17 Creative Mad Hatter Tea Party Ideas

Tea parties are thrilling parties to plan for but you don’t have to host a tea party like everyone else’s. How about something truly unique, like a Mad Hatter party, instead? From “Drink Me” beverages to topiary garden venues, Peerspace wants to inspire you with a few of our favorite Mad Hatter tea party ideas for an unforgettable occasion!

1. Send Mad Hatter-themed party invitations

When you choose any creative party theme you’ll want to let your guests know in advance what to expect. That way, they can dress the part and bring dishes that fit the theme! Mad Hatter tea party invitations custom-made to fit the theme are easy to find on Etsy. Invitations shaped like playing cards, tea bags, and other props from the story are especially fun.

2. Reserve the right tea party venue

The venue is as important as the decorations when picking the best Mad Hatter tea party ideas! We want a space that’s whimsical and open to being designed as we like. Fortunately, Peerspace has all kinds of party venue rentals where you can build a space to match this theme!

For example, this dreamy party space in Atlanta, GA, is pre-decorated for a Mad Hatter tea party, quirky bachelorette night, or other special event! Venues with fairytale or whimsical atmospheres are also a great place to begin your search.

3. Set up a giant chessboard

Add some whimsical fun with a giant chessboard for guests to test their wits! Moving the massive pieces around is a blast, as is trying to keep track when the pieces are almost as big as you. Venues with a secret garden or large backyard are ideal here; an indoor space might be a touch crowded…

4. Let guests make their own mad hats

Is it really a Mad Hatter tea party if you aren’t wearing some lovely custom-made hats? You can ensure everyone dresses the part by collecting supplies for some mad hat-making time together. There are many ways to go about it, including mad hat-making kits that come with everything you need. If you want to be even more creative, use this mad hat-making guide to build hats entirely from scratch.

Add more dimension to your Mad Hatter tea party with these magical Alice in Wonderland party ideas.

5. Use custom-made signs and banners 

Once you have your Mad Hatter tea party venue it’s time to decorate the space. You’ll want some banners and signs that direct guests through the secret garden or indoor venue you’ve chosen to the party table. How about hanging up some arrows and banners like these from Etsy? 

6. Make it a costume party

Mad Hatter parties can get really inventive where outfits are concerned! If you and your friends love dressing up then how about making it a costume party? Guests can show up with not only a premade hat but a colorful and chaotic wardrobe to match. Costume rental shops near you are where we’d recommend searching if you want a costume as quickly as possible. Otherwise, have some fun collecting frilly scarves, a Mad Hat, makeup, and other accessories. Other characters like Alice or the Queen of Hearts are also allowed!

7. Use mismatched cups, teapots, and dinnerware

This is a Mad Hatter tea party, remember? So don’t be boring with matching china; mix things up with an odd collection of teapots, cups, plates, and other accessories. How about chairs in all different shapes and sizes? Teapots that are themed to match the show could even have multiple spots and wild colors! 

8. Add googly eyes to everything

A secret garden is a magical place. Add some flair to the venue by sticking googly eyes on plants, teapots, chairs, flowers, invitations…Anything that would be improved by some cartoon eyes staring back at you. Hint: that’s most things. As far as creative Mad Hatter tea party ideas go this is one of the easiest ways to make a venue more whimsical.

9. Serve traditional teas alongside unusual brews

Being a tea party, you should have plenty of the classic beverage to serve your guests. Have you thought about what kind you’ll be serving? Besides traditional brews like Earl Grey, why not include more unique flavors like rose or matcha tea? Everyone can learn about new teas they might never have tried before while enjoying the games and outfits!

10. Choose classic tea party snacks

One of the most important aspects of Mad Hatter tea party ideas is choosing the right menu. Traditional English tea parties rely heavily on small snacks like finger sandwiches, scones, lemon curd spread, and tea cakes. If this is your first time planning this kind of event, let Peerspace help with our list of chic tea party food ideas! Each idea includes both pictures and a recipe so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.

11. Set Humpty Dumpty somewhere

Humpty Dumpty is another iconic character from the show that deserves a place as a Mad Hatter tea party idea. Pick up a decorative Dumpty and set him on the edge of the table, a countertop, or at the top of the venue’s wall!

12. Play Cheshire Cat bean bag toss

Now that we’ve included Humpty Dumpty in our list of Mad Hatter tea party ideas, we need to bring in the Cheshire Cat as well. You can rely on party decorations here also. But if you want to get a little more creative, how about building a Cheshire Cat bean bag toss board? You can score points based on how many times the bean bag lands right into his mouth!

13. Rent a topiary garden venue

If you really want to run with an impressive Mad Hatter tea party idea, how about reserving a topiary garden? It’s the nearest thing to a true Alice in Wonderland garden venue! You can hang signs everywhere, dress up the figures, schedule a photographer to come take portraits of your amazing costumes, and enjoy an outdoor tea party together.

Many of the topiary garden venues Peerspace has to offer are already designed with outdoor parties in mind. For example, check out this historic countryside estate in Greater London, UK, with a 9-acre topiary garden included with your reservation!

Get more inspiration using these elegant tea party themes for your group!

14. Set up a DIY tea cup and pot craft station

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/210543351531378469/

A tea party can be more than sipping and socializing…Make time for creative crafts like tea cup or pot painting! You can easily find a few clay pots and cups at a pottery school or supply store near you. Once you have these and some paints you can enjoy some time seeing what creative ideas your guests come up with.

15. Use “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” labels

The “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” labels are some of the most recognizable parts of the Alice in Wonderland movie. We’ve all seen these so slap a few labels on mystery bottles and bowls of snacks! If you’re confident in your kitchen talents, little desserts with “Eat Me” frosted on them will be a delight!

16. Run fog and bubble machines

Add an air of mystery to the venue with some foggers and bubble machines. You can rent these at most party supply vendors near you. How much fun will it be to arrive at a Mad Hatter tea party and stroll through a fun space with bubbles, mad signs, and festive costumes?

17. Host a tea party picnic

Outdoor tea parties are what many planners decide to go with. So how about merging the Mad Hatter tea party theme with a picnic venue? Set up some fluffy cushions and a low table for sitting on the ground. Picnic food can be a little more filling than tea party food if that’s your preference. You can even host this Mad Hatter tea party at a local park or other public picnic venues.

Mad Hatter tea party ideas: conclusion

A Mad Hatter tea party is a fantastic idea for birthdays, tea parties, and simply if you want an excuse to get together with your friends! Now that we’ve shared a few of our favorite magical ideas, we hope you have a truly whimsical time together. Helping people make lasting memories together is what Peerspace does best, after all. And if you’ve found these ideas inspiring, take a look at a few of our party venues near you while you are here!

Find unique event venues for your Mad Hatter party on Peerspace