self-serve coffee bar outfitted with the KitchenAid® Pro Line® Series programmable 12-cup coffee maker and burr coffee mill (above) will keep everyone contented and caffeinated. With coffee this good, even the tea drinkers will have trouble staying away.

2’S PARTY TIPS

• Forget balloons and streamers. Dress your space with wallpaper instead. Cut lengths of your fave patterns and hang them around the room to create multiple focal points. Removable double-sided tape keeps paper secure, but won’t damage walls. Use remnants to line serving trays or to wrap gifts. We used Colada wallpaper in Black/White (above), Phantom in Steel, Tolla in Celadon, Mosaico in Silver/Black and Dotty in Black/White, all by Umbra.
• Baking not your thing? Then have we got the dessert for you: individual trifles! Simply layer pound cake, sliced strawberries, vanilla pudding or custard and whipped cream in double old-fashioned glasses, like these from the With Love collection by Vera Wang for Wedgwood (above) until filled. Top each with a strawberry. Delish!
• Satisfy teetotallers with a refreshing mix of lemonade, mint, orange, apple, lemon and cucumber. Others can add a shot of Pimm’s No. 1 for a more spirited drink.
  

TEA SANDWICH 101
The traditional tea sandwich is meant to be eaten during afternoon tea to stave off hunger until dinnertime. The filling is typically light, delicate and unfortunately quite bland—that is, until now. Our tasty tea-sandwich trio (above) takes some inspiration from the classics, but its bold, bright flavour combinations are anything but predictable.
. . The most important thing to keep in mind when constructing these delectable bites is presentation. Take the time to cut the bread into desired shapes, remove the crusts and carefully assemble the sandwiches before your guests arrive for a spread that will please their eyes as well as their palates. Further the visual drama by serving the sandwiches on a tiered plate stand, which you can easily create yourself by stacking plates and bowls of varying sizes.

Classic Cucumber
White bread, cut into circles
Cream cheese spread (see sidebar for recipe)
Cucumber
Flat-leaf parsley

Turkey & Brie
Cranberry focaccia
Roast turkey, thickly sliced
Brie
Green apple
Honey mustard
Dried cranberries

Pork & Pear
Rye bread, cut into triangles
Roast pork tenderloin, thickly sliced
Anjou pear
Mango chutney

Product credits (above, from left): Harmony teacup, party plate, cereal bowls, salad plate and tart plate by Wedgwood. Queen of Hearts, Ribbon & Roses and Polka Dot teacup-and-saucer sets and Polka Dot sugar bowl and creamer, all from the Wedgwood Harlequin collection; silver-plated teapot by Barbara Barry for Wedgwood; Rectangular tray from Casalife lined with Tolla wallpaper by Umbra.

COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE
Need help in the kitchen? The cavalry has arrived. These fantastic KitchenAid® countertop appliances are all the help you’ll need. Essential components to any wedding registry, they also make great group gifts for showers!

KitchenAid® stand blender
Sucker for smoothies? Meet your new best friend. The 5-speed blender’s unique shape, patented blade and 0.9-horsepower motor provide fast, consistent blending that can crush an entire pitcher of ice in just a few seconds. But there’s more: Chopped veggies, batters, soups and dips are all part of a day’s work for this mighty mixer. (Shown above in Brushed Nickel.)

KitchenAid® Artisan® Series stand mixer
More than just a mixer, this is truly the ultimate cooking tool. Superior craftsmanship, timeless style and incredible versatility have made it a fixture in chefs’ and hobby cooks’ homes alike for generations. Try your hand at pastries, breads, cookies or even fudge—the 10-speed mixer’s 325-watt motor can power through them all. And don’t worry about making a mess: Its tilting head is designed to help give you easy access to the 5-quart (4.73 L) mixing bowl. (Shown above in Limited Edition Pink.)

KitchenAid® Ultra Wide Mouth™ food processor
Stylish yet sturdy, this KitchenAid® food processor has everything you need to expand your culinary creativity, including a multi-purpose blade, slicing and shredding discs, a 10-cup (2.5 L) chef’s bowl, a 12-cup (3 L) work bowl and the industry's largest feed tube. (Shown above in Brushed Nickel.)

KitchenAid® slow cooker
This sure takes the stress out of entertaining! The most powerful premium slow cooker available, its innovative features help you achieve mouth-watering results every time. The 400-watt heating element warms up fast, while an advanced temperature management system ensures that food stays moist and tender. The 7-quart (6.6 L) ceramic pot’s unique design offers more than enough space for cooking roasts or poultry. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. (Shown at right in sidebar in Stainless Steel.)

HOT TIP!
When you add a KitchenAid® stand mixer, food processor and blender to your wedding registry at The Bay or Home Outfitters, you’ll be automatically entered to win* a three-piece kitchen suite from KitchenAid® Home Appliances!

*No purchase necessary. Two grand prizes each consisting of a KitchenAid® three-piece kitchen suite, including your choice of one KitchenAid® free-standing range, refrigerator and dishwasher (excludes built-in appliances, cooktops and dish drawers). Each prize package is valued at up to a total maximum of $8,397 MSRP. Prize value of $8,397 based on a selection of refrigerator (model #KSCS25FVMK), range (model #YKDSS907SS) and dishwasher (model #KUDU03STSS). Contest closes June 30, 2008. Correct answer to mathematical skill-testing question required. Chances of winning depend on total number of eligible entries received. Open to Canadian residents over age of majority. For complete contest rules and regulations, visit www.kitchenaid.ca/bridal.