Queen of Hearts

If ever there was a woman to challenge preconceived ideas about feminism and beauty, then that woman is Emily Sismey. In 2012 while still at Lincoln Uni studying Politics, her dissertation being on the relationship between beauty and feminism, Emily started her Princess Party business – one of the first of its kind . Emily had wanted to take her toddler niece to Disneyland in Paris as a birthday treat but as a student this was an extravagance she couldn’t afford, so instead she pressed her seamstress aunt into action and her Cinderella persona was born!

Having studied at Kirkstone House and then at Peterborough High School, Emily’s career had always been on an academic trajectory; her ‘A’ levels were in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Further Maths and Biology, and accountancy or a role in the medical profession beckoned. However, she had discovered a penchant for

With the increased demand for costumes, they were outsourced to seamstresses in the USA, one of whom had worked for Disney but who knew how to tread the fine copyrighting line. Wigs too are sourced largely from the USA but have to be maintained by Emily herself. Belle’s wig has 86 curls which need individually steaming, rolling, re-steaming every six weeks. ‘They are,’ says Emily, ‘like pixie dust to source.’ performing at an early age, had done her Lambda exams and had a GCSE in drama. This increasingly came into its own when Emily, in her first job on leaving Uni, at Stamford College was increasingly called upon to entertain children, first as Belle and Rapunzel – this was pre-Frozen and the advent of Elsa. With her aunt still making costumes this proved an ideal way to supplement her income but gradually the number of parties that she was being asked to attend grew and this side hustle became not only a full time job but a fully fledged business. Darling Princess Parties was born and now employs ten princesses, a magician and a Father Christmas.

The magic ingredient which underlies the success of Darling Princes Parties is the little girl in Emily who, living in a bungalow as a child, longed to have stairs so that she could be locked in a turret like Rapunzel. This sense of wonder and excitement is a unique mutual bond with children. Now with many years of experience she can walk into a party and know immediately what the assembled party goers would relate to: ‘Sometimes you just know that these children want to sing and others will want to listen to a story – but we never read a story, we always tell a story. There is a subtle difference and the children respond to the interaction that that allows!’

Married and moved into her new home not long before lockdown coincided with Emily’s pregnancy and she was fortunate to be able to take the business online with virtual parties, as well as being employed by schools –having Belle to teach you French on screen is that much more accessible for children. The screen homed in only on Emily’s face and upper body and so she was able to work through to her baby’s due date.

But then the real drama unfolded! Having been dismissed from a panic visit to hospital when she was convinced that her baby was about to arrive, Emily returned home and as advised took a hot bath. With husband Aaron beside the bath writing emails to his colleagues informing them that he was likely soon to be offline, it became increasingly apparent to Emily that the baby was on its way. A call to 999 followed and instructions to an alarmed husband were given. At first the soon-tobe mum was convinced that an ambulance would arrive and whisk her away to the safety of a hospital bed. But when it became clear that the baby’s head was about to emerge, her mother was called and ‘Emily needs you’ was the understated plea, the couple anxious not to panic her. But as her mother mounted the stairs it was clear what was happening: father Aaron had delivered his first born who Emily was now clutching in wonderment, propped up by an inadequate pillow on the floor.

Now with toddler William telling his Mum ‘You look beautiful’ as she transforms into a princess, real parties are back with a vengeance as parents try and replace what their children missed in those three uncertain years! Darling Princess Parties will be at Storyfest on 27th and 28th May at the Community Centre!

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