Montreal ladies gathered at the glorious Ritz Carlton on May 25th for a glamorous afternoon affair; High Tea hosted by wedding planner extraordinaire Maddy K. The time-honoured tradition was executed to utmost perfection, with exquisite lace table linens, towering silver cake trays, delicate teacups, and decadent décor reminiscent of the magnificent Marie Antoinette.
The newly revamped Ritz Montreal, with its opulence and old-world charm, proved to be the idyllic atmosphere to sip and savour. As the first Ritz Carleton in history, La Grande Dame is famous in its own right, having hosted Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s wedding, as well as a slew of glitteratti, including Mick Jagger, Rita Hayworth, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle and an array of English Royalty.
Tea-goers indulged in the ultimate confectionary catwalk, with a traditional tiered selection of sweet and savoury, including dainty finger sandwiches, mouthwatering mini madeleines, and delightfully flakey scones accompanied by clotted cream and marmalade. But the pièce de résistance was the sensational (and impossibly seductive) sweet table, boasting an array of delicate cakes, macarons, and petits-fours almost too beautiful to eat.
As guests reveled in the rich and creamy deliciousness, an exclusive panel of experts took turns presenting topics ranging from hosting and health to proper high-tea etiquette. Among the speakers was the illustrious Alison McGill of Wedding Bells Magazine, princess of parties Jennifer Campbell, Maria Tsatoumas of Joe’s Prop House, and, of course, Maddy K herself, the epitome of grace and good taste.
While High Tea at the Ritz provides the perfect incentive to don high heels and hats, Maddy K insists that we don’t need a reason to dress up. “I think we should make an effort to surround ourselves with more pretty things,” she says. After an afternoon of pearls and pampering, it’s not hard to agree!
To attend the next High Tea at the Ritz, visit Maddy K online, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
Cover Image: Badger Photography