We received a Save the Date in the
form of a small vase filled with
flowers at the beginning of the summer,
and then we received this lovely
invitation.
Karen and her husband are the owners
of Dove Cottage. She is a master gardener
and she and I have collaborated on
several Relief Society parties this
year.
(Relief Society is our church's
women's organization and
we are both in charge of parties!)
Everything she does is over the top.
The gazebo is situated at the back of
their property along the river and
she lives in a Victorian house. What
a setting for a Jane Austen party!
The table was decked out with pink
ribbons, pink flowers and pink candles
with lots and lots of lace.
The table settings were pink and white.
We each had a fan and our name tag
at the places.
She purchased images on Etsy and
sewed together little pockets that
held our napkins and flatware.
There are eight of us in the group. Our sweet
Jann Olson of Have a Daily Cup
passed away earlier this year from cancer.
We miss her dearly.
The chandelier was hung with roses,
pink tea cups and cards featuring
Jane Austen's books.
It was so magical with all of the
flowers and ribbons and candles.
Karen made the center greenery runner
with branches from her yard.
We were each given an assignment for
the food and it was all delicious.
Even our punch was pink.
As we ladies were gathered and
taking photos and admiring all
of the beauty, we got a huge surprise.
Let me say first, before I show you
the surprise - we were all watching
Jane Austen movies in preparation
for the party, and I had just seen
this very scene in
Sense and Sensibility.
I thought - "We need this!"
Across the lawn walks her husband
Gene carrying a tall cake on this
magnificent stand that he made,
and he was dressed in costume!!!
Karen and Gene holding the
fabulous cake on the amazing
cake holder! Now we have to have
yearly Jane Austen parties, just to get
the use out of this.
I had just given Gene a hard time.
Silly me, I had assumed that the
men were invited, so hubby has
his costume all ready. Karen said
she had asked Gene and he had said
there was no way he was dressing up!!!
Surprise!!!
The pound cake made by Amy
was delicious. We all said the
Empire dresses made it easy to
eat so much delicious food.
As night fell we had a
reading by Becky. She
read an article her
great grandmother had
written and published in
the Relief Society Magazine
in the early 1900's.
The sun went down, the crickets
came out and it was a magical
end to a fabulous evening.
We suggested to Karen that
she leave the decor up and
have this be the theme for
their next Relief Society Party.
I am so blessed to have such
lovely and talented friends.
Thanks Jane Austen for your
inspiration!
I learned I need a lady's maid!!!
Hubby was gone to a meeting and
I had a hard time doing my own
hair, zipping my own dress up,
and even doing the clasp on
my necklace!!!
Thanks for visiting and joining in our
fun!
I will be posting with
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