Based in Angers, Joy & Célestine is much more than just a childcare service for your wedding. It's an event within an event. A tailor-made offer of creative workshops, fun workshops and original games in a secure area, the "Kids Corner" (for the very young). I discovered this unique concept in France somewhat by chance in the aisles of the Wedding Show on the weekend of November 11-12, 2023 at the Puy du Fou, when I bumped into Marjorie Pellé. Her dynamism, motivation and track record made me want to introduce her to you. Meet a bubbly entrepreneur who has turned her passion for children into an inspiring business.

When is Joy & Célestine right for you?

Whenever there's a large-scale event involving a group of children, I step in with my team. Birthdays, retirements, cousinhood parties, christenings or weddings... Every celebration is an opportunity to call on my services, because I work on the principle that as soon as adults get together, you have to think of the children to make the party a success.

It's baby-sitting after all...

The main tasks of a babysitter are to feed and supervise the children. As well as managing bedtimes, peeing, etc. What sets Joy et Célestine apart, however, is that beyond this main mission, we'll be organizing a fully-fledged event with professional organization. This requires management and logistical skills, as well as real adaptability (plan A, plan B in case of unforeseen circumstances). If we arrive on site and there's a big problem, we can deal with it, unlike the baby-sitter who arrives with her suitcase and asks where it fits. We're looking for novelty, the "wow" factor. We get away from traditional babysitting. Above all, it's a real entertainment package.

How is your business particularly suited to weddings?

Weddings are one of life's rare occasions for bringing together all the people you love. To get rid of the "problem" of children, some brides and grooms decide to do without them and exclude them from the party. It's their choice, but a wedding loses some of its raison d'être without children. And you're inevitably depriving yourself of people who will decline the invitation if they can't be accompanied by their children.

In most cases, i.e. when there are children involved, you need to have things in place beforehand. I often hear brides and grooms say, "There are only 8 or 5 of them, so they'll manage. But the reality is quite different. On a wedding day, children are going to be plunged into an unfamiliar environment, with all the excitement, in unsupervised surroundings. And they have to last 10 hours. So you have to keep them busy. You can either provide play kits to keep them occupied, but this will only last a few hours at best, or you can take a package with Joy and Célestine and stop wondering what to do.

And then there's the plan B of the granny or little cousin you often see at weddings...

Of course, it happens all the time. But when you ask grandma or little cousin to look after the children, you're giving them a role they don't have to play that day. We're depriving them of a unique moment that we won't be able to rewind.

What is a typical Joy et Célestine program?

I usually welcome the children at the beginning of the cocktail reception or secular ceremony in a Kids Corner that I've specially set up a few hours beforehand. It's a decorated and welcoming space close to the cocktail reception or secular ceremony. On the one hand, it reassures the children as they separate from their parents, and vice versa. On the other hand, it allows us to have a party alongside and together. We're there with the group of children for all the highlights. If there are any rituals or speeches to be made at the secular ceremony, we take the children along. The idea is that the children are part of the grown-up's party.

When they arrive, the children are immediately taken care of and awaited. We've checked up on them beforehand, we know their first names. That's what enables us to launch the first meeting games, to help the child feel part of the group.

Then, we'll either frame a meal or launch a creative activity. I often do the creative activity before the treasure hunt. It all depends on how the wedding goes. During the creative activity, I get the young and old alike to make something of quality in line with the theme of the wedding, with an eco-responsible aim, and which enables them to acquire knowledge. At a wedding this summer, for example, we made an eco-friendly vegetable paste for an exhibition on tree trunks. Not only did the children love the activity, they also acquired knowledge that they could then reproduce at home. We can also imagine all kinds of things they can take home: lanterns, wooden dreamcatchers, photo frames with a photo rally, keyrings, string art, board games. It could also be a gift for the bride and groom...

What's new for next year?

For 2024, we'll be testing a new concept: the construction of a wooden photobooth with partner photographer Thomas Bonnet. The object will be the size of a child, and will offer a multitude of photo-based activities.

After that, when it comes to creative activities, I don't have any predefined models that I reproduce. Everything is personalized according to the expectations and personality of the bride and groom. Their values too. If I have a bride and groom who are more interested in boats, harbors and the sea, I'll think about something related to the maritime environment.

It's a unique concept. What do your competitors offer?

In France, it's an activity that doesn't exist. I have no direct competitors. I have agencies that have mascots or inflatable structures, but they always do the same thing. At Joy et Célestine, we offer a truly personalized service. I don't focus on the equipment, but on the experience I have to offer. Where some people rely on inflatables, I invoke cooperation, collective memory and the unique experience of a wedding and party.

Where do you operate?

I'm currently working all over Western France. Mainly between Quimper and Paris. But also Nouvelle-Aquitaine. As long as travel expenses are paid, we go where we're needed. In the next few years, I intend to create my own franchise to meet national demand. I have wedding-planners waiting for me in Nice, Bordeaux and Lyon. My network is ready.

Do you have any formulas or intervention criteria?

I don't travel for less than 4 hours. Indeed, setting up the Kids Corner takes 3 hours, and I believe that this is the minimum time needed to set up constructive activities worthy of the name. I propose a basic formula for a maximum of 20 children (8 aged 3 to 5, 12 aged 6 and over), supervised by two entertainers, for €1,060 incl. VAT (price 2024). The more children there are, the more activity leaders I have to add, and the higher the price. Added to this are travel expenses: €0.60/km round trip from Angers.

I'm often asked to stay until the ball opens. After that, overtime is calculated. If I stay for 8 or 9 hours, I'll add some ambiance games and challenges. I stay as long as the bride and groom want. I'll even sleep on site if the bride and groom need to.

We can stay too, even if it wasn't originally planned. We always let the bride and groom know half an hour before we leave, so we know where they are and if they need us.

My quotation is based on the number of children, their ages and the hours of attendance. We take care of children under 3, provided there are also services for older children. If we have a lot of 3-5 year-olds, we have to reinforce the team. On the other hand, for groups of teenagers, we'll ask for a little extra because we'll be offering them a more advanced activity like an escape game, for example.

How was Joy et Célestine born?

I launched Joy et Célestine in March 2023, but it's a continuation of Magic Events, a company I set up 5 years ago when I was living in the West Indies (Saint-Barthélémy). Basically, I created this animation company to meet local needs after Hurricane Irma, because I felt that people needed fun activities, diversity and joy. I immediately loved combining my background as a specialized educator with my degree in animation. Being able to offer my own pedagogy, my own identity.

When I returned to mainland France 9 months later, I confirmed my specialization in children's activities, and came up with innovative products combining educational, festive, individual and family activities. I've set up a range of services to accompany children during the school vacations, at school and at special occasions such as Christmas, Easter, birthdays and weddings. Joy et Célestine is my company that has grown, tested its concept and is convinced that it works.

Why did you choose this name, which is particularly appealing to the ear?

"Joy" means joy, because it's my life's mission to convey joy to people, to the very young as well as to adults, because just because we work with children doesn't mean we don't have an impact on what happens to grown-ups. "Célestine" is the healing stone for children. With this name, I assert the therapeutic and educational aspect of my activity. Because it goes far beyond a simple service. There's a real contribution to make to the child, and a real recommendation based on the child's history, needs and difficulties. It's about adapting to the child.

What's striking about you is your passion for children. Has it always been part of you?

I've been in this dynamic ever since I was very young. When I was 9, I spent my Wednesdays as a judo teacher. I loved coaching. In secondary school, I did tutoring for the younger children. So, at 16, the BAFA was an obvious choice... And it opened the door to a number of different professions that have shaped my personality. I worked as an educator specializing in child protection, as a primary school teacher in Burkina Faso, as a street entertainer, helping children in distress, and as director of the Saint-Barthélémy leisure center. But all the jobs were insufficient. I loved learning all kinds of skills. Working on self-esteem and emotions through leisure activities. More recently, I took the competitive examination to become a sports teacher and studied to become an energy therapist, which has enabled me to develop invaluable skills in my work.

What are you looking for in your relationship with children?

What's certain, and this is the most important thing, is that I have an innate bond with children. And it's a quality I look for in my teams. Sometimes, I prefer to go beyond the diploma to take into account the human qualities of adaptability to the child. I want the children to remember us and what we did. I'm full of ideas when I'm with them. I'm a big kid myself. I like to come up with original and appropriate ideas. I'm able to build up a relationship of trust. For some parents, it's actually quite unsettling. I adapt to them. Children's emotions are at the heart of my life.

Interview by Florent Bouteiller

Photographer and videographer Les Noces de Florent

An idea for budgeting Joy and Célestine's intervention

As a photographer and videographer for a number of weddings from April to October, I'm used to seeing a wide range of situations when it comes to managing children at this type of event. From the nanny looking at her watch to the devoted grandmother doing her utmost to keep her grandchildren occupied while enjoying the party a little, no solution seemed satisfactory to me. The riskiest option, in my opinion, is the teenager who crashes the party at the last minute for no reason.

Given the price of a wedding today (the average is around 15,000 euros), it's best not to spoil the party with this kind of concern. After all, childcare can quickly turn your wedding into a nightmare. And without them (I love to capture their expressions, their spontaneity), the party is less beautiful. That's why Joy et Célestine immediately caught my eye.

And of course, given the quality of the service, it comes at a cost that I think can be easily budgeted by dividing the bill by the number of children. If a couple with three children (e.g. 4, 6 and 10) is invited to a wedding where twenty or so children are expected, they can be asked to pay 3/20 of the cost of the service, i.e. €51 (1020/20) x 3 = €153. I think this formula will satisfy all parties. The bride and groom, parents, grandparents, guests and, of course, the children!

Practical info

Joy & Célestine

Kids Events specialist

Marjorie Pellé - 06 18 46 24 55

Website - www.joyetcelestine.fr

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joyetcelestine/

Mail: hello@joyetcelestine.fr

Les Noces de Florent, your wedding photographer

A former journalist, I immortalize the biggest day of your life in photo or video. An enthusiast of reportage, I like to freeze for eternity the expressions and details that make up the most beautiful memories of a wedding. Those that, caught on the spot, reveal a feeling, betray an emotion. As unique as it is fleeting, a wedding is a suspended moment in the story of a lifetime. So don't miss out on the memories that will last a lifetime. Les Noces de Florent is an experience. A unique vision for a unique day: yours.

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