I've always been someone who loves throwing parties—planning them, preparing everything, and seeing the final vision come alive. Birthdays, in particular, have always held a special place in my heart because they’re a celebration of life itself. For our daughter's recent Wonderland-themed birthday, we went all out, aiming for the grandest celebration possible while keeping costs under control. We did plenty of DIY projects, and people have been asking about how we pulled it off. So, here's the breakdown.
The decor was inspired by the whimsical Alice in Wonderland tea party scene. My mom crafted tissue poms using a tutorial from Martha Stewart, and we strung them up with fishing wire between the house and trees. These were paired with lanterns we'd saved from Aliyah's Candyland-themed third birthday party, which looked like giant candies when wrapped in cellophane. For a more traditional tea party vibe, we scoured thrift stores for vintage floral tea cups—one for each girl to take home as a memento. The boys got large vials from Michaels, painted to resemble the "Drink Me" potion from the film. We also designed and made custom "Drink Me" tags, which were simple to print on cardstock, cut out, and attach to the cups and vials.
The treats were equally creative. We made PB&J and turkey sandwiches using oversized cookie cutters shaped like butterflies and flowers. Each child's sandwich and a bag of pretzels were placed in pink lunch bags labeled with their names. There were also trays of "Eat Me" sugar cookies and personalized water bottles with labels from Onlinelabels.com. The centerpiece was a stack of spray-painted tea cups glued together in alternating colors, topped with a foam half-circle and fresh flowers. We added some green moss balls wrapped in polka-dot ribbon for an extra touch.
For entertainment, my friend Christina, who’s a fantastic painter, offered face painting services—she even dressed up as Alice. Another friend brought along her pet rabbits, which fit perfectly with the theme. My mom and I made a reusable bunting banner by cutting fabric triangles and gluing them onto twine.
Party favors included small tin buckets filled with leftover items from previous parties, such as silly straws, tattoos, bouncy balls, and mini slinkies. The kids also got to keep the tea cups or vials they used during the event. As for the invitations, we had a “tea party†photoshoot with our daughter and sent out skeleton keys (purchased in bulk on eBay) with a note encouraging guests to bring their keys to unlock a hidden treasure. At the party, the kids explored a large treasure chest, but we thought it would be fun to create a set of miniature doors where the key could unlock one, similar to Alice's journey in the movie.
Other highlights included a bounce house from Aliyah’s first birthday, a cotton candy machine borrowed from a friend, and a makeshift dress-up studio with mirrors, tutus, and accessories sourced from thrift stores. Even the old school chairs got a makeover with twine, ribbons, lace, and flowers.
This party was a labor of love, and I’m already excited to start planning the next one. For more photos and details, you can check out the full post here.
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Overall, it was a magical day filled with creativity, personal touches, and lots of fun. If you're planning your own Wonderland-themed party, feel free to borrow any ideas that inspire you!
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