A Caribbean Tea Party Set The EXTRAORDINARY Tone for 2020

If you’re a part of my life or this community, you know that I really enjoy participating in Afternoon Tea(s), and up to this point in my life I’ve experienced Afternoon tea in several states and countries. No, I haven’t had High Tea in England YET! Maybe the Queen or Duchess will send me a personal invite sometime soon.

In the meantime, I received an invitation for Afternoon Tea while visiting St. Thomas from my cousin who is an absolute Queen in my eyes. Aunt Norma, as I respectfully call her, had been telling me about this tea party that she had gotten the urge to plan after being gifted some loose teas and teapots from her daughter and daughter-in-love. Since I don’t live on-island, I didn’t anticipate being present for the fabulous event, but every time we spoke we would share ideas/pictures and I would ask when it would be held. She didn’t quite have a date and as the months rolled on, I began to have a glimmer of hope that perhaps I would be present when she did decide to set it. So thought, so happened! In early December I shared with her that I would be Home for Christmastime and provided my travel dates. On her end, things began to fall into place and I was in fact able to attend her Afternoon Tea planned with love and a spirit of excitement that truly set the tone for an EXTRAordinary afternoon.

It was only four days into the new year, 2020, and a special group of women were blessed to have the opportunity to pause for this fabulous get-together among friends and family. One good thing is that in the Virgin Islands life literally slows down and in some cases pauses for Christmastime until after January 6th or so. We were still in this window of feeling festive and filled with holiday cheer. It seemed like the perfect time to set the tone for an EXTRAordinary 2020 year!

Like any fabulous event, the location remained a mystery until closer to the start time. With that, we were told to meet up for parking at one place, car pool, and follow the lead car to the serene location of the tea party. Exciting!

At the Queen’s request, we wore [long] dresses and a hat (most of us) and everyone showed up looking so beautiful. Once we pulled up to the villa, the tables were set and Queen Norma was hard at work putting the final touches together to ensure that her vision came through with every platter, pitcher, and teapot. Immediately (well, after taking a few pictures upon entering the property), I joined her and a few other ladies in the kitchen to lend a hand to bring this vision to life! Finally, all the decisions were made for logistics, pairings, plating, etc. and it was time for Afternoon Tea the Caribbean way.

In the words of another cousin, “Alexa, play steel pan music!”. From the beginning prayer, my heart began filling up and it continued to fill as I witnessed my Aunt quietly revel in her vision and hard work in full, EXTRAordinary bloom. Likewise, it was beautiful to witness my mother, daughter and all the other ladies smiling, laughing, and indulging in tea and light bites laced with a Caribbean twist. In my vivid imagination, I could see stress diminishing, hope budding, dreams birthing, and love floating around.

The ambiance of the Great View Villa turned out to be a perfect location for stepping out of the ordinary to experience something EXTRAordinary. The combination of the open layout, spacious feel, large pool, and spectacular view as a focal point truly captured a perfect picturesque afternoon among loved ones.