kelli's witches' tea 2010

My friend, Kelli, loves to throw a party and boy, is she ever good at it! Her Witches' Tea has become a much-loved annual event and she spends the months beforehand plotting and planning, always trying to outdo her last year's shindig. I didn't think Kelli could top last year's soiree but she proved me wrong.

The darling invitation arrived at the beginning of the month and all 30 guests started planning their costumes.

The night of the Witches' Tea, we entered the Despain manor which had been entirely reinvented. Mirrors were covered with signs that read "The Witching Hour," vases were filled with glittered skeleton heads and family photos were replaced with witch silhouettes (ingenious!).

The food was delicious. Appetizers included spinach dip, garlic toasts and this amazing brie with a grape chutney.

The tables were set with black and gold dishware; a painted black tree branch nestled in a moss-filled urn was the perfect centerpiece.

Each place setting included a menu outlining our courses: savory pumpkin bisque served in a homemade dilly bowl, grilled apple salad with brown sugar-cider vinaigrette, and panini milanos (grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches).

I especially loved the hanging glass orbs which Kelli found here.

For dessert, we devoured mini pumpkin cakes with vanilla glaze, ghost and bat sugar cookies, and spice cake cupcakes.

The piece de resistance was the favor… each witch went home with her own homemade caramel apple.

I can't wait to see what Kelli comes up with for next year's Witches' Tea! A special thank you to Brooke Ashley for allowing me to post her lovely photos (those photos that are not-so-lovely are mine!).

Comments

[Krissy]

Gorgeous! What a fun tradition.

[paperdollmn]

I think this might be one of the most charming party themes/ideas I've ever heard of. And those pumpkin cakes are so cute! (I bet they're yummy, too ...)