This girl knows how to throw parties. Cute, cute, cute parties.
Angela Grear is the owner of Gala Girlies, an all-inclusive party planning service in Northwest Arkansas. After throwing her daughter a first birthday blow-out celebration, she realized she wanted to do it all the time. In addition to running Gala Girlies, Angela is a mom of two, Director of Children’s ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Rogers and a part-time labor and delivery nurse at Mercy. Busy girl!
We’ve seen Angela’s work in person and it’s just amazing. She goes above and beyond. Gala Girlies is a brand new sponsor on nwaMotherlode, so we asked Angela a few questions to help you get to know her — and her business — better.
When did you first tap into your inner party girl? I didn’t realize I enjoyed party planning until after I had my daughter, Lauren. We went way overboard on her first birthday and couldn’t wait to plan her second birthday. It’s kind of funny now, but I really had nothing to do with planning my own wedding. My mother-in-law did most everything. Looking back, I can’t believe that. So, yes, my children really brought out my inner party girl.
You say, “We Bring the Party to You”. Tell us how it works: I work from home so “we bring the party to you” is out of necessity. I would love hosting parties at my house every weekend but I think my husband would get annoyed. We bring everything you need for an awesome party to any location. I have done parties at homes, parks, Kaleidoscope Dance Academy, country clubs, Crafty Cottage, and more.
What are the most requested party themes? Pretty Princess and Enchanted Garden are the two most popular themes. We do a lot of princess parties during the cooler months. Right now we have several requests for the Enchanted Garden theme. We also do a vintage tea party, pajama jam, Alice in Wonderland, and so much more. I like to tweak each party to fit the guest of honor. I want them to have a great Birthday just as much as the parents do. I treat every birthday kid as I would my own.
You also “bring the party” to adults, too, right? I am glad to do parties for adults as well. I love doing murder mystery dinners for adults. They are so much fun. I have an 80’s class reunion mystery and Murder in Margaritaville. I have been told by several adults it was one of the most fun parties they have ever been to. I also love doing baby and bridal showers. I like to think outside the box and make the shower really fit the bride or mom-to-be.
Tell us about the outdoor movie theatre option! I recently got an outdoor movie set-up. It is a 12′ x 7′ inflatable screen that can be set up almost anywhere for a backyard movie night. You can watch movies, karaoke, play video games, or watch TV on the huge screen. It would be great for block parties, fundraisers, Church events, parties, etc…. We come and set it up for you and it is rented by the hour.
Your work is amazingly creative. Do your own kids help inspire party ideas? My kids play a huge part in my creativity. When I am putting together a new party theme, I’m always imagining how my kids would like it and if they could play the games and do the crafts. I try really hard to provide age-appropriate parties. None of our parties are cookie cutter.
Where do you find all that cute stuff you use for parties? Most of the things I use for my parties I have either made or added to. I scour the internet for cute ideas and usually wind up jumbling it all together in my head and coming up with custom ideas I make myself. I have a hard time sometimes finding just what I want. I would love to make my own party goods (plates, cups, napkins etc..) but, I am still trying to figure out how to do that 🙂
Where are you from? I grew up in Oklahoma and my husband and I moved to NWA in 2002 because he got a job here. We love it and have made so many great friends here.
What was your favorite birthday party as a child? As a child my mom always threw me giant birthday parties. It’s hard to think of a favorite. I guess I have favorite parts of all of them, so I don’t think I could choose just one. We did a lot of slumber parties, and I have such great memories of them all.
When you’re not throwing parties, what do you like to do? When I’m not throwing parties I’m spending time with my family. I have a 4-year-old daughter, Lauren, and a 2-year-old named Gavin. I have a very patient and sweet husband Todd who allows me to be creative, and he entertains our kids while I’m working on all my parties. I’m also the Director of Children’s Ministry at the First Presbyterian Church in Rogers. I enjoy coming up with fun ideas for the children in our Church. I’m also a part-time labor and delivery nurse at Mercy. When I’m not doing those things, you can usually find me in the front yard hanging out with the neighbors or having friends over for dinner. There is never a dull moment around here.
What does the future hold for Gala Girlies? I’m currently working on do-it yourself party kits that can be shipped anywhere. They will include all the party items you need to create an unforgettable birthday. I have been researching for weeks, trying to piece together the cutest products for busy people to create a great custom party at home. Kits will include decor, party goods, games, crafts, and a complete party tip sheet. It will include menus, shopping lists, timeline, and description of games. This is not your average party kit.
For those who just need a little bit of help with their party, I also rent out individual items. So I encourage people to give me a call if they just want costumes, tables, certain decor, or craft projects. I’m glad to help with any aspect of a party.
CLICK HERE or on any of the pictures to go to the Gala Girlies website. Or call Angela at 479-899-6182 to chat with her about your next party plan.
