For two local British women, using vintage tea services to create beautiful tablescapes is anything but dated. It’s an enduring tradition for modern times and the focus of The Vintage Teapot, which serves the region from its base in Fuquay-Varina.
The Vintage Teapot is stocked with rentable tableware items including teacups, saucers, and more, all for curating the look and charm of an English afternoon tea for events ranging from bridal showers to birthday parties.
Haylie-Jo Wiltshire and Sam Statham are the energetic and creative forces behind The Vintage Teapot. The jovial pair, who wear matching teacup necklace charms, met 12 years ago at an event hosted by British Ladies Around Raleigh, an informal group Wiltshire formed via Facebook as a way of meeting other transplanted Brits.
Their friendship was fueled by their love of hunting for vintage servingware. In 2017, the pair started lending out teacups and hosting tea parties purely for the joy of it. Rave reviews followed.
“It was so much fun, and they loved it,” Haylie-Jo excitedly recalls about the parties. “I was blown away by how much they loved it.”
With these successes, Haylie-Jo’s entrepreneurial wheels started turning and the concept of a bespoke tableware business was born. The company officially launched in January 2025 with the slogan, “Rent the past · Enjoy the present · Create the memories.”
The team works with clients across Wake County and the surrounding areas. Their services range from tea sets for small gatherings to full tablescapes for events with 40–50 people.
The company’s collection of vintage pieces — the “past” part of their slogan — offers nostalgic beauty.
“The majority of our collection dates from the 1930s through 1970s, with one set from 1898,” Haylie-Jo says, adding they also have newer, vintage-inspired pieces.
Most items in The Vintage Teapot’s collection date from the 1930s to 1970s.
In addition to teacups (which the pair have nicknamed “Ladies”), the collection includes vintage cutlery, napkins, linens, and over 200 glasses and goblets. Pinks, soft blues, florals, gold accents, and more — there is something for everyone’s taste among the collection’s colors and patterns.
Both women come from backgrounds that center on detailed, client-focused work. Haylie-Jo’s career includes advertising/marketing and previously owning a successful online paper crafting supply company. Additionally, she has a Special Event Planning and Production certificate from Wake Tech.
Sam was a nurse in the UK. After moving to America, she stayed busy as a mom and used her organizational and people skills in a variety of ways, such as planning school events and working in guest services at a local fitness company.
With personalization as a cornerstone, the pair works with clients to accommodate their vision and any special requests.
“No two events are the same,” Sam says. “Each one is unique. We take the time to listen to what the client wants, how they feel it will look — whimsical, matching, color scheme — and guide them if they need us to.”
After a client approves their selections, the items are safely boxed and personally delivered. When the event is over, The Vintage Teapot team retrieves the tableware and handles all the washing.
For clients needing additional services, The Vintage Teapot has a network of dedicated partner vendors for catering, floral arrangements, and more. They even have a vendor for cleaning your house or business before or after an event.
Some clients request a brief overview of tea traditions, a curiosity likely piqued by popular English-based television shows including Bridgerton and Downton Abbey, in Haylie-Jo’s opinion.
“I just love the history of it, and I love teaching Americans more about tea.”
The Vintage Teapot is not only about creating delightful table décor, but also how the English tea tradition has a special way of connecting people.
The Vintage Teapot’s services range from tea sets for small gatherings to full tablescapes accommodating 50 people.
“‘Enjoy the present’ is very much what we want to do with our events,” Haylie-Jo says, referencing their slogan. “Make people stop, slow down, and be present in their gatherings.”
Since starting the business, she has noticed how teacups have a special effect on people. They’re curious about them, admire them, and when they use them, they do seem to be more in the moment.
“It just changes people,” she says. “What I didn’t realize was a teacup would change people.”
This was the case during a Galentine’s party for a cheerleading team. Except for a few event pictures, Sam says the cell phones were set aside.
“The feedback we got, and the photos they shared — they just said, ‘We never expected this young group of girls to just sit at the table and converse for an hour.’”
The Galentine’s party also exemplifies the slogan’s third component: Create the memories.
The goal is “making those moments live on after an event,” Haylie-Jo explains, “whether they are remembered, captured in photos, or shared long after the event ends. If you mention what we do to people, I bet you get a lot of people saying, ‘Oh, I did that for my daughter when she was 7; she’s 40 now, but I still remember it.’”
If you want to make memories with the help of thoughtfully planned, English tea–inspired tablescapes, Haylie-Jo and Sam are ready to brew up something special for you.
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