Wedding Ideas

October 2011

Somerset Life

August 2010

House Beautiful

November 2010

Period Living

November 2009

Are you a West Country hen?

Vintage rose china teacups, pretty cupcakes and a cottage garden in Somerset – could this be the perfect hen party?

Not feeling the pink feather boa? Devil horns aren’t doing it for you? That’s because L-plates are so last century! For a super-civilised hen do, why not head to the countryside for a vintage-style tea-party for you and your closest pals? Vintage impresario Lesley Baker runs Poppy Greens, a cake-making and course-taking business in Somerset, perfect for lady-like hens.

Picture the scene: it’s 9am, and you’ve just arrived at Poppy Greens in Somerset with a gaggle of your favourite girls. You’re dunking home-made biscuits - double chocolate and shortbread, of course - into china cups of English breakfast tea. Charming!

Fast forward half an hour, and you’re learning to decorate cupcakes and cookies using butter-cream, fondants, paste colours, flowers, sugar-craft decorations, plus plenty of glitter and sprinkles - and yes, you have flour on your nose.

Poppy Greens' hen parties are packed with fun, tasty treats and tea – what’s not to love? All cupcakes and cookies are pre-baked by Lesley prior to the course, so all you have to worry about is making them look fabulous! Plus you’ll be given the recipes to take home.

A half day course is £70 per person, including two tea breaks, taste testing (the best bit!) and decorating lessons. The full day course is £140 per person, including a free lunch and sugar-craft master-classes in the afternoon.

Every hen will be given a box of nine freshly decorated cupcakes to take home at the end of the day. Even better, for parties of eight or more, the bride goes free!

And If you fall in love with those vintage rose tea cups – fear not. They are available for hire to add a touch of quintessential English charm to your big day. Lesley can even show you how to make a gorgeous flower bouquet, using freshly picked blooms from her cottage garden. Perfect!

To book, visit poppygreens.co.uk or find more hen party advice here.

By Stephanie Stafford

http://www.youandyourwedding.co.uk/planning/trends/sophisticated-hen-party-poppy-greens