Sophie Parrott (Credit: Waterloo Studio)
Shades of pink and crimson mingle comfortably among strands of shoulder-length hair. An eloquent British accent, superb posture and arched eyebrows provide an air of regalia. The contrast between playful and traditional characteristics make Sophie Parrott memorable. Like the company she founded in 2011, she’s full of surprises! As a modern day Mary Poppins, she transforms ordinary into extraordinary.
If Tim Burton and 50’s pin-up model Betty Paige had a love child, that offspring would feel at ease in the presence of Parrott’s Austin business, The Marvelous Vintage Tea Party Company. Parrott is redefining a pastime synonymous with girls in pigtails and raised pinkies. In her words:
“What sets The Marvelous Vintage Tea Party Co. apart is that we are not only the caterer, décor and rental provider, florist, bartenders, and servers, but we are also the entertainment for the event! Our staff arrive in character to play the role of the specially-chosen theme for your party! In addition, we transform your venue into a magical, golden era. The atmospheres and environments we create are unlike anything you or your guests have ever experienced!”
Charming TeaMates
TeaMates (Credit: Bonnie & Lauren Photography)
Nicknamed “The Tea Party Mistress and Preservationist,” Parrott doesn’t orchestrate her events alone. She’s proud of a small, hand-selected group of men and women dubbed her “TeaMates.” The process of interviewing candidates for this position was mysterious and intriguing. She gave interviewees a cafe location and explained they would find her at a table with a golden unicorn centerpiece. It was a memorable day and she was introduced to a cast of eclectic souls. The few chosen embodied the same qualities found in events hosted by The Marvelous Vintage Tea Party Co. They were charming, captivating, witty and timeless.
Parrott’s inspiration can be traced to her professional theatrical background. She’s a graduate of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, founded by Sir Paul McCartney and Queen Elizabeth II. She has passion for creating fantastic imagery and hosting parties that rival Hollywood movie sets (which she’s also worked on). It’s hard not to get caught up in Parrott’s world, as she miraculously strings others along in her unbridled pursuit to exceed expectations through a pastime as simple as afternoon tea.
From Simple to Simply Marvelous Options
Tea, Cocktails and Pastries (Credit: Knox Photographics)
Parrott and her TeaMates give traditional tea parties a sprucing up. Memorable events include a mermaid tea party thrown in Austin (underwater!) and a bohemian Texas-themed party in a decked out yellow school bus, complete with feather chandeliers dipped in gold and strung from a copper tin ceiling. If you can dream it, Sophie and her crew can create it.
And if you think tea parties aren’t for men, this mistress of tea has orchestrated gatherings complete with cigar-toting girls and men in velvet jackets sipping libations from garnet-hued tea cups rimmed in gold.
Gentlemen’s Film Noire Tea Party (Credit: Waterloo Studio)
Parrott and her team are happy to serve simple intimate gatherings for two, as well as extravagant galas for two thousand. Like a towering wedding cake, those who book her services have three tiered options ranging from the most economical, “Simply Lovely;” to the kicked up “Utterly Fabulous;” and the most extravagant “Absolutely Bloomin Marvelous” package.
Sophie Parrott and TeaMates (Credit: Bonnie & Lauren Photography)
As I write, Parrott is busily preparing for her next marvelous vintage tea extravaganza. Like the hummingbird that anxiously flaps its wings on her website, the heartbeat fluttering within Parrott is restless until she succeeds in turning your dream into a reality.
@judymerhar wants to know:
If you could pick any theme for your next tea party, what would it be?
