Hey hens! Today we're bringing you a post inspired by one of our favourite ever hen party themes.. 'Mad Hatter's Tea Party'! Not only does it give you the chance to indulge in some lovely cakes whilst dressed in crazy and colourful clothing, it also allows you to host a quirky hen in almost any location and within any budget. Whether you want to go completely DIY or have someone else take care of the planning, there are lots of ways that you can have a wonderful tea party experience for you and your friends to enjoy!
Dressing Up:
If you're not up for adoring yourself with willies and novelty veils, but still want a chance to dress up, a theme like this one can be a great way for you to keep things colourful but not predictable! We stock quite a few Wonderland themed costumes in our store, so whether you choose to be an army of Alices or a mixture of crazy characters, there should be plenty of costumes and accessories here to choose from.
If full on dress up isn't for you, then why not take your cue from the title and just wear cool and colourful hats instead? We stock a range of hats and headwear like the ones pictured below, so that you can enjoy the party in the comfort of your own clothes, whilst still feeling on-point for the theme.
If you want to add a DIY element to the party, then why not make your own hats as part of the fun? Companies like Glam Hatters' Tea Parties offer several packages which allow you to make your own bespoke headwear, while enjoying a scrumptious afternoon tea! If you're on a budget, you can always get some affordable materials together and make your own hats at home! Check out this tutorial for a velvet Mad Hatter top hat here.
Drinks and Bites:
Food and drink is important to any party, but it's even more important if you're hosting a party with 'tea' in the title! There are loads of lovely baking ideas online, whether you want to stick to an Alice in Wonderland theme, or simply create lots of colourful cakes and bakes to put on display (naturally you'll need a lovely cake stand or two). If you'd like to make your own, our Mad Hatter's Pinterest board will be listed at the end of the post, so you can head there for lots of ideas!
If you'd like to treat yourself to something extra special, why not book your tea party at a hotel or tearoom? If you're heading to the capital for your hen, you can book the 'Mad Hatter's Afternoon Tea' at the Sanderson Hotel, giving you a slightly more up-market version of this kitsch and quirky theme!
Aside from the cakes and finger sandwiches, there are lots of other important things to remember when providing refreshments for your guests. Will your party be alcoholic or booze-free for example? Whether you'll be sipping gin from your teacups or sticking to the traditional cuppa, there are plenty of ways that you can experiment with drink accessories and mixers to fit the theme, so get creative!
We love this Rhubarb and Ginger gin from
Edinburgh Gins (yes it really is pink!)
Make sure there are plenty of colourful sweets to keep everyone snacking, and to add to the colourful theme. You can browse our full selection here. These cute little mason shot glasses are also great if you're planning on making this an Irish tea too; why not adorn them with little 'Drink Me' signs? Decorate to Celebrate:
No Mad Hatter's Tea would be complete without some cool and quirky decoration, and we have loads of ideas from our store and Pinterest to share with you! If you're going all-out, then clocks and card decks should be a dominant theme throughout your decor, along with cats, hats and other elements from the famous tale! You can always tone down how 'Lewis Carroll' or 'Tim Burton' your party is, and could always opt for a more traditional tea party decoration style if you wish.
As always, bunting will add a lovely, traditional, vintage touch to your party, and like many other elements can be made or bought! Whether you want to add some queen of hearts sparkle or child-like craziness to your 'unbirthday' cake, we have lots of fun decorations to choose from in our store, like these cute crayon candles! We also stock these nifty little arrows, which, whilst being useful for your guests, also provide a fun little nod to the confused directions Alice follows in the story.
If you really want to take things up a level, then you should most certainly visit the Wonderland House in Brighton. The venue can sleep a large group of up to 24 hens, and provides the perfect space to entertain indoors, as well as providing a base camp to explore from!
For more wonderful, Wonderland themed hen party ideas, check out our Mad Hatter's Tea Party Pinterest board! There are loads of DIY ideas, printables and decor inspirations to browse through, from table settings to cupcakes!
