Gilded Age Afternoon Tea at Meadow Brook Hall: Prequel to Downton Abbey (Cora's Story)

BTS', Rachel and Barb Gulley presented a Gilded Age Afternoon Tea at Meadow Brook Hall in February

The end of February brought us to Meadow Brook Hall again to present a Downton Abbey-inspired afternoon tea and this time was particularly golden. We shared the tales of the Gilded Age and the "Dollar Princesses", the daughters of America's nouveau riche who married European aristocracy in "cash for class" transactions. This is much like Cora's story in Downton Abbey, where Lady Grantham's family money helped support and save the Crawley's family estate.

Almost one hundred guests took in  afternoon tea, Gilded Age and a tour of the Meadow Brook Estate

To a room filled with almost one hundred guests, we were thrilled to meet many new folks as well as BTS' followers and old friends, including Alicia M. and Rachelle W.!

Rachel with Alicia M.

Barb with Rachelle W. and friend

Although Cora is our favorite fictional Dollar Princess, we talked about one of the most well-known real-life, American Heiresses, Consuelo Vanderbilt. That branch of the Vanderbilt money supported and saved Blenheim Palace, which we visited last May.

Blenheim Palace, one time home to Consuelo Vanderbilt and happy recipient of the Vanderbilt money

We also covered "Vanderbuilding", the practice of the nouveau riche to construct extravagant and showy mansions, outdoing each other with every new residence. Many of these homes can still be seen today, including the "cottages" of Newport, Rhode Island and the Biltmore in North Carolina. (Coincidentally, the Biltmore's current exhibit is "A Vanderbilt House Party - The Gilded Age" and we just came back from taking the tour - as well as afternoon tea at the Inn -  this past week. And, yes, future blog story on that is coming next!)

Talking DA prequel and Vanderbilts at Meadow Brook Hall

A Gilded Age Afternoon Tea at Meadow Brook was a wonderful time spent in the very opulent Christopher Wren dining room with old and new friends. BTS looks forward to more tea times at this beautiful estate, a vintage jewel in our own backyard and an elegant backdrop to any Downton Abbey-themed tea!

Biltmore, more Vanderbuilding and more Gilded Age blog stories!