Afternoon Tea (high tea) at Fancy That in Walpole Massachusetts

It has been a journey (some of which we chronicled here) from the idea of wanting to serve Afternoon Tea, to the place where we are now - serving Afternoon Tea by reservation on Saturdays and Sundays.  We have to say, we are absolutely THRILLED with the reception!  We are fully booked for this weekend (there are tables available for next weekend!).  With a few moments to spare,  just thought we would share some pictures of Afternoon Tea at Fancy That.  Enjoy the photos!  :)

Mini desserts served at a recent Afternoon Tea

 

 Table for two in the Dining Room

Dining Room with tables set for three guests each

The yummy part of Afternoon Tea!

When making reservations, be sure to request The Pink Room for a private room (up to a group of four)

The Pink Room can accommodate up to four guests

We are crazy about the vintage china we use for Afternoon Tea

The savories

Thanks for stopping by!  We look forward to welcoming you for tea!  :)

Open House to Celebrate becoming a Tea Room - Sunday May 5th 2013

Join Fancy That this Sunday, May 5th from 1pm - 4pm as we celebrate becoming a licensed and permitted Tea Room!  We will sample some Jasmine Earl Grey tea and cute mini desserts that we will serve as part of our Afternoon Tea.  If you have ever wanted a mini vanilla bean cupcake, now is your chance!  (grin)

Becoming a Tea Room has started almost a year ago.  We hired an architect, hired a floor installer, hired an electrician, hired a plumber, had inspections by the Town's Board of Health, Building Department, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, had safety and Fire Marshall inspection (and installed additional emergency lighting and fire extinguishers), filed three different applications, went before the Selectmen (Town Fathers) and became a licensed Common Victualler.  Pffffhew!  Time to take a breath, and celebrate.

If you can stop by, please do and say hi.  We will be taking reservations for Afternoon Tea soon.  Our Gift Shoppe is open and has been open through the construction so there is a reason to stop by regardless of the Open House!  :)  Stay tuned here or like us on Facebook to keep "in the know" of reservations, special events, and the like.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wadsworth Mansion Wedding Show - We've been invited and will attend

Middletown, CT Sunday, February 24, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate in Middletown, CT is hosting their annual Wedding Show on Sunday, February 24, 2013. The Show will be open to the public from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The fee for guests will be $5.00 a person.

The Wedding Show has been designed to help brides plan their special day. There will be vendors representing different services, each of whom have worked at the Wadsworth Mansion and are familiar with designing unique weddings. There will be caterers, florists, photographers, videographers, rental companies, wedding cake bakers, as well as vendors who provide transportation and hotel accommodations in the area. A complete listing of participants can be found at http://www.wadsworthmansion.com/weddingshow.php. Please RSVP to events@wadsworthmansion.com or 860 347 1064.

Executive Director, Deborah Moore, stated that she is optimistic about the 2013 wedding season. For nearly half a decade she watched budgets shrink and last year she began to see brides splurging on embellishments for their weddings. "We began to see fabulous lighting packages being purchased by couples to enhance the ambiance, including fireworks. She is also encouraged by the number of couples looking at 2014 dates. "It won't be long before the Saturdays in the 2014 wedding season will be gone." 

"For planning unique and beautiful weddings the Wadsworth Mansion Wedding Show is the show to visit. The vendors represent the best in the industry and it is an enjoyable experience for brides," states Event Manager Anne Robida.

For more information call 860 347 1064.

Fancy That is thrilled to have been invited, and will attend this year at the Wedding Show at the Wadsworth Mansion.  Please stop by and say HI!  :)

Press Release - Fancy That Opens a Tea Room in Walpole

This is the press release that was sent out to local media sources today!!

 

 

For IMMEDIATE Release                                            February 3, 2013

Fancy That opens a Tea Room in Walpole, Massachusetts

The dry spell of “no local tea room” soon to end 

Walpole, Massachusetts.  Fancy That, selling tea and whatnot and offering vintage rentals of English china and glassware, is pleased to announce the opening of a Tea Room in Fancy That’s Shoppe in Walpole, Massachusetts.

 

Sarah Erlandson, proprietress of Fancy That points out that she started her vintage china rental company in 2003 before “vintage” became the popular theme for weddings and showers that it is today.  She opened her “tea” themed retail shoppe in 2011.  The Shoppe was born out of Erlandson’s passion for all things tea.  Her company, Fancy That, rents English bone china for weddings, bridal showers, tea parties, etcetera.    “Now celebrating our tenth year of renting vintage china, and two years as a tea themed retail shoppe, the natural progression was to open a Tea Room where you can enjoy a proper Afternoon Tea and a unique selection of teas including a locally blended tea called Courtship Tea which my husband and I served at our own “Afternoon Tea” wedding.  We are thrilled to be opening a Tea Room in Walpole to offer a place where you can escape the stress levels of the day.”    Erlandson notes that the licensure process is on track and they expect to be taking reservations by April 2013.

 

According to the Tea Association of America, the US Tea Industry has grown to over a $10 billion industry with only more growth in sight.  Given the stress levels of modern day living, the respite being offered in a cup of tea in a tranquil atmosphere may be just the relaxation you are hoping to find.  “Like stepping back to a different time, Fancy That’s Tea Room will offer old world charm and the respite you can find only in a cup of tea.  We plan to keep the Tea Room intimate – only seating for eight or ten guests,” Erlandson continues.

 

Fancy That’s Tea Room will be an elegant Victorian-inspired tea room.  Working with a local caterer, their expectation is to be serving tea by April 2013, only by reservation.  Contact Fancy That by ringing them up toll free 1-888-3232-TEA (1-888-323-2832).

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Proprietress, Sarah Erlandson.  For more information, contact Brad McCracken, General Manager, Fancy That, 272 Main Street, Walpole, MA 02081.   Phone: 1-888-323-2832  Fax 1-866-551-2194.

Fancy That's mention in TEA Magazine

Fancy That has been renting vintage china for almost ten years!  We opened a shoppe 18 months ago selling tea related items and whatnot (gifts!  :)  ).  When a piece of vintage china comes back broken, we repurpose it and send the broken china to an artist who makes these wonderful bracelets, necklaces and more!  We're thrilled that our lovely "Tea with Sarah" charm bracelet and a mention of our shoppe made it into the Nov/Dec issue of  "TEA Magazine"! Be sure to pick up a copy (on store shelves very soon!!)

Fancy That's Process of Becoming a Tea House - Chronicling the Process

Got Tea?

Over the next six months or so we'll be chronicling the process of becoming a Tea House, or if you prefer, a Tea Room.  It just seems like the next logical step for us, and we're excited about it.  
 
Fancy That started almost ten years ago as a small, woman owned, family run vintage china rental company with a penchant for tea parties :) ...Almost ten years on, our inventory includes pristine mismatched silver plated flatware, beautiful dinner plates, vintage tea cups and saucers and so much more.

In May of 2011, we opened our retail gift shoppe.  So many of our clients and customers wanted to be able to purchase items for tea, we simply had to help out! (grin).  Our Shoppe offers imported British lemon curd, clotted cream, Double Devon cream British jams, French jams, vintage china cups and saucers and many more unique tea related items (like Scottish Clotted Cream Fudge!  YUMMY!).

All of the above has led to our newest and best idea yet...

We want to serve afternoon tea, and we're hoping to do so to coincide with our Tenth Year Anniversary Celebrations starting March 2013!

One little problem.  The cute bungalow we lease is not quite equipped for the whole process. 

So, we have a little bit of work to do, and we thought it would be fun to share the process with everyone here!  So stay tuned as we chronicle the process of Becoming a Tea House - Victorian-Gentility-Style!

Thanks for stopping by!

Vintage Plate, Cup and Party Rental Photos

Fancy That's Shoppe was the site for a wonderful photo shoot by Cara Brostrom of Cara Brostrom Photography - a Boston based photographer.  (All photos courtesy of Cara Brostrom and Wonder Bliss Wedding Photography.)

The vintage china used in the shots are plates, cups and saucers, and vintage flatware in Fancy That's inventory....ready to rent. 

You can view more of the photos from the photoshoot here!

These shots capture the timeless beauty and elegance of the china, the atmosphere the vintage china creates, and the warmth.  Our signature rose (pink!  :)  ) crystal goblets pictured here, while not vintage, add a subtle, sublime color to any table setting. 

Fancy That's Shoppe, as the backdrop for the shoot, appears in a few shots here and there!  Stop by our Showroom and Shoppe in Walpole, MA to a first-hand view of the pristine vintage china - no shabby china or flatware here!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!