150 years of Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is trenProps by Party Prop Hireding. 2015 is the year we get to celebrate 150 years of Wonderland.

In July of 1862, Charles Dodgson (who wrote under pen name of Lewis Caroll) was taking a boat trip with the three young daughters of Henry Liddell (Vice Chancellor of Oxford University) when 10 year old Alice Liddell asked Charles Dodgson to entertain her and her sisters with a story. The story featured a bored little girl named Alice who goes looking for an adventure. The girls loved it, and Alice Liddell asked Dodgson to write it down for her. He began writing the manuscript of the story the next day. On 26 November 1864 he gave Alice the handwritten manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground, with illustrations by Dodgson himself, dedicating it as “A Christmas Gift to a Dear Child in Memory of a Summer’s Day”.

Now 150 years later, this story is no longer just for children. Alice in Wonderland has been made into films, songs, theatre productions, video games and theme park rides.

Alice in Wonderland has always been our most popular theme with adults and children alike, for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, hen’s parties and believe it or not even a wake.

Conference Photo Booth

The carousel horse is a great idea for a photo booth.  Look how much fun was had at the recent Designing Women Conference photo booth.

Carnival Props

 

 

 

 

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Carnival Props

 

 

 

 

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Carnival Props

 

 

 

 

Carnival Props

 

 

 

 

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Props by Party Prop Hire

Mad Hatters Melbourne Cup

Loft West End hosted a fabulous Mad Hatters Melbourne Cup.  What a great venue!

Alice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice in Wonderland props for hire

Alice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice in Wonderland props for hire

Alice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hireAlice in Wonderland props for hire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Props by Party Prop Hire
Venue Loft West End
Photography Jeff Ram Photographer and Bobby Rein Photography

 

 

Harry Potter 12th Birthday Party

Guests were sent an invitation on official Hogwarts letterhead, sealed with the Hogwarts wax seal.  They were invited to Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for special mid-term classes in honour of the Head Girls 12th birthday.

The class schedule included Orientation and Matriculation, Divination, Potions, Herbology, Quidditch and Care of Magical Creatures.  A special birthday feast was held in the Great Hall featuring treats from “The Three Broomsticks”.  Mid term classes concluded with a visit to Honeyduke’s Sweet Shop in Hogsmeade.

Students were asked to take the Hogwarts Express train to Hogwarts Academy currently disquised as a muggle home.  They were advised that they would find the magical door which was visible only to Hogwarts students, family and friends.  The password “flibbertigibblet” was given with the invitation as this was required to gain entry into Hogwarts castle.  Students were also told that the surrounding area was well protected by Memory Charms, so it was safe to practice magic indoors and outdoors.

Students were asked to respond by Owl or muggle telephone. This lead to some wonderful creative rsvps showing that everyone was really getting into the spirit of the party.  The invitations were signed by the Deputy Headmistress of Frolics and Feasts, Hogwarts Academy.

On arrival students entered through the brickwall at Platform 9 3/4 where they were met by Luna Lovegood and directed to Hogwarts Castle.

Privet Drive Street Sign with an owl that hooted when you walked past made the students jump.

Using the password, students were greeted at the entrance of Hogwarts by Bellatrix.  Once you entered Hogwarts, Hermione and Crookshanks were there to show you the way.

Lanterns and dragon candles set the mood.

Broomsticks were lined up along the fireplace, with none other than Sirius Black making an appearance in the fire place via the floo network.

Owls in cages, chests and initialed suitcases belonging to Harry, Ron and Hermione, lined the entrance way, with a wall of bricks covered in framed portraits.

Flying mail addressed to Harry Potter, The Cupboard Under the Stairs, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey.

Tables were joined together to create the Great Hall, complete with floating candles.

The dining tables in the Great Hall were set with silver goblets and plates.

The hooting owl also made an appearance in the Great Hall.

Dragon candelabras and silver serving plates finished the scene.

Potions class was amazing. Professor Snape instructed this class.  Students were given their own Potions Class Handbook which contained ingredients and instructions for making Amortenia (the strongest love potion in the entire world!), Dancing Unicorn Milk, Mandrake Restorative Draught, Exploding Flixir, Fleeing Spiders, Magic Mud and Liquid Enemies.

All bottles were named with the ingredients required for all the spells.

Each student was given their own cauldron and measuring tools and set about following instructions from Professor Snape.

Professor Snape’s classroom contained all kinds of weird and mysterious bottles.

Professor Sprout lead the Herbology class which involved making some special soil in preparation for planting Mandrakes.  Crushed oreos made the first layer of soil followed by chocolate custard and then another layer of soil with sour worms on top to finish off. Yum!

Best of all was Quidditch.  Everyone had an absolute blast.  I cannot even begin to describe how much fun it was to play a game of Quidditch.  This was played for quite a long time, when the party was nearly over all the students asked if we could please fit in another game of Quidditch, so we did.

The clouds even turned dark at one point while playing Quidditch.  How I managed to organise that I will never know, but the atmosphere was just fabulous, the dementors were making an appearance!

 A trip to ‘The Three Broomsticks’ for drinks, allowed the students to try Pumpkin Juice and Butter Beer.

Divination Class was taught  by Professor Trelawney.  Students put one hand on the plasma ball and Professor Trelawney read their future.  Students also had to pop a white balloon without using their hands to reveal more about their future such as “Oh no! Due to a Transfiguration error, you will spend several weeks as a pumpkin”, “Way to go! During Astronomy class, you will discover a new planet which will be named after you”, “Watch out! You will be stampeded by a herd of raging Hippogriffs” etc. Students also read their tea leaves, and were given an “Unfogging the Future” booklet describing what each shape meant.

Care of Magical Creatures class involved finding hippogriff eggs that were hidden throughout the garden.

The mid term classes concluded with a trip to Hogsmeade and the Honeydukes Sweet shop.  Head Girls birthday cake and treats were eaten before the students filled their Honeydukes bag with goodies to take home.  All sweets were re-branded with the Honeydukes logo. Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans were a favourite.

Luna Lovegood “Quibbler anyone, anyone for the Quibbler?”

Even the family pets were in on the festivities, with their own cloaks made especially for them.

Props by Party Prop Hire

Alice in Wonderland 21st

Most popular theme for a 21st is Alice in Wonderland. Who doesn’t love to dress up and create a Wonderland?

Mad Hatter Props

 

Mad Hatter PropsGorgeous themed cupcakes.

Mad Hatter Props

Drink Dispensers from Party Prop Hire.

Mad Hatter Props

 

 

Mad Hatter Props

Mad Hatter Props

Mad Hatter PropsThe ever popular themed backdrop, a huge hit yet again.

Mad Hatter PropsMad Hatter PropsHappy 21st Miss J, thanks for sharing.

Props by Party Prop Hire

Alice in Wonderland at Larnach Castle

As a family our love of Alice in Wonderland reached new heights after a visit to Larnach Castle in Dundedin, New Zealand in 2010.  We had so much fun following the book “Alice’s Adventures at the Castle” and searching for the hidden Alice treasures.

A sculpture of Alice in true Victorian fashion, complete with golden hair.

A “Curious Door” in a tree trunk.

Queen of Hearts Throne.

Knave of Hearts statue, in the castle gardens since the 1930’s.

The Cheshire Cat, an Oamaru stone carving which grins cheekily down
from a fine vantage point.

If you are ever in New Zealand be sure to add Larnach Castle to your to do list. This is a great family adventure. Lunch in the ballroom soaking up the history is a must.

Photo Booth Backdrops

Photo booths provide hours of fun and entertainment at a party and best of all you are left with so many great photos.  This Alice in Wonderland backdrop is just perfect and the photos look amazing using this backdrop.  I have so many favourite items in the Alice in Wonderland collection, but this backdrop is my new favourite…I just love it!

Alice in Wonderland Photo BoothPhoto BoothProps by Party Prop Hire