Growing up, Allie loved to watch Alice in Wonderland. “There’s something about creating your own world that I always loved from a young age,” she says. The influencer behind the popular Ms. Morristown Instagram account wanted to create a wonderland of her own for her coed couples shower with fiancé Aram.
The self-described “nontraditional bride” invited her entire wedding guest list (they’re having less than 100 people on the big day) to the shower in the Glass House at American Beauty Events, which perfectly fit the “whimsical greenhouse solarium vibe” she was going for.
As guests arrived, they were handed a potion (cranberry juice with edible glitter) that said “Drink Me” on the bottle and were greeted by stilt walkers—one dressed as the Mad Hatter and the other masquerading as Alice herself. The DJ played trancey music, and the decor featured oversized mushrooms, moss, clocks, balloons and signage that said “We’re All Mad Here.”
At each place setting, there were red goblets and favor cookies shaped like teapots, clocks and decks of cards with a note that read “Thank you for being WONDERFUL.” Allie describes her shower as “sensory overload in the best way.”
There was also a sketch artist who drew caricatures of all the guests and incorporated fun elements like Cheshire cats, white rabbits, mushrooms and more. The stilt walkers were in character, reciting quotes from the movies and book while interacting with the guests. When people arrived late, the stilt walkers exclaimed, “you’re late, you’re late, for a very important date,” explains Allie about the famous phrase.
Their signature drinks were the Wonderland Spritz—Prosecco, St-Germain and club soda with edible rose petals—and the Mad Hatter’s Old Fashioned—bourbon, simple syrup and bitters with mini decks of cards attached to the glass by a tiny black clothespin.
Allie wore a dress with a big bow on the back, and she accessorized with a red rhinestone heart-shaped purse by Betsey Johnson. Her nails also fit the theme and featured a harlequin pattern with bows, keys and playing cards.
“We spared no detail,” says the bride-to-be, “because we wanted it to feel like you just stepped into an alternate world.”
Although the couple watched the Alice in Wonderland movies (both the 1951 animated Disney film and the 2010 live-action version with Johnny Depp) leading up to their party, Aram was just as amazed as the rest of the guests when he walked into the shower.
“I wanted it to be a surprise for everybody, including him,” says Allie. “He was absolutely blown away.”
Venue The Glass House at American Beauty Events, Berkeley Heights Photographer Film & Frond Photography Event Planning & Event Design Peony Events Music Iron Bar’s DJ SuperJ Decor Oak + Orchid Events Invitations Little Black Dress Paperie Florist South Street Gardens Rentals Charged Up Events & Broadway Party Rentals Hair MFS Beauty Makeup Beauty On Location NJ Bride’s Dress Bloomingdale’s Bride’s Shoes Badgley Mischka Bride’s Purse Betsey Johnson Groom’s Jacket Armani Stilt Walkers Dragonfly Productions Live Sketch Artist Doodles by Doris Cake & Cookie Favors Bark Confections
