Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
Stiff collars, itchy dresses, the manner patrol at every turn—the average wedding can often be no picnic for kids, nor necessarily for their parents. But it doesn’t have to be so, says Corrie Silvers of Teacups and Trucks (www.TeacupsandTrucks.com, 843/469-3593), a Charleston-based party planning group for the younger set. “We take the job of entertaining children very seriously,” says Corrie, “and we want weddings to be something for them to remember just like it is for the adults who are attending. We create an atmosphere in which they do not want to be anywhere else.”
Corrie knows what she’s talking about. She launched her company back in 2009, and today averages 180 parties a year with as few as 10 guests and as many as 60-plus at last check. This year, she began offering wedding packages because as a single parent, she knows what it’s like to have to skip milestone events when there’s no childcare to be had. But don’t think she’s in the babysitting service.
Not only does each of her part-time six staff members (or “hostesses”) have a college degree and at least two years of experience working with children, they are also serious about play. Working with the bride and her planner, the Teacups crew organizes a kid-zone (starting at $500 for two hours) with face-painting, crafts, games, snacks, and more. One treat: they lead little ones to make a framed paper quilt that by the end of the evening is gifted to the couple.
Also, because Corrie’s parties are completely customizable, you don’t have to sacrifice your color palette or décor style. Sound good? Imagine how the kiddos will feel.
