Tag Archives: Alice in Wonderland bridal shower

4 Tea Party Bridal Shower Themes

Tea parties remain one of the most popular bridal shower themes, but that doesn’t mean every tea party shower must look the same as the last. We crafted four tea party shower inspiration boards to show you how you can customize a tea party theme to suit the bride’s personality. Choose from a classic English high tea with pastel hues and floral patterned plates, or go modern with a vibrant color palette and bold patterns. Go for over-the-top opulence with a Marie Antoinette French tea party, or get wacky (or bookish) with an Alice in Wonderland tea.

To create a classic high tea, you’ll need pretty patterned china and a few traditional tea snacks, like this honey pound cake or soft angel food cake cut into hearts and covered with layers of creamy frosting. Soft colors should run throughout the decor, from the flowers to the table settings. An English tea dress code will give your guests a change to wear springtime sundresses, feathered hats, flower crowns or even lace gloves.

To throw a modern tea party, change up the color palette. While a traditional tea incorporates soft pastels and vintage florals, go with bold, vibrant colors and patterns for a modern twist. We love the orange accents in this tea party or the abstract patterned tablecloth in a modern navy motif. And don’t be afraid of black! The letter board at this modern tea party gives the perfect updated twist. You can also look beyond Europe for inspiration and explore other tea cultures. What about serving a Moroccan tea or having a Japanese tea service?

A Marie Antoinette tea holds on to the elegance of a traditional English tea, but turns the fancy up to 10! The traditional palette is pink, blue and white, but we love accents of gold to channel French rococo glam. Host your shower at a cute French cafe and serve pink floral teas and French macarons. Marie’s classic catch phrase (“Let them eat cake”) must be on display, and the aforementioned cake should make an appearance too. This type of tea party also screams for the addition of alcohol—we love this pink champagne granita as a finish to your meal.

Alice in Wonderland is a versatile theme, as there are two parties in the book you can take inspiration from: the Mad Hatter’s wacky tea party or the Queen of Hearts’ croquet lawn party. If you’re going Mad Hatter, incorporate whimsical colors with mismatched vintage china. A grouping of clocks or vintage glass bottles makes for simple yet stunning table decor. Color chaos is your goal. You can use vintage wallpaper samples to create a shabby chic photo backdrop that completes the look. For the Queen’s garden party, your palette is black, white and red. And if you’ve got a hedge, use it! This one is dotted with red roses and oversized playing cards. Fancy hats will add an element of fun and whimsy to a party that’s fit for a queen. And don’t forget these DIY flamingo croquet sticks!

A Secret Garden in the City Bridal Shower

Fashion blogger Elyse of Leather and Lace wanted to transport her guests to a secret garden in the city, so she asked GLDN Events to transform New York’s Gramercy Hotel into a flower-filled wonderland for her spring bridal shower. Soft pink and white streamers hanging from the ceiling gave the space a whimsical vibe and Elyse’s stunning pleated floral dress with a strappy open back completed the feeling of Alice gone through the looking glass. The white and pink anenome flower statement wall shows that a simple DIY can add instant impact. Black and white stripes on the table runner and cake added a modern touch to this festive floral shower, completing the urban garden party vibe.

Photographer: Life In Reverie | Event Planning: GLDN Events | Venue: Gramercy Park Hotel | Apparel: Zimmermann

A 70s-Style Wonderland Bridal Shower

I truly feel like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole into this magical Wonderland bridal shower with a lot of 70s swing. Can I move in to this fabulous Scottsdale, Arizona, estate? I will settle for a chair by the pool with my name on it! Bride Elizabeth has her own clothing line, Revolution Rags, which donates ten percent of its profits to animal rescue (stylish and compassionate!). Elizabeth’s friends added touches of whimsy to the already out-of-this-world back garden by dotting the lush hedge with oversized playing cards and creating a photo backdrop with neon carnations. Guests enjoyed a gourmet lunch along with a stocked poolside bubbly bar and photographer Paul Yerrick was there to capture all the magic (both digitally and on film!).

A Mad Hatter Bridal Shower

As a longtime lover of all things Disney, Kentucky bride Nickie requested an Alice in Wonderland theme for her bridal shower, and her bridesmaids were happy to oblique with this whimsical Mad Hatter tea party. Photographer and matron of honor Whitney Knutson used vintage books, floral tea sets (borrowed from many of the ladies who attended the shower) and prettily potted succulents to bring the infamous tea party to life. A patterned floral sheet served as a simple photobooth to capture a few sweet moments with the bride (in a royal blue dress, à la Alice!). I love all the little nods to the story that are scattered throughout the party.