Today we’d like to introduce you to Trish Healy.
Trish, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
A few years ago, my husband and I met a gorgeous 12-year-old girl, Celia, through a program called Kidsave which helps connect teenagers in foster care with potential foster parents. We felt an immediate connection and a few months later on her 13th birthday Celia moved in with us as our foster daughter. Later that year as we shared our first Christmas together she wished for two things – to have her very first sleepover with friends and to be adopted.
So I figured if I was going to give her her very first sleepover I was going to make sure it was one to remember. And in creating that memorable experience for Celia and her friends, WonderTent Parties was born.
I left my VP job in corporate America and launched WonderTent Parties in early 2017. Since then, we’ve helped hundreds of families, friends, kids, and adults create their own memorable moments with our range of at home sleepover, glamping and dining experiences.
We also made Celia’s second wish come true when we adopted her in December of 2017 – although we like to say she adopted us. To honor our daughter and how it all started we proudly donate a portion of the proceeds from every WonderTent Parties experience to Kidsave to help other youth in foster care find meaningful connections with adults and find their forever family.
Now in our fourth year of operations, we like to think we’ve make special occasions extra special with our unique experiences and offerings.
Has it been a smooth road?
Coming from the corporate world I knew running my own business would be challenging, but I didn’t appreciate just how challenging it could be. And because it was such a new idea, I soon realized that we were creating a totally new offering, a new market from scratch which came with its own set of unique challenges.
One of the biggest challenges was actually taking that leap into the unknown. Following my heart and thinking I could do it when a lot of people around me thought “Are you crazy!?!” And then there’s just the adjustment to everything being on your shoulders, making all the decisions, being the heart and soul of the business. It’s a seven day a week job with long hours of developing themes and ideas, handling bookings, curating and packing, doing deliveries and so on. But when you see a child smile or adults get excited about what you’re creating for them, it makes everything so worthwhile.
Also, when you’re building your own business getting the word out, making people understand the offering and know about you, and connecting with your clients can be a slow process. Thankfully we have had some really great clients who have become passionate advocates and spread the word to their friends and family. We’ve really grown out of the support of repeat business and people discovering our offering and being wowed by it.
It’s been a rewarding journey but not without its challenges.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with WonderTent Parties – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
WonderTent Parties specializes in delivering first-class at home experiences. We’re probably best known for pioneering the SleepOver experience and our outdoor Glamping experiences.
Our signature SleepOver experience elevates the traditional sleepover into a memory making event with each child sleeping in their own themed WonderTent complete with deluxe mattress, bedding, plush blankets and accent cushions. We accent the setting with fairy lights and rugs to really make it a wonderful and inviting space. So much so, we often hear from the parents that the kids rarely leave them. It’s all about bringing some fun, wonder and connection to the sleepover experience.
People also love our outdoor GlampOut which is a gorgeous glamping getaway under the stars sleeping in our expansive WonderDome. It’s an Insta-worthy experience that is a hit with teens and adults alike.
And our Outdoor Dining Experience is Boho inspired dining that lets friends gather and share a meal together while they swap stories and create some new memories.
We also offer a range of add-ons for that extra wow from our Outdoor Movie Night, to candy bars, to Karaoke, to Wine Nights & Spa parties, to fun crafts and activities.
We aim to deliver an unforgettable, five-star experience that places comfort, fun and wonder at the center of it all.
I’m proud that we acknowledge how we came to be by giving back to Kidsave and donating a portion of the proceeds from every event through our Good InTent initiative.
We’re best known for creating these wonderful experiences that stay with people long after the party is over. For creating beautiful spaces for people to connect in. For memories that last a lifetime to be made.
We pride ourselves on providing a first-class experience and making it totally hassle-free for our clients. We deliver, set and style everything and then return the next day to pack it all down. We find once people experience it for themselves they want us back for their next celebration with our glamping WonderDome or a dinner party. The adults especially want to connect with that sense of fun and wonder again. We always get asked, “Do you this for Moms?” And yes, we do.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love how fun and eclectic LA is. Being originally from Australia, I immediately clicked with the vibe of the city and its people. And we feel honored that they want us to play a part in celebrating their moments. Having lived here now for eight years, LA is home.
Being a company that delivers to your home we get to see a lot of this beautiful city. It also means we get to see a lot of traffic, which I’m not a huge fan of but is anyone?
Contact Info:
- Website: wondertentparties.com
- Phone: 310.422.7666
- Email: experiences@wondertentparties.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wondertentparties
- Facebook: facebook.com/wondertentparties
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