How to plan your themed event!

I loved themed events!  I love themed weddings, themed birthdays, themed showers...themed everything!  I love the creativity that goes with it.  The problem is, some themes are geared towards certain movies or characters.  And that means...copyrighted!  Dun dun dun!!  I always hate to see the disappointment on someones face when they have fallen in love with a cake, pulling out the photo from their purse all excited...they can't wait to show me.  Only for me to tell them the cake infringes on the copyright laws and therefore, I cannot duplicate it.  Many times I will hear, "I won't tell" or "but this is what he wants."  Unfortunately, it's not worth the lawsuit.  Right now there are several lawsuits on cake professionals who have broken copyright laws.  But, just because you can't have the copyrighted character everywhere in your party, doesn't mean you still can't work within your theme!  Here's how!  I recently participated in an Alice in Wonderland themed party.  Rather than having Alice everywhere, we chose the tea party to be the focus of the party.  The feel was vintage/whimsical and the colors were pink and white.

On the door hung a whimsical styled frame with "Down the Rabbit Hole" written on it.  As guests enter, they walk into the Wonderland.  The beverages had signs that read, "This one makes you smaller" and "This one makes you taller."

Simple elements were placed throughout the room.  Small cups that read "drink me," just like the movie.  Books and flowers added to the tea party feel, and clocks were strategically placed to represent the rabbit and his obsession with time.  I especially loved the melted clocks because it added to the whimsical feel of the theme.  The dessert table completed the theme and even had a patch of grass for the runner to add to the garden tea party, just like in the book.

And my favorite part of any event...cake!!  We continued with the pink and flowers to incorporate the garden tea party onto the cake.  A teacup cake topper added a nice effect.  The lace border drew in some of the vintage feel.  The cake was the only part of the party that actually had Alice or any scene in the entire party.  I just happened to stumble across some licensed wafer paper that could be purchased and placed that on the cake.  It's not easy to find, so if that cannot be done, you can always purchase something from the licensing company and incorporate it.  The cake flavor is Rosewater with a Strawberry filling.  Not only refreshing and super yummy, but it also compliments the theme. 

Everything tied in nicely and guests felt as if they stepped into a scene of the book "Alice in Wonderland" with only minimal photos of Alice herself.  It can be done and it can be done beautifully...just takes an open mind and little creativity!

Happy Party Planning!!!