Southern Tea Time Getaway - Day 5

The Royal Wedding...

Teresa, the amazing member of our travel group that I've mentioned previously, asked her Ohio friends, Judy and Cheryl, if we could all meet in their room at 4:00 a.m. to watch the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.  They were staying in the Ashley Suite - a large double-sized room with a living room and kitchenette.  It was large enough to accommodate all of us.

I set my alarm for 3:30 a.m. and stumbled out of bed long enough to wash my face, brush my teeth, and run a brush through my uncurled hair.   My jammies were lounge pjs so they were acceptable for wearing in the hotel hallway and elevator - even though not a creature was stirring.

As I approached Judy and Cheryl's door, I saw Teresa had been there previously and posted a welcome sign.  I thought I would be the last one to arrive, but when I knocked and no one answered, I was horrified that "I" was the first one, and responsible for awakening Judy and Cheryl! They graciously forgave me and welcomed me into their room which was festively decorated with British charm.

Teresa left no stone unturned in her plans for a Royal Wedding Tea Party.  If she could have packed fine china and glistening silver in her suitcase, I'm sure she would have!  She strung British bunting...

Had face masks of royal family members...



Royal family tea bags were sitting on the coffee table for us to choose from.


  

I chose the Queen because I couldn't bear Camilla dangling from my cup that early in the morning!

The TV said it was 9:21 a.m. England's time, but it was actually 4:21 a.m. in Charleston.  When Teresa and Rebecca arrived they were fully clothed and wearing hats just as if they were going to the actual wedding.

Teresa took a selfie of those of us who were willing to give up sleep to watch the wedding guests and royals arrive.  The rest of our group joined the party around 7:00 a.m.

Teresa ordered Wedding Biscuits from England before she left home.  They were the cutest things.  She said within minutes of ordering them online they were sold out.

Somehow she managed to contact Hamby's of Charleston [a catering company] and order their Royal Wedding package for our early morning Royal Wedding Tea Party.  It was quite a spread with Coronation Chicken Salad Sandwiches; Cucumber Rounds; Crowning Glory Tomato Pies; Shortcake Biscuit Rounds; Blueberry Scones with Clotted Cream and Strawberry Jam; and Victoria Sponge Cake.

Besides the royal family tea bags, she had London Fog and Tower of London loose leaf teas from Harney & Sons, and "When Harry Met Meghan from T by Daniel.

She even had a Royal Wedding Trivia game:  Prince Harry's Full Name; Meghan's Full Name; Who will walk Meghan down the Aisle?; Color of the Queen's Hat; Will Prince Philip be in Attendance?; Length of Sleeves on the Wedding Dress; and more.  

As we sipped our tea and munched on tea food, we watched Harry and Meghan tie the knot.  I loved Bishop Michael Curry's sermon 'Love is the Way.'  Not only was he spot on, but he brought life and spontaneity to the ceremony that otherwise would have been solemn and ritualistic.

Thank you Teresa for providing such a fun way to begin our day.  It was the earliest tea party I've ever attended, but it was worth getting up for.  And as a bonus, we even got to see you and Judy do a celebratory wedding dance!  Judy was the life of the party our entire trip.

It's impossible to count or even estimate, but I can't help wondering how many Royal Wedding Tea Parties were held around the world while the nuptials were viewed on television??? 

When it was over, I dashed back to my room to get ready for the first activity of the day - touring Charleston Tea Plantation.  The van was scheduled to depart from the hotel at 9:00 a.m.  Next post...