Attendees were dressed to the nines in fancy hats, sipping tea and eating cake and scones as Prince Williams slipped the ring on Kate Middleton.
Belchertown - Republican staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - Helen F. Simpson of Belchertown joined others celebrating the royal wedding in England of Prince William and Kate Middleton Friday at a special tea at the Belchertown Senior Center.BELCHERTOWN – Dressed to the nines in fancy hats, sipping tea and eating cake and scones. Prince William slipping the ring on his new bride’s finger.
It may sound like a scene from across the pond, but the scene was none other than the Belchertown Senior Center, where royalty was celebrated with a “royal tea,” one of several events held Friday around the Pioneer Valley in honor of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey.
With the television turned to the TLC cable channel, the wedding was replayed for the 25 seniors to watch as they sipped tea, ate heart-shaped chocolates and wedding cake, and talked about the big event. Each guest had a fancy invitation inviting them to the nuptials and each was given a royal party favor – a tea bag packaged neatly with the words “Love is Brewing,” “April 29, 2011” and “Kate & William.”
Volunteer and program coordinator Susan Shea-Bressette came up with the idea for the tea party. She served the yellow cake as the guests sampled ginger ale from a champagne fountain. Nearby was a handmade poster depicting pictures of the young royals with the words “just married.”
“I thought it would be fun, that we’d have a little tea. I never realized how big this was going to become,” Bressette said.
“I love weddings. I just think they’re so much fun,” Bressette added.
She even threw a bouquet of lilies, encouraging the married and unmarried to line up to catch it. Rosemarie Knight, who announced, “OK, I’m not married,” caught the bouquet.
Some of the seniors had already seen the wedding, having woken up at 4 a.m. to watch it live from London.
“It was wonderful,” said Martha E. Lofland, 85, of Belchertown, who wore a straw hat.
Belchertown - Republican staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - Susan Shea-Bressette, program and volunteer coordinator of the Belchertown Senior Center, dishes out pieces of special cake during a tea celebrating the royal wedding in England of Prince William and Kate Middleton Friday at a special tea at the center. At right is Irene C.Methe of Belchertown.Her daughter, Patricia L. Fuller, also of Belchertown, brought her mother-in-law’s tea cup depicting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their 1959 visit to Canada.
Friends Helen R. Farrell, 68, of Belchertown, and Wendy Marion, 70, of South Hadley, decked themselves out for the tea. Farrell wore a red feather boa and matching hat, while Marion wore a black hat and black dress.
“I thought it was wonderful,” Farrell said of the wedding. She said she enjoyed seeing all the different kinds of hats on television. Marion, who started watching the wedding at 5 a.m., said she liked that the queen wore yellow.
Marion said the wedding represented hope, and some happiness, things that are needed in the world. Marion said when she heard about the tea party at the Senior Center, she knew she had to attend.
“It’s something different,” Marion said.
Etta S. Hillman, 88, of Belchertown, wore a white hat with flowers she bought for Easter years ago, while Elizabeth M. Whidden, 86, of Belchertown, wore a beige hat that she decorated herself with fake purple flowers.
“It was the most beautiful wedding that I had ever seen,” Hillman said. “I watched his mother’s wedding years ago. This was as beautiful, if not more so.”
Whidden also remembered the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
“This one was more simple,” Whidden said.
She said she preferred the new princess’s gown to what Diana wore, calling it “simple but gorgeous.” Whidden added that she had been looking forward to the wedding – and tea party – all week long.
Seniors in Granby also celebrated the royal wedding with a royal tea party, and the Holyoke Children’s Museum offered activities on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in honor of the big day. Those who dressed as princes and princesses received reduced admission, and those who didn’t come in costume could play dress up once they arrived, according to director Susan A. Kelley, who estimated more than 100 children attended.