"Alice in Wonderland" Bridal Shower

When Harriet's daughter, Lindsay, announced she was getting married we simply had to plan a bridal shower. Lindsay wanted a themed event: Alice in Wonderland.

We came up with several options, but what we decided on was a bit more Tim Burton than Disney. We wanted whimsical and fun but with a bit of sophistication thrown in.

Let the planning begin! After looking at many options, we decided on a graphic black and white motif surrounded by bright fuchsia accents. Lindsay loves Mackenzie-Childs accessories so with that in mind we started with the obvious: a Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check tea kettle as the floral centerpiece.

Of course there had to be much more to the decor so we added more flowers using more pieces from Mackenzie-Childs as well as whimsical white vases. This added color and interest to the tables without overwhelming them.

We wanted more decor that felt very Alice in Wonderland and since we couldn't bring either the Red or White queens, we opted for their crowns instead. We loved that idea because it added a sophisticated touch but still was an homage to the story.

Finally we at least needed to include some of the other elements so we found this adorable set of Alice in Wonderland playing cards which included drawings of the original characters. Add keys to the mix and the story comes alive.

Completing the black and white graphic theme, we selected Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check salad plates, as well as the Kate Spade dots and stripes pieces.

Since we wanted the bridal shower to be bright and festive, we added fuchsia napkins tied with graphic black and white bows. Top that with a calligraphy place tag and the table was complete.

Of course it is a tea party so we included various candies and cookies on the table. We loved macaroons and frosted heart cookies as beautiful but edible decor. Add pink and silver kisses (perfect for a bridal shower), M&Ms, and peanut butter cups and who could resist?

What is essential for a tea party? Fascinators, of course! Harriet and I made sure we bought ours ahead of time but we purchased extras for those attendees who wanted to get into the spirit of the day.

Finally there needs to be an extraordinary cake for dessert! This cake designed by Lisa Altfest of Cakefest Bakery, was complete perfection, decorated with icons from the Alice in Wonderland story topped with a dainty tea pot. The bride and groom (who arrived at the end of the shower) were obviously thrilled.