Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Theme: Alice in Wonderland’s Mad Hatter Tea Party
Decorations:
The decorations would be set up to go along with the theme and could be done in bright and bold
colors. The tables could be set up with mismatched tea cups and tea pots (this would go along
with the tea party scene in the movie) along with bright colored cloth napkins tied together with
big bold ribbons. Playing cards could be scattered randomly around the table as well as fun
riddles in the tea cups on the tables that guests could take turns reading to each other throughout
the course of the party. Each table could be set up with different color table cloths, and for fun
there could be different types of chairs so that guests are sitting at different heights. There could
be colorful lanterns hanging from the ceiling as well as lawn flamingos set up around the room.
There could also be floating candles on the tables in different colors and shapes. There could be a
buffet table setup and on that table there could be a centerpiece made out of different tea cups in
a leaning tower type shape. There could also be multiple centerpieces for the tables to make each
one unique.
Centerpiece Ideas:
 One of the centerpieces could be a vase with a bouquet of red and white roses and paint
brushes with red paint on them (this would go along with the scene in the movie where the
cards paint the roses for the queen of hearts).
 Another centerpiece could be a house made with playing cards (glued together to hold up)
this would also go along with the queen of hearts idea.
 A tall top hat with the top cut out of it could cover a vase full of large bright flowers to make
it look like the flowers are coming out of the top of the hat, could also serve as a centerpiece.
 A stack of tea cups and or tea pots configured and glued together in a topsey turvey way
could also be used as a centerpiece. This would go along with the scenes in the movie of the
tea party at the mad hatter’s house.
The entrance way could be set up like a rabbit hole along with a play tunnel that the guests have
to walk through to get to the party (as Alice did in the movie). The walls could be decorated with
large playing cards and different types of clocks stopped at tea time. There could be umbrellas
hanging from the ceiling as well as diamond, spade, clover, and heart shape cut outs. There could
be a tree on the wall with 3-D branches that come off the wall with the Cheshire cat sitting on
them. There could be big arrows and signs hanging from the walls that say “This way” and “That
way.” There could also be large cutouts of the different characters in the movie hanging on the
walls.
Invitations:
The invitations could be in the shape of a mad hatter’s top hat decorated with a ribbon and flower
to look like an actual hat with a note that says:
“Don’t be late, for a very important date.
By the order of the Queen of Hearts
You are here summoned to attend.
Meet in Wonderland.”
Also, with the invitation there could be a colorful tea bag on the inside, along with a queen of
hearts playing card. Another idea for an invitation is a card in the shape of a tea pot decorated
with ribbon and a similar saying and a tea bag in the inside as well. Either invitation could have
Alice in Wonderland pictures to help represent the theme. Also on the invitations, the guests
could be told to dress up like characters in Alice in Wonderland, or wear top hats and rabbit ears
as costumes. The invitations should be sent out two to three weeks ahead of time.
Activities:
There are many different ideas that could be used with this theme. There are a variety of crafts
that could be done and different types of games could be played.
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Pin the Grin on the Cheshire Cat
Each person at the party could get a blank ceramic cup that they get to decorate and paint and
after the party they can take it home as a favor.
Play lawn crocket with balls painted as hedge hogs. The arches could be the cutouts of the
different characters in Alice in Wonderland made out of plywood or cardboard and painted.
(For example the Cheshire Cat could be a character cutout and his tail could be used as the
arch.)
The guests could be given top hats to decorate and make their own. After they are finished
decorating them, there could be a contest and the best hat decorator gets a prize.
Alice in Wonderland trivia game
Tea Pot piñata
A magician could come and perform magic tricks as a form of entertainment
Tea Cup Relay Race: The guests would split up into groups and take turns running from
point A to point B with cups of tea, (or water to be less messy) without spilling the liquid out
of the cups, and the team to fill the bucket the fastest would win.
Musical Mad Hatter Hats: This game is musical chairs, but with hats as well. The chairs are
set up in a circle and each chair has a hat. The guests go around the chairs and when the
music stops they have to sit in a chair and put on the hat in order to win.
“The queen says…”: This is a game just like “Simon says.” (For fun have someone dress up
like the Queen of Hearts to lead the game.)
Have the guests try and build the tallest and most sturdy houses made out of playing cards.
The team that has the house that stands the longest, and is the tallest wins.
“I’m Late, I’m Late” potato sack race
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Chess or Checkers: Have large chess tables made out of plywood and painted like a game
board. Have the chess boards the size of tables and get large chess or checkers pieces. Have
tinsel around the edge of the board to hide the sides and give it a little extra sparkle.
The Wheel Game: Make a game wheel with different sections that say “Eat me” and “Drink
Me” and have index cards that correspond to the wheel sections. Have a guest spin the wheel
and if they land on the eat or drink sections they have to eat or drink something strange (like
a mustard and jelly sandwich or sardines etc.).
“How well do you know your mother/daughter game”
Tea Party or Alice in Wonderland Bingo
Make flower pot pens: Decorate writing pens with flowers on the top.
Tea Party Word Twist: Have the guests try and find words from the words “mother/daughter
tea party”; whichever mother and daughter team that has the most words gets a prize.
Have premade sugar cookies for the guests and have them decorate them to take home.
Have the guests make their own personalized picture frames with an Alice in Wonderland
theme and when the guests first arrive take a Polaroid of the mother and daughter that they
can put in the frames they made to take home.
Tea Tasting Game: Have the guests take turns tasting different types of tea, blind folded and
have them try and guess the different types of tea.
Tea Mime: A game like charades
Mad Hatter’s Cake Walk: There could be a circle set up of small hats with numbers
underneath them. The guests would then walk around the hats in a circle while the music is
going. When the music stops the guests then pick a hat and stand by it. If their number under
the hat they picked is chosen then the guest gets to pick out a tasty treat to take home.
Menu
There could be different trays of food set out and some of the things could have little tags on
tooth picks that say “Eat Me” and different drinks that say “Drink Me.” The food could be served
buffet style on long tables. The guests could be served fresh fruits and chocolate covered
strawberries. There could be small sandwiches, and finger foods and snacks. There could be
scones and breads and cupcakes or cookies. There could be a large tiered cake in the shape of a
hat or teapot. For beverages tea would be served of course, and each table could have sugar,
cream, lemon, mint, and the essentials to make a cup of tea. There could also be lemonade or
punch served.
Favors
Throughout the activities the guests will have made crafts and gifts that they are able to take
home. The Guests can take their pictures and frames home, as well as their painted cups and
decorated cookies. If the guests decorated hats they could take them home as well. The guests
could also be given some kind of themed Alice in Wonderland tea cup with different types of tea
bags in a nice gift wrapping as a party favor.
Misc
Throughout the tea party there could be Alice in Wonderland music playing in the background
while the guests are enjoying their tea. The movie Alice in wonderland either the new or old
version could be played during the party. When guests arrive they could be given name tags with
their names spelled backwards that they have to wear throughout the party.
Devotional
“I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date, no time to say hello, goodbye, I’m late, I’m late,
I’m late, and when I wave, I lose the time I save.” These are the words of the white rabbit in
“Alice in wonderland.”
Many of us will more than likely confess that the above line aptly describes our lives. Every
moment of our days are crammed full of different commitments and other responsibilities. We
get caught up in a whirlwind of activities and responsibilities; running from one commitment to
the next one. We feel like there are not enough hours in the day, and enough days in the week to
complete all that we are obligated to do. We are bombarded with work responsibilities, family
obligations, cooking, cleaning, and caring for our households, as well as grocery shopping and
other errands that we manage to be consumed by. Squeezing in all we possibly can leaves little
time for rest and emotional and spiritual rejuvenation. Fatigue is one of our constant companions,
and yet we spend may countless nights sleepless and worrying about the many obligations we
wake to face us the following day, not to mention the things we were unable to accomplish that
leave us feeling guilty. A sense of failure comes to follow the guilt and it is heavily put upon our
shoulders as we feel we have let people down with our incapability to finish what we were meant
to do. With all of this we begin to feel pressured and overwhelmed; stressed and struggle to keep
a daily devotional time with God. We then can’t remember the last time we were truly able to
enjoy and be present in the moment, and can’t remember when we had one on one time with
God.
Many of us feel isolated, and although we are surrounded by many friends, family and co
workers daily some many find that it is difficult to find those heart-to-heart connections. Like the
white Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, we can’t afford to find time to wave briefly to our loved
ones as we scurry past to our next appointment, trying to get one step ahead. I don’t believe God
intended for His children to be exhausted and frustrated at the end of every day, or deprived of
fellowship with Him and others. I believe that God created us to live in freedom and not in
bondage to our planners, blackberries, email and many commitments we face every day. If we
direct our lives towards the Lord and seek time with Him, He will take our burdens and give us
rest, as said in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am
humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and
the burden I give you is light.” We must get away with God and recover our lives and He will
show us how to take a real rest; He will teach us the unforced rhythms of grace. If we keep
company with Him, we can learn to live freely and lightly.
Psalms 31:14-17 says, “But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying “You are my God!” My future is
in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on
your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out
to you for help.” And this is what we must do! Desperate we must give ourselves to God and
place our days in His hands. In His hands we are safe from those things that bind us, and if we
ask and seek His guidance, He will lead us to practical solutions and wisdom. From here we
must submit our plans and our commitments to Him and ask for grace and be willing to humbly
listen to the directions of the paths that He has set before us.
Mackenzie Haughin
DHQ Youth Department
Sacramento, CA
Del Oro Division
Western Territory