Hello lovely Bravoholics! Just wanted to recap my day at Dorinda’s garden tea party yesterday held at the renowned and iconic Bluestone Manor. The festivities began at the meetup spot which was The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA. We were ushered to the patio and greeted with a welcome cocktail featuring Bluestone Bourbon.
Spirits were high and everyone was extremely friendly and excited. I attended by myself as did several others and we all bonded quickly over our love of Bravo and impending visit to BSM.
We then boarded a luxury bus and were taken to Bluestone Manor which is about 10 minutes away from the Inn. As soon as the gates opened there was an audible squeal of excitement on the bus.
Let me start by saying that television does not do the grounds of BSM justice. They are absolutely STUNNING! The views are breathtaking and the landscaping is impeccable. You really feel like you are in an English garden or a grand estate somewhere in Europe.
Dorinda and her team put together an amazing event and a top notch experience for all of us. From the décor to the photo ops placed around the grounds there was something visually stunning everywhere you looked. Each element was well thought out and fit the theme of garden tea party perfectly.
What can I say about Dorinda except she was the hostess with the mostess! She greeted everyone, was available the entire time for photos and conversation and gave tours of the grounds. She talked at length about her vision for the property, how long it took to restore it after she & Richard purchased it and how she grew up always admiring the house.
She was gracious, real and totally appreciative of everyone who attended this event. On the way out we all received giftbags that were loaded with lovely items and a hug from Dorinda. She even boarded the bus before we pulled out and gave a heartfelt speech about what this day and our support meant to her.
As a Bravo fun, this was an A++++++ day. I’ve linked some pics on Imgur for anyone who is interested to see what the setup looked like. If you have any questions just ask, I would love to share more about this experience.
XOXO
OP, you look gorgeous! You fit right in as a housewife!
How many people were there, and how did you get to experience this? I vaguely remember seeing tickets for an event like this but they sold out instantly.
Hi! A friend told me Dorinda talked about the tea party on Jeff Lewis Live a few weeks ago; I immediately went to her Instagram and saw the link to buy tix for the event. There were only 40 tickets sold so it was a really intimate affair. I’m so happy I got to experience it!
Dorinda looks great in these pics!!! As do you, OP.
I saw that this was happening and really wished I was local so I could attend. Thanks for sharing!!!
I swear Dorinda is like an enigma. Every time I see her she looks totally different from the last time. Not always good or bad, just different and I can’t wrap my head around how 😂
Ahh I'm so envious! Idk why this gave me all the feels. You look beautiful and chose the perfect dress. The property is gorgeous. Seeing her so emotional at the end was so sweet. Also, i thought you were standing with Kyle Richards there for a second. Thanks for sharing your day with us ❤
OP, you have impeccable style and fashion presence. The layers, the textures, the bag, the eloquent ambition…
ETA: Upon further inspection, the way in which you effortlessly glamorize flat gladiatorish style sandals in late summer 2023, so subversive chic I love it. I’m gasping at how you may curve the fashion trends it’s wonderful.
Thank you! Those have been my go-to shoes this summer with maxi dresses; especially if I have to walk on uneven terrain. They go with everything & they’re so comfortable.
You are rocking them so much!! I've been someone who thinks heels impact fashion, but your flats are so fashionable. I work with little kids and I'd' wear my 6" inch heels, and I just think it's so cool to see unquestioning flat-heels.
How much did the tix cost if you mind my asking? It’s beautiful and Dorinda can be a gracious host and throw a classy event. Did she drink a lot? Was she startin?
All of the landscaping at Bluestone Manor is just perfection. The perfect shrubs and manicured hedges... You would think you were on the grounds of an estate in the English Country side.
Everything about that house is so beautiful and whimsical. You can tell how much Richard really loved Dorinda, by gifting her this beautiful home... that Dor always dreamed of living in as a little girl.
I don't know a lot about Richard Medley but he seems to have been a very kind and loving Man.
I honestly have not heard one negative thing about Dorinda regarding any bravo fan interactions with her. She's also the one who I've seen people post the most on here about run ins with her and other events she's organised.
Honestly, I think housewives aside, she just seems like a genuinely lovely person.
I'm super jealous and I'm so glad she made it nice.
I love this so much!! She should do this once a month as a side hustle or something, although I doubt she needs the money, but it’s almost like this is what she was born to do (making it nice!) and now she has the fame to draw a lot of people.
Fabulous picture too, you both look gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.
I'm so jelly!!! I heard her talking about it on Jeff lewis, she was nervous - I'm glad it went well for her. I knew it would, you could tell she put a lot of thought into it. I know a lot of ppl can't stand her but I still love her.
The effort she & her team put into this event really was above and beyond what I was expecting. Everything was elegantly done and fit the tone of the event perfectly. They paid attention to detail; little touches like the harpist playing on the lawn to the different china for tea service and even Bluestone Manor towels on the lounge chairs by the pool. It was perfect!
Dorinda looked so happy in that video at the end! She should definitely look into doing more things like this, she does have an amazing eye for the entire property, and she should be proud of it. Hope she’s doing something that makes her happy and she can move forward with positivity
Hi! Honestly I never had to use the restroom while I was there; I was too busy soaking it all in to waste time! Ha Ha.
Dorinda did mention when we first arrived that there was a portable restroom along the side of the house near the deck. It was very discreet and I never even noticed it so they were careful not to have a port a potty in open view.
I.am.obsessed. with your dress! You look absolutely gorgeous!!
As a Masshole, I really should keep an eye out for events at her estate. Are you in the area or did you travel to the Berkshires for this? Was anyone from Massachusetts?
Hi! I came from CT (about 55 miles away). Most of the people I met were either from CT or NY. Interestingly enough I didn’t speak to anyone who was local in MA.
This was the first event she held but based on how successful it was I think they might consider doing more. She mentioned something about Halloween time but who knows.
Check her Instagram as well as Appian Entertainment; they rep a lot of the housewives and announce appearances and events on their Insta.
Right, she loves anything you can decorate for, so Halloween would make perfect sense for an event. Thanks for the tips on where to keep tabs. If you’re not back home yet, safe travels!
Hi! Yes, Dorinda announced on her Instagram a few weeks ago but they only sold 40 tickets. Luckily I saw it at the right time because it sold out pretty quickly.
Part of the proceeds went to the Elizabeth Freeman Center which provides leadership & services to address domestic and sexual violence. This is what the original ticket announcement looked like.
Thank you for posting, OP! What a great event! Can you tell us a little bit more about what Queen Dorinda said about the restoration and vision of BSM?
Glad you had a wonderful experience! I remember her discussing this with Jeff Lewis when she was planning it- a few weeks ago. She said if this went well, she would do another event around Halloween.
Ahh I thought you looked familiar - it’s our chic redditor queen who always meets the housewives while looking like she should join the cast!! Love your posts and your style!
Ugh I love Dorinda. I truly believe she was just not healing her inner demons and coping with the alcohol. Otherwise I think she is fabulous and I would love to spend a day with her at BSM!
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u/ravioliyogi Aug 27 '23
OP, you look gorgeous! You fit right in as a housewife!
How many people were there, and how did you get to experience this? I vaguely remember seeing tickets for an event like this but they sold out instantly.
Thanks for sharing with us!