A Charmed Affair
I distinctly remember the day I met Jenna. It was freezing. Not just cold, somewhere in the -20s, and we were at a winter festival in Edmonton. Jenna and her Ice Queen “sister” had just finished a meet and greet with young guests. They were heading indoors to warm up when we asked for a photo. I’m sure they were frozen to the bone, but with the biggest smiles on their faces they looked right at the girls and enthusiastically said “Of course!”
It was magic.
That photo stayed on my fridge for three years. The girls often told the story about the time they got to meet the princesses. Their day had been made by a simple act of kindness that really encapsulates what “A Charmed Affair” is all about.
“A Charmed Affair” is the business owned by Jenna and her mom Lori. They offer character entertainment that comes right to your door, for everything from birthday parties to corporate events and fundraisers to festivals. Little did I know that their story started with an encounter much like our own.
The fairy-tale beginning…
Jenna was just a tween when her mom hired a character for a special event. She was captivated by the encounter! Jenna couldn’t wait to turn 16 so she could get her driver’s licence and become a princess-for-hire. She loved the job so much that she and Lori decided to start a business of their own. “A Charmed Affair” was born!
Fast forward to today and the company is made up of nearly 30 team members offering almost 90 different costumed characters. Their most popular include princesses, superheroes and holiday favourites. Birthday parties, events and festival visits are their most-requested offerings. Party packages include everything from character visits to themed activities like “Spa Party”, “Science Party” and even “Puppy Party”! Characters will dance, skate, perform and even go on parade!
Teamwork makes the dream work!
Jenna and Lori are quick to share credit with their team. Talented performers and people who truly love kids make up their group. It includes experienced performing artists, early childhood educators and ECE students, and even performers who’ve worked for Disney!
With talent like that, it’s easy to see how “A Charmed Affair” is able to expand its offerings. A collaboration with Sherwood Park’s Crescendo Music Studio resulted in “Perfectly Princess Summer Camp” and “Spectacular Superhero Summer Camp”. More summer camp offerings are in the works. Jenna and Lori have also decided to start hosting some events of their own. It’s their way of creating a next-level character experience for families.
In Fall 2022 “A Charmed Affair” held their first-ever Villain Ball, just in time for Halloween. 10 characters hosted a family-friendly dance party. There were performances, activities, goodies, photo ops and more. The event was such a success that it got the ball rolling for the next big thing – Cinderella and Prince Charming’s Royal Wedding!
The Royal Wedding
The Royal Ballroom at Sherwood Park’s Clarion Hotel is THE place to be on Sunday, March 5, 2023. From its epic chandelier to the regal balconies, it’s the perfect spot! Guests will get to witness the special ceremony, then dance the night away at a reception packed with princesses! There will be a hot buffet dinner of kid-friendly favourites. Tickets for the event are just $50 per person, which includes the meal! We dare say you’re going to want to snap yours up because an event this fabulous is going to fill up before you can say “Bibbity bobbity boo!”. We’ll also be giving away a family pack of four tickets to the event, so keep your eye on our Instagram account for that!
Purchase tickets, book your party, and peruse the character selection at acharmedaffair.ca . Be sure to follow them on Instagram for a daily dose of fairy tale magic!
Editor’s note: I wrote this article as a paid partnership with A Charmed Affair, a local small business that I truly admire. I thank Lori and Jenna for trusting me to help tell their story.