After being an idea since i began this Afternoon Tea project, i finally have done it. When you think of a Tea party this is the first thing that came to mind. I had an advantage i had hosted a community themed event and had props and some costumes from then. I have never read the book but seen many adaptions of the film, including a Black and white strange version.

It has been in my Tea book ( my planning book ) since the start but not quite enough ideas to formulate. I went back to it recently and new ideas came to mind and then i finalised it all. I wanted to go big as i am only having one Alice themed one. Some others i held back as would return for a 2nd themed Tea.

I always make loads and do have leftovers which we eat and i share with my co workers at my dayjob. I always try to make smaller items but sometimes better to make a bigger one an cut a small slice. As they say making smaller things is actually harder as more precision is needed. I did have a white rabbit outfit for the original party, but sold it mum still had her Alice dress and dad once again made a top hat for the Mad Hatter. I decided to make a White Rabbit hatter and it worked perfectly.

Live video as it happened on Facebook.

The setup

I knew with this one it would be time intensive to make the theme immersive as possible. I had gathered Teaware and props over the years. Which all came together to create the overall theming. It is the most that has been on the table in all the Teas i have done so far. The backdrop worked well as i did struggle to find a decent worthy one. A lot of these things you cannot buy in shops anymore so ebay 2nd hand market is the only way to get hold of items. It is the 2nd most expensive Tea i have done in all 21 Teas.

I have been lucky to pick up things randomly when not looking for them. I went into the Disneystore after work and got the big adorable soft Cheshire Cat plushie for £20 instead of £40. The Doorknob pencil sharpener was £11. The felt Mushrooms were from the Paperchase outlet. And i got the mini Ceramic ones from the Garden section in Poundstretchers £2 each.

I have Asda to thank for the majority of my Teaware. All of these are now discontinued. I had 2 sets one the enchanted forest range Teapot, milk jugs and sugar dish. The original Teapot came smashed to pieces in my online order, no surprise was hardly wrapped. I did get the mugs but they did not match the Teapot with a “Dash of magic on them” Much later Asda launched the new range which i adore. With Alice Side plates Drink me cup/saucer and a White Rabbit Teapot. I found the Clock plates in Ikea and knew instantly i wanted them for this Tea party. At the same time Primark launched an Alice range and i got the Cheshire Cat Teapot. The other 2 i had came from the Bootsale which mum picked up.

I had not originally planned but found some Alice in wonderland Hatter plates in Whittards outlet.

These were £7.50 each instead of £15 so got 4 to use for the main Cake stand. They sell a whole range from Plates, Mugs and Teapots but i already had my set, so just got the large plates.

Tea

This was also a big consideration which Tea to have, their are so many to pick from. I actually ended up getting an Alice themed Teabag pack from Whittard with selections from Oolong to Rose. This i picked up at the outlet, i also had a few others to choose from.

The other Cardboard stands i have had for years waiting to use. Perfect for the Jam tarts display and drink me bottles. I got a book from the works about planning a Alice Tea party for £2 it had stickers, games, templates and much more so really came in handy.

The food

When i initially came to plan it, i knew i wanted Eat me Biscuit dodgers and a Caterpillar Absolem Cake.

I always do a decent amount of research around books, films and party ideas to gather thoughts. But was more trickier than i had thought to plan. I did not want to copy other Afternoon Teas out there, some were not as immersive as i imagined. I wanted dishes to represent characters and moments even songs from the film and book. After deciding and whittling down i settled for my final menu

  • Painting the Roses Red Curd tartlets with Chocolate paintbrushes
  • Caterpillar Cake Absolem – Bubblegum icing & Raspberry spread popping candy filling
  • Green Tea chocolate covered Oreos with chocolate disc details
  • Cheshire cat mallow tails
  • Tea Mousse Cake
  • Cheshire Cat Sweet scones
  • Truffle cheddar Bunny Scones
  • Playing card Tarts ( Smoked salmon, Oyster Mushroom, Cabbages & Kings, Beetroot relish)
  • Eat me Shortbread Jammy dodgers
  • Strawberry Black pepper Jam Tarts
  • Tweedle Dum/Dee Eclairs

Changes

As with all Projects somethings will got to plan others not. Especially when it a idea which is original and you have no guidance to look to in times of trouble.

Cheshire Cat Scones – Since changing my recipe to the Fortnum Mason one they did not colour easily. Since they are more like a dough over kneading them could have made them tough. Splitting them into 2 colours should have been easy. Will have to avert back to my old recipe for dyed versions. They did however come out cool looking.

Playing Card Tarts- i had a cutter with all the clubs, hearts, spade, Diamonds and lost it. The tarts were supposed to have a Pastry topper. I also made them odd shapes were all supposed to be rectangles.

Eat me Dodger Biscuits – This is not major just a change from Shortbread to a Sugar Biscuit, to show up the ” Eat me” embossing more.

Final thoughts

Overall it went well and the pictures turned out great. I made the right choice for the backdrop, a lot were backdrops of an actual Teaparty, which i am at not in front of. From starting the Tea project wth no backdrops i can see they make a big difference to the thematics. It does further add to the fantasy compared to our back wall. I also decided last minute to get a Tweedle Dee/Dum costume for pictures, these were great for pictures, not sure you could have sat to Tea in them though lol.

I will not be doing another Alice in wonderland Tea anytime soon, as i have many others to plan and make sequels to. But this was one of my what i called “Big Teas” quite strong popular films/genres. Which have often been the most expensive to do. Some stuff i will sell but most i will keep away in storage.

As always their was leftovers, these will be eaten over the coming days . Some i plan to pop into work and turn into other things. Well that is it from Adam in Wonderland !

Hope you enjoyed reading this follow me for all my Afternoon Tea adventures on here and Facebook insta also.

What`s still to come ? loads ! sequel Teas and all

  • Pirates of the Carri-Tean
  • Dinosaurs Theme
  • Jungle
  • Return to Space
  • Under the Sea 2
  • back to the 80s 2
  • Aladdin 2 return to Agrabah
  • Mary poppins Returns
  • Back to the Chocolate factory Willy Wonka
  • Spy theme
  • Plus more