ALICE'S TEA PARTY

Oh how we love flowers...and flower shows...and all things spring. The Chicago Flower Show jump starts spring each March, and gathers the city's creatives to design a dozen styled spring tablescapes.

This year the Flower Show theme was Flowertales, in partnership with Bernie's Book Bank, helping distribute 40,000+ books to children in need. Count us in...

Flowery storybook tales...hmmm...what to choose as our favorite designer theme...

Alice in Wonderland - bien sur - but of course. All the pretty dusty pastels for a magical high tea, please.

Here's our 5 stylist secrets for spring parties:

1. Choose a fun theme.

The Alice theme helped us have direction for table decor and details, and creates a beautiful buzz as guests arrive.

2. Simple florals are stunning.

Mix 2 types of blooms per vase for a modern combination of spring tulips and dianthus, keeping the variety and design sleek and minimal.

3. Menu cards set the tone.

Scroll menus, now trending for spring. To create a scroll menu, handletter or type your menu onto text weight paper. Cut to size. Wrap the top of your menu, facing up, around a pencil, to create a rounded scroll end. Wrap the bottom of your menu, facing down, the other direction on the pencil, to finish the scroll.

4. Personalize the details.

Write guest names (or character names if bringing a book or movie to life) onto place card, then tie to glasses or teacups. Even better - fill teacups with a sweet treat or bite for guests to enjoy at the table.

5. To die for details.

Table and party decor is much more than just floral. Bring your celebration theme to life by layering in favorite elements of your home down the table, bar or buffet. Stacked books tied with ribbon, accents of teacups and themed sweets, (like rabbit cookies) double up your decor and tastes and bites for the party into one.

"Eat Me" macaron in vintage candy jars? Yes please.

We love wow mini cakes, served for dessert. Correction - everyone loves wow mini cakes.

These tiny edible Alice top hat cakes were incredible - beyond - amazing. They made the entire party - and tablescape.

Beautiful pastel vintage china - and dusty pastel pressed glass? Swoon.

"Would you like an adventure now? Or shall we have our tea first?" - Alice in Wonderland

Planning, styling, florals, stationery by A Perfect Event

Sweets by Toni Patisserie

Tabletop rentals by The Festive Frog

Linen by Windy City Linen

Photos by Nicole Jansma