Need ideas for Mad Hatter Tea Party

Spookilicious mama · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 06:57 AM

Ok so heres the thing. I have officially decided that I will be the Queen of Hearts for this years party. Of course a darker more fabulous version but Queen of Hearts none the less Now I was thinking that every year I usually put up the same decorations plus what ever I bought that year which looks great but I thought maybe this year to tie into my costume I might do the dining room like a Mad Hatters Tea Party. THis is where you all come in Can anyone out there give me some ideas on what I can do to really get the mood of the tea party across???? I need Help!!!

morriganna · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 07:24 AM

I did a Mad Hatter's themed Bridal Shower for my sister-in-law. It wasn't the darker version, but some of the things I did that I got compliments on:
1. I scrounged flea markets & yard sales for mismatched tea cups and saucers for each place setting. Spent very little money, and NOTHING matched. Very mad hattery. Everyone took their cups & saucers as their favor.
2. I had petit fours made by our local bakery. Slightly pricey, but really worth the effect, as well as finger sandwiches.
3. Hand made invitations using my color scheme (which was bright since it was summer - lime green, hot pink & purple). Used "You mustn't be late! You mustn't be late, for a very important date!" on the front and put details inside.

Just some suggestions you could tweak to your own use. Have fun with it!!

Samhain.Voodoo · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 08:51 AM

This is what immediately came to mind:

If you haven't heard of American McGee's Alice, you're missing out! It's such a dark and wonderful game and hopefully will be an amazing movie as well.

If you're thinking about going in this route, then play the soundtrack (Which is composed by Chris Vrenna) as ambiance music. Some of the tea cups could be filled with flouressant liquid or blood. And you could build a center piece with the teapot on legs. Also hang some broken clocks on the wall and some clock parts on the table and such.

Spookilicious mama · #4 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 02:11 PM

WOW! Morriganna and Samhain.voodoo Those ideas are great and I think combined could make for a very cool scene. I think I will take a bit from both of you. I hope others can keep more ideas coming!!!

DeepSix · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:51 AM

I too am an Alice in Wonderland fan. I agree with stocking up on mismatched tea cups and tea pots. I've seen various artistic interpretations of the tea party and paper lanterns are often depicted; if you can get your hands on plain white ones you could paint them up (checkerboard, stripes, whatever pleases you). I would also add little things like fake bugs and spiders all over the tea cups and whatnot, also we can't forget the dormouse...so if you want it darker you could switch it up and use a big fake rat. Not having seen your dining room I'm limited for ideas. Depending on space you could do that Martha Stewart thing where you take small branches, spray paint them black, anchor them in floral foam in a bucket and attach owls, crows, and other "menacing" creatures to them. Also I'd suggest hitting up antique shops and maybe specialty thrift stores for a variety of vintage hats (if it's reasonable price wise, sometimes you can find good deals). That's all I've got for now...
Cheers!

Frankie's Girl · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 10:10 AM

A large stopped clock (at teatime roughly 4pm) the Mad Hatter was being punished for "killing time" so that is why it was always teatime.

A large tiered cake/sweets server with decaying sweets. Bugs, cobwebs etc...

Mismatched chairs and serving wear.

Dormouse, check. If you could find a large teapot to have him inside, that would be funny as well.

The March hare was also present.

Poetry scattered about on aged paper. (they quoted many different ones - "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Bat" would be appropriate if you make them where you can read them.

Playing cards - scattered across the surface of the table.

Large pots and jars containing "treacle" and jam and butter and such.

Rikki · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 07:51 PM

My friends got married a few weeks ago and as soon as I saw their cake I thought "Mad Hatter!" You could even do this with boxes if you didn't do a cake. I know it's not much but all the odd angles and the different/mismatched prints might inspire you!

BadTableManor · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 07:59 PM

Love the tilted cake idea, and if you're fairly handy, not too hard to do. It's all about building up layers of frosting on only 1 half of the top of each cake. Don't forget to shove a dowel into it, or the whole thing'll slide off the table!
Fab idea, Spooky, be sure to keep us posted!

Junit · #9 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 06:21 AM

Wow! Great ideas guys! I love the idea of a teapot with creepy legs. If you were interested in using tea for the tea party there are all sorts of weird blends. One kind has a flowering (Jasmine) bud that will actually open and bloom when you soak it in the water for a few minutes.

Spookilicious mama · #10 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:53 PM

These are all great ideas guys, thank you so so much. I am definately going to use some of these as is or a take on them. I would love the ideas to keep coming. Rikki that cake looks great. I happen to be QUITE the baker So I can definately see doing that. I love the darker version idea and will definately be doing the lanterns. Teapot with legs might be a challenge but I am up for it Any ideas on how to accomplish that??