A Bridal Shower Tea Party for The Kitchy Kitchen’s Claire Thomas

It’s only fitting that Claire Thomas, the food and lifestyle blogger behind The Kitchy Kitchen and a bride-to-be, would be showered the day after Valentine’s Day. “It was not purposeful,” she claims of the bash, “but the perfect way to end a romantic weekend.” Thirty ladies celebrated at her family home in L.A. in honor of her upcoming April 4th nuptials. The sun-filled afternoon social was a nod to Thomas’s favorite childhood activity: hosting tea parties for her dolls. Only in this instance, Thomas let her hostesses take the reigns and the “dolls” were the most important women in her life, rather than those suited for a toy box.

Thomas’s mom fêted the bride-to-be with the help of her second daughter Amanda Thomas, the designer behind Luv Aj, who’s creating her sister’s big-day jewelry, accessories, and wedding bands.

Vintage dessert plates peeked from each corner of the invite, signaling the teatime treats and good-old-fashioned fun to come.

The woman of the hour’s dearest friend Laurel also helped to pull off the stylish celebration, providing goodies from her boutique shop, Sweet Laurel Bakery. 

Lush garden rose-filled arrangements created by Moon Canyon Design Co. shared the spotlight with a trio of fresh bites: a tomato-and-alfalfa-sprout sandwich on sourdough, mini salmon lox, and dill salad with red radish on cucumber. 

“I loved sipping tea from my great grandmother’s set,” Thomas says. “It was such a full circle moment for me, looking out on the women in my family—and the women in my future family.”

Guests clinked vintage goblets made from pink Depression glass and dabbed spills with geometric napkins mimicking the vessels’ subtle etching.

Thomas’s pals at Club W sourced the rosés and whites enjoyed at the shower and will create custom wine labels for the bottles corked at the wedding, incorporating the invitation design for cohesion.

Claire wore a lace frock from her favorite vintage shop, Dear Golden. “I wore it in Craig and my engagement photos,” Thomas says. “And if we were having a city hall wedding, this would also be my dress!”

Thomas had but one stipulation for her party: that it be feminine and fun. “I rarely get to go ‘full-on girly,’ so I had an amazing time indulging that side of myself,” says the bride-to-be.

Traditional raisin scones filled with strawberry jam and clotted cream provided that classic, wholesome touch to the ladies luncheon. 

Each guest left with a gray-and-gold-striped tea towel covered in romantic inscriptions and a tin packed with fresh floral tea leaves in flavors, including Earl Grey with blue flowers, chamomile hibiscus, and rose sencha.

Photographer: Yayo Ahumada and Claire Thomas

Event Planning: Beau and Arrow Events

Caterer: Sweet Laurel Bakery

Florist: Moon Canyon Design Co.