Through the looking glass into this “Alice in Steamland” party & wedding inspiration

When it comes to having kick-ass parties and weddings, there’s nothing quite like a good theme. We became privy to this amazing Alice in Wonderland wedding/party inspiration that featured the performance artists from Paidia Events. There was dancing on tables, wild hijinks with the Mad Hatter, Alice, and The Red Queen, and so many whimsical steampunk-meets-Alice details that we couldn’t even keep up. Here’s a bit about the shoot from the performance team at Paidia Events (who create 360-degree theatrical experiences for weddings, parties, and events)…

We scheduled the shoot for the second week in October, peak season for the gorgeous autumn colors and vistas that the Catskills are so famous for. The kaleidoscope of color on the mountain begged for theme that blended whimsy with drama. Luckily, we were already in the process of creating a new themed adventure based on blending the Alice in Wonderland theme with a steampunk aesthetic.

Always intrigued by scavenger hunts, I decided to create a quest for the “missing” wedding cake (or was it stolen?). Our adventure would include coded clues, riddles, and mysterious passageways, and would feature favorite characters from the Alice stories.

We began to create materials for shoot; beginning of course with designing a playful Tea Party reception table that featured vintage china, quotes from the Alice books, brass keys, antique books, and paper fans. My husband (and multi-talented maker) got to work on the other visual elements of the shoot, creating a weathered signpost made from salvaged wood, giant paper flowers, antiqued playing cards, and even a miniature door for Alice. This shoot also gave me the opportunity to bring in our hand-built puppet theater from the days when we used to travel with our shadow puppets, and feature our very own Cheshire Cat puppet (who goes by Cheshire Bob).

The details: I wanted this shoot to have a timeless feel, and intentionally brought in elements from many different eras; my great-great-grandmothers vintage wedding china, a Victrola from the 1930s (on loan from a friend), mismatched vintage tea cups, contemporary glassware, and a fabulous steamer trunk that probably hails from the turn of the century (the perfect piece for displaying Hazel’s floral elements). I added blues hues to the table with miniature “drink me” bottles, blue napkins, and blue paper fans. The costumes also pointed to different historic periods; particularly the Queen of Hearts, who was costumed in a fabulous 1950s style dress and fascinator.

Vendors

Photographer: Photomuse • Mushrooms: on loan from Adams Fairacre Farms • Victrola: on loan from Henry Lowengard • Costumes: Sharon Penz from Paidia Events, with the exception of the white gown and Hatter’s vest/ascot which were from Juda Leah Atelier • Props: Zzoë Rowan • Steam Trunk: gift from Jean Graber • Models: Megan Byrne, clyde Forth, Walt Batycki, Aubrey Contini, Asia Gross, Jennifer Lavenhar • Bakery: Grounded NY • Floral Designer: Dancing Tulip Floral Boutique • Makeup & Hair Stylist: La Tua Bella Salon • Event Designer: Paidia Events • Event Venue: Mount Tremper Arts

Gallery

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