Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party Ideas

If you love Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter tea party ideas may be exactly what you are looking for to celebrate your next event.

Alice in Wonderland is a classic fantasy book that was written by Lewis Carroll. Not only has it delighted children and adults alike since it was first published in 1865, it has been the inspiration for several movies, works of art, other books, and …tea parties.

One of the most celebrated scenes in the entire book is the Mad Hatter’s tea. It is a delightful scene of good natured chaos and mayhem, absolute surrealism and enough fantasy to fulfill any childhood need for an ethereal experience. Why was the Mad Hatter’s tea so unique?

You see, people who used to make hats were called hatters and they used chemicals that killed brain cells by the millions. This eventually caused them to lose their minds and become… let’s say… a little weird. Back in Lewis Carroll’s day insanity was called “madness”. So, the character of the Mad Hatter would be a very understandable character to most of the original readers of Carroll’s story. Most city dwellers would have come in contact with a “mad hatter” of their own many times over their lifetimes.

A great way to celebrate a child’s special occasion, or to follow up an afternoon watching Alice in Wonderland, would be a Mad Hatter Tea.

If you are planning a Mad Hatter Tea of your very own keep in mind that everything needs to be backwards, unexpected, and slightly odd. If you will recall the tea was a celebration of the Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday. It was held in a meadow with an unusual cast of guests.

Invitations

There are a couple of ways to go with the invitations. One of the best is to print off an image of a pocket watch from the internet and write on it:

• Don’t be late to the Mad Hatter’s Tea!
• Time:
• Address:
• Phone/email:
• Rsvp

Decorations

Decorations should be kept simple and unique. The book doesn’t describe any décor that might have been on the table but considering it was in a meadow spring flowers would be a possibility. You could also decorate with totally off the wall items like a pan or an old toy truck. Hats are another excellent possibility.

Basically, make a display of anything that seems comical, interesting, or strikes you as a good centerpiece.

Set the table with mismatched china. Use anything you like for the table cloth from clean newspaper to flannel baby blankets.

Although this is a Mad Hatter Tea consider serving coffee (if it is for adults) or milkshakes (if it is for children) in teacups. This will help keep the party light, fun, and make your guests wonder what you are going to do next, like a true mad hatter. Have some tea available for the purists among you.

Keep the food fun and unexpected as well:

Tortilla Sandwich Wraps make excellent faux escargot.

Fairy Tale Mushrooms

April Fools Berry Soda

UnBirthday Cake – make it easy. Just make your favorite layer cake but don’t frost it. Cut into wedges and serve with a dollop of frosting and some sprinkles. An unconstructed unbirthday cake is perfect for the Mad Hatter tea.

Party favors can be almost anything:

• Beef jerky in pink tulle with ribbon tied around the top
• Inexpensive copies of Alice in Wonderland
• Gummy worms
• Teacups from the thrift store to take home

The main idea of the tea is to have fun. There is no right or wrong way to do it so let your imagination runaway with you and have a great time. Go see Alice in Wonderland and Mad Hatter tea party ideas will probably begin to flow.