Rentable China for Afternoon Tea and More

China Rental Companies
Photograph by T-Sloan Photos.

Tea and Old Roses
Homewood, Alabama
205-413-7753 • teaandoldroses.com

Robin Campbell Wilhelm inherited her lifelong love of English china from her mother, practically at birth. Several years earlier, her father was stationed in London with the United States Air Force. While the Campbells lived abroad, Robin’s mother became enamored with English china and bought sets for family members back home as well as for Robin’s three older sisters, one of whom was born there.

“Throughout my entire childhood, we ate off English china for every meal,” Robin states. “Spode Billingsley Rose was our everyday pattern used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Spode Bridal Rose was used for special occasions. When I got married, my mother gave me a set of Spode American Bird luncheon plates. Clearly, my family loves Spode!”

China Rental Companies
Photograph by T-Sloan Photos.

Over the years, Robin had accumulated quite the collection and decided she wanted to share her admiration for fine china with others. Starting a vintage tableware rental business seemed like the best way to do just that. Thus, Tea and Old Roses was created in 2017 in Homewood, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. With an extensive inventory of more than 3,500 pieces of china, the table setting options are infinite, and clients can rest assured that the quantities are plentiful. The patterns are mostly discontinued, primarily from the mid-twentieth century (’40s to ’60s) and selections from the 1970s as well as some early 20th-century pieces. The rental options include everything from full place settings, tiered stands, serving platters, and teapots to mint julep cups, vintage flatware, and several antique tea carts to house all of your beverage needs in an enchanting display well suited for a garden party.

Tea and Old Roses has supplied elegant dishware and more to clients in Alabama and the surrounding regions for events as small as a 10-person backyard birthday party to large weddings for 475 guests. Delivery to the site of the event and complimentary set up and dish washing are included with the rental fee to ensure that the celebrants can fully enjoy their occasion without stress.

“What my services add to weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, and corporate fundraisers is a vintage, one-of-a-kind look, and my collection allows me to match almost any color palette and style with a 100-percent unique table setting. My tables never look the same way twice.”


Wedding planning by AK Brides. Venue and menu provided by Dreamcakes Café. Florals by Lillie Jane. Calligraphy by Allison R. Banks Designs.

Planning/design by Lauryn E. Weddings. Venue provided by Camelot Manor. Floral arrangement by Forever Wild Floral Co. Custom teas from Tea and Time.