An Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party

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Looking to host a Mad Hatter Tea Party? This Alice in Wonderland celebration blends vintage elegance with a dash of whimsy. It’s perfect for celebrations where reality departs at the garden gate and enchantment takes over. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, or a charming garden gathering, prepare to wow guests with details that feel straight out of a Victorian daydream.

For my daughter’s 8th birthday, we threw a very merry unbirthday celebration inspired by her favorite moments from the classic Disney cartoon and the timeless charm of Lewis Carroll’s original tale. Brimming with vintage flair, this Mad Hatter–worthy tea party brought the whimsical world of Wonderland to life—with plenty of curiosities, oddities, and delightful details to enchant every little guest. Keep scrolling for magical party ideas, from playful bites and storybook-worthy table décor to imaginative games and enchanting lighting.

1. Wonderland Table Décor Full of Whimsy & Charm

For the place settings, I layered Theodore Haviland dinner plates in the Springtime pattern with Westmoreland Forget-Me-Not dessert plates in blue—a sweet nod to Alice’s iconic dress. Each setting was topped with a vintage mismatched Victorian teacup and paired with antique silverware to complete the whimsical, old-world look.

To capture that mad tea party magic, I layered pieces wherever possible to add depth and a sense of playful chaos. Upside-down teacups created quirky pedestals for petite floral arrangements, while gold pocket watches—just like the White Rabbit’s—were tucked throughout for a dash of curious charm.

I used two coordinating patterns of April Cornell cloth napkins, each tied with a vibrant pink velvet ribbon and finished with a vintage-style skeleton key—a whimsical little keepsake for guests to take home.

Throughout the party, floral frames showcased some of our favorite Alice quotes, each embellished with pressed wildflowers for a storybook feel.

I found a stunning white embroidered tablecloth with a ruffled hem that fit the Wonderland theme beautifully. Vintage lace doilies added a delicate touch beneath the centerpieces, tying everything together.

2. Whimsical Wonderland Florals

Vintage teacups held petite floral arrangements brimming with lush pink roses and dainty white micro pompons tucked between the blooms. My darling husband even crafted whimsical Bread-and-Butterflies to perch among the flowers.

The main centerpieces were arranged in mismatched Victorian teapots, each overflowing with an asymmetric mix of roses, gerbera daisies, white snapdragons, micro pompons, and antique carnations. For added height and vintage flair, I placed them atop Jadeite cake stands. Scattered throughout were vintage Alice figurines, clocks, and pocket watches—curious little treasures that added just the right touch of storybook whimsy.

3. Mad Hatter Tea Party Inspired Bites

The menu featured classic English afternoon tea party fare: buttery scones, dainty finger sandwiches, mini tarts, and petit fours—served with all the proper Wonderland condiments, of course, including Devonshire cream, orange marmalade, and cherry jam.

Mini rose cakelets with lemon and raspberry glaze paid homage to the Queen’s roses being painted red, while sweet mushroom-shaped bread offered a whimsical choice: one side to make you taller, the other shorter—you decide.

A vintage teapot held floral lollipops as a playful nod to the singing violets, and atop the tiered tray of treats, Mother bird is perched in her nest, guarding her eggs from Alice the serpent.

To display the spread, I used a tiered plate stand with vintage floral plates and also crafted my own using mismatched Victorian plates and glass candlesticks in varying heights and sizes.

The table was dressed in layers: a soft blue tulle skirt, a lace overlay, and an April Cornell topper in the Blue La Vie En Rose pattern for that perfect touch of Wonderland romance.

4. Drink Me: Enchanting Blue Sips from Wonderland

It wouldn’t be a Wonderland tea party without Alice’s iconic blue “Drink Me” potion. I used 5 oz. glass apothecary bottles —just the right size for a real sip—and filled them with a shimmering blue lemonade mocktail (recipe below). To complete the look, I hand-cut pink paper tags and used a calligraphy pen to recreate the delicate lettering seen in the Disney film. A tiny detail, but one that made the magic feel real.

“Drink Me” Potion Mocktail

This enchanting blue drink is as easy as it is magical—perfect for filling your little glass vials and delighting curious partygoers.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of Simply Lemonade (52 oz)
• 2–3 oz non-alcoholic Blue Curaçao syrup (adjust for your desired shade of blue)

Instructions:
Mix the lemonade and Blue Curaçao in a pitcher, adjusting the syrup to achieve your perfect Wonderland-blue hue. Chill well, then pour into individual 5 oz apothecary bottles. Add a “Drink Me” tag for the full Alice effect.

For the grown-ups:
Swap in a classic Blue Lagoon cocktail using vodka, blue curaçao liqueur, and fresh lemon juice—same magical color, just a bit more… mad.

5. A Mad Hatter’s Tea Station

The tea station was set up for guests to help themselves, with a whimsical floral teapot kept warm over a glass tea pot warmer. A selection of Alice in Wonderland–inspired teas were displayed in a vintage Jeannette shell pink tray, with extra teacups stacked nearby for both function and charm.

To add a little mad décor, I hung ornate frames, mismatched plates, and a vintage hand mirror on the wall—because nothing in Wonderland is quite as it seems. A silver teapot overflowed with spray roses, gerbera daisies, and carnations in playful shades of pink.

Purple striped straws tied with pink bows were available for sipping the “Drink Me” potion in style. The table itself was layered with an antique quilt, a vintage embroidered cloth, and lace doilies for extra storybook charm. A “Tiffany” style lamp sat atop a stack of vintage books, casting a warm, moody glow—just right for a bit of tea-time mischief.

6. Decor & Lighting for a Whimsical Alice Party

Creating an outdoor tea party scene indoors is certainly a challenge, but with a little creativity, some faux florals, and a few lighting tricks, it’s possible to conjure up a truly magical setting. I used leafy green garlands along with a rose and ranunculus garland to wrap around the columns, transforming them into a whimsical gateway into the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Red roses were tucked in here and there for a bold pop of color, and the whole look was finished off with an Alice in Wonderland banner that added a playful, storybook touch.

Above the dining table, I hung a mix of boxwood and ivy garlands at varying lengths. Suspended from each one was either a paper lantern or a tulip-shaped shade salvaged from vintage NOMA patio lights—each lit from within using tiny LED lantern lights. Ivy-wrapped fairy lights draped between the garlands added even more sparkle, and the low-hanging, colorful lights helped create a cozy, otherworldly atmosphere fit for Alice’s very merry unbirthday.

To enhance the magic, I used RGB floodlights to wash the walls in dreamy pink and purple hues. With the rest of the lighting dimmed, the room took on a magical glow that brought the whole scene to life.

For the walls, I added a basket overflowing with faux florals inspired by the singing “Golden Afternoon” garden flowers. I also created a collage wall of Wonderland curiosities—hanging teacups, vintage floral plates with favorite quotes, a large brass key, and numbers to match the Mad Hatter’s iconic hat tag—all centered around my daughter’s artistic rendition of Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

To carry the theme even further, I cut the Alice in Wonderland banner into smaller sections and turned them into whimsical pennants. Using hot glue, I attached each piece to wooden dowels, added delicate “White Rabbit” lace trim, and hung them from blush pink velvet ribbon—just the right finishing touch for a space where madness and magic meet.

7. Easy Party Favors for A Mad Tea Party

Don’t let your guests leave Wonderland empty-handed—send them home with a tea party favor they’ll actually use (and love). I bundled mini glass vials filled with loose-leaf tea alongside heart-shaped tea strainers, then tucked them into Alice-blue organza bags. Each favor was finished with a black ribbon and an Alice in Wonderland–themed thank you tag—a perfectly proper parting gift from a very merry unbirthday.

8. Queen of Hearts Approved Party Games

Have a little fun with the Queen’s favorite pastime—croquet, Wonderland style. We created our own card guard “wickets” and used plush flamingos to mimic the floppy croquet mallet Alice was famously forced to use. Add a little plush hedgehog for the ball, and you’ve got yourself a perfectly maddening game of croquet that’s as fun to play as it is to watch.

The standing card guards were great as décor and will look just as charming outdoors as they did indoors. We set them up on feet, but they include metal stakes for use in the lawn, turning the garden into a playful scene straight from the Queen’s court.

The birthday girl was Wonderland-ready in her Alice costume, complete with the iconic blue dress and white apron—she could’ve stepped straight out of the rabbit hole and onto the tea table!

Whether you’re planning a birthday or just an excuse for a little whimsy, I hope this Wonderland tea party sparks ideas for your own topsy-turvy celebration.

If you loved these ideas, be sure to share the magic with a fellow party planner and drop a comment below—I’d love to hear how you’d throw your own trip down the rabbit hole!

Cheers!

♥ Jessica

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