Local woman makes parties her business
By Alyson Van Deusen

St. George – Most people enjoy a birthday party celebration every now and then, but Joy Carnell really knows how to party.

Carnell owns and operates four party businesses including Li’l Princess Tea Parties, Glamour Diva Girls, Princess Character Visits and Kingdom Rental Parties.

Throughout these businesses, mothers can either rent table and room decorations for a party theme, or hire her to come do the work for them.

“I love it“, Carnell said while she decorated the Big Scoop Ice Cream Parlour’s party room for a Hannah Montana Party.  “It’s a part-time job, but a full-time passion.”

Carnell began her business about eight years ago, she said, after her daughter’s birthday.

“I just did it one party theme at a time, she said.

Carnell began with her Li’l Princess Tea Parties business, but expanded to Glamour Diva Girls when her clients began to get older, she said.

Today, Carnell has approximately 20 different themes parents can rent or have her host.

“We do extravagant parties, but not for and extravagant price.” She said.

When Carnell hosts a party, she comes with all the supplies, decorates the area, guided the party, and then cleans up afterward, she said.

For the Hannah Montana Party, Carnell came with linens for the table, china, cups shaped like a high heals, sparkled microphones and feathered boas for everyone, a Karaoke machine, Hannah Montana music, make up kits, backdrops, and outfits for everyone to dress up.

For an extra charge, Carnell will even pick up the cake.

Once one little girl has Glamour Diva Girls party, you can bet her friends will want one too. 

“Each girl who attends walks away wanting the party for her birthday,” Carnell said.

On average, about half the attendees from any given birthday party will contact Carnell for a party of their own in the future.

Cristina Werner hired Carnell to throw the Hannah Montana party for her 5-year-old daughter Kiara.

“It’s great.  I didn’t have to do anything,” she said.  “I just came with the birthday girl”

“Werner said Carnell threw at least four parties for her children in the past, including Brittney’s America’s Next Top Model birthday.

“It was really cool, “Brittney said. 

Werner said having a Glamour Diva Girls party with the “trendy” thing to do in her daughter’s circle of friends.

A party like Kiara’s which included a Princess Character Visit (Hannah Montana) and a hosted party, would cost approximately $400.

Werner said while people may think the price is high at first, after they see the party, they say it’s worth the money.

Party rentals from Carnell usually run about $16 per person.  Carnell said she usually does about 4 parties in one weekend, and loves every minute.

She said her daughter is her “muse” for party ideas.  Each year, Carnell said she tries to throw a new “over-the-top” birthday for her daughter. 

“This last birthday, we had a limo pick the girls up, and take them to Claire’s,” Carnell said.  “They all got a balloon with money in it to spend at the store.”

Carnell said she adds features “one party at a time.”

Each theme is organized and stored at her home, and ready to go for the next party.

She said her most popular theme is the sleeping beauty tea party, because everything is pink.  She also throws Beauty and the Beast parties, Cinderella, White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland), Fairy Princess, and Popstar Tea Parties among may others.

Glamour Diva Girls parties include the B.F.F. Spa party, glamour diva, glama-pajama, secret popstar, V.I.P and Hannah Montana.

For more information, visit Carnell’s web sites at www.lilprincessteaparties.com or www.glamourdivagirls.com or call her at (435) 634-9725.

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