Mad Hatter Tea Party Theme Makes For Fun Bridal Shower
Posted
Kathy Cone-kcone@timesuniononline.com
COLUMBIA CITY – A Warsaw bride-to-be was the guest of honor at an unusual bridal shower hosted by her creative aunt Feb. 15. A “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party,” complete with specialty invitations, a Mad Hatter parking valet, costumes and a cake depicting the Lewis Carroll tale, was the theme of her special party. Whitney Freeman, daughter of Brent and Karen Freeman, Chapman Lake, and owners of Quine-Freeman Heating and Cooling, Warsaw, is engaged to Jon Mullins. The couple plan an October wedding at the Westminster Hall at Winona Lake. Michelle Ball, Columbia City, is Whitney’s aunt, who decided to have a little fun with the bridal shower. As she tells the story, it all began with a trip to England. She, her parents and her brother and sister-in-law traveled there in the summer of 1997. They toured Oxford University and learned about Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, more commonly known as Lewis Carroll, author of “Alice in Wonderland.” “It was fascinating to learn that the idea for this historic story came from the andirons in the fireplace of the dining hall at Oxford,” she said. “Every day, Dodgson would eat in that dining hall. He would see the andirons and was inspired to write the story. In fact, they look just like Alice, in the novel, when her neck stretches.” Intrigued by the story, she decided to use elements in the bridal shower. Shaun Pitts, son of Dr. Gary Pitts, Warsaw, was the “mad hatter.” He took care of parking and moving the vehicles. Guests were asked to wear their “maddest” hats, bows or other headgear. The invitations invited guests “down the rabbit hole to Aunt Michelle’s home.” All this was documented by photographer Joni Walker, Columbia City. The cake was created by Spencer’s Sweet Shoppe, Warsaw. “The cake alone was an amazing work of art,” said Ball. Ball added, “Truly, this shower was amazing, actually a bit over the top!”
