WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon
JEN CARLE wore a colorful hat to the Friendship Tea Sunday afternoon at Assumption Church in Geneva. /
Published April 26, 2009 11:06 pm - From her high lace collar to her black leather boots, Dottie Micco dressed to impress Sunday at the seventh annual Assumption Altar Rosary Society Friendship Tea.
Tea and sympathy Assumption Altar Rosary Society holds annual friendship event
By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
GENEVA — From her high lace collar to her black leather boots, Dottie Micco dressed to impress Sunday at the seventh annual Assumption Altar Rosary Society Friendship Tea.
“Isn’t this beautiful?” Micco said of her handmade dress. “I feel very special to be able to wear it.”
The royal blue dress, made by local seamstress and period clothing maker Diane Barhall, made Micco the belle of the party. Several other ladies also dressed in Victorian-era clothing, complete with hats and lace gloves.
Guided by the theme “Remember When,” the yearly tea party featured antique dresses and hats from the 1800s on display, as well as antique wedding pictures.
The pots of tea and lunch were served by Geneva High School student volunteers. Lunch included tea sandwiches, broccoli salad, “pink cloud” dessert and sugar cookies.
“We wanted to something vintage, something really special,” tea chairwoman Tess Condon said. “The theme is so well received. The beauty of the older dresses, the material and stitching, is really something to see.”
The tea party committee welcomed 112 ladies and girls to the party Sunday. Music was provided by Carol Hill and granddaughter Caitlin Hill as a vocalist. Ashley Tenney, Jessica Ball, Elizabeth Ellis and Cecelia Hunt modeled the vintage fashions, which were provided by Ruth Turhlin, Ruby Boomhower, Mal Schwartfigure, June Koval and Charlotte Hunt.
Condon said the ladies were all encourage to wear their best hats and compete in the hat contest.
Tea drinkers and friends Joanne Stewart of Bedford and Ruth Melville and Lois Lippart of Geneva enjoyed their first friendship tea together.
“It is so nice to see such a sweet theme,” Stewart said.
An avid tea drinker, Stewart praised the brew and the lunch, while Melville and Lippart discussed tea parties as a way to raise young ladies.
“We were just saying how young girls today don’t know how to act like ladies,” Melville said. “They would benefit from a few formal tea parties.”
Tea party committee members Condon, Rose Hassett, Dorothy Mason and Nikki Williamson mingled at each table, happily commenting on the tea and hats.
“This event has become such a tradition for so many people,” Hunt said. “What a lovely way to spend an afternoon among friends.”