Video summary
The video documents the grand opening of the Petite Party Shop on Devine Street in Columbia, a location that marks a significant milestone for owner Alexandra Madison and her business. The event is framed within the broader context of city development, with officials celebrating the approval of a $5 million makeover for Devine Street designed to widen sidewalks, slow traffic, and transform the area into a premier destination for dining and shopping. This initiative aligns with the growth of Columbia and the Midlands region, positioning Devine Street as an epicenter for community expansion where local businesses can thrive alongside new infrastructure improvements.
Alexandra Madison shares her personal journey, noting that she never imagined starting a wedding planning company would eventually lead to owning a retail space on such a beloved shopping district. After nearly a decade in business and moving from Main Street to accommodate her company's growth, she sought a location that fit her vision for celebrating every moment, not just large-scale weddings. Her new shop aims to provide easy access to hosting essentials like napkins, favors, and themed decorations for everyday events such as birthday parties, Mahjong nights, and casual gatherings, effectively bringing the high-end taste of her wedding brand directly to the community.
A heartfelt speech by Auditee Bussells highlights the deep friendship between the two women and emphasizes how Alexandra has been a supportive presence in her life, from planning toddler birthdays to offering comfort during personal loss. The narrative underscores the theme that both friendship and small businesses are built on consistency and showing up for one another, qualities that Alexandra embodies as she plants roots in Columbia. The shop is presented as an extension of Alexandra's unique ability to make ordinary moments special, now available for everyone in the city to enjoy through a curated selection of party supplies and design elements.
The celebration concludes with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by friends, neighbors, and community partners who have supported the venture. Alexandra expresses profound gratitude to her husband for his hard work in preparing the space, to the building owners of the Joy Joy Group, and to various local vendors like Southern Way and Twist Bartending who contributed to the event. As the crowd cheers and music plays, the official opening signifies not just a new store, but a strengthened community bond where residents can gather to celebrate life's small joys in a vibrant, welcoming environment.
Read the full video transcript
and officially approved the final $5
million for our Devine Street makeover.
It's going to bring wider sidewalks.
It's going to slow cars down and just
make it a great, great place, a
destination for you to come out, spend
money, eat great meals, and enjoy
yourselves. So, Columbia's growing, the
county's growing, the Midlands is
growing, and I'm so happy that this is
the epicenter for that. So, um
Alexander, I want to personally thank
you
for being the innovative small business
entrepreneur that you are. And most
importantly, thank you for believing in
Devine Street and the city of Columbia
for your investment. So, thank you so
much. Now, THE ALL-STAR DR. BUSSELLS.
>> [applause]
>> HI EVERYONE. I'm Aditee Bussells and I'm
sure last time I was at a ribbon
cutting, I had a title, but I have the
best one today, which is being one of
Alex's closest friends.
And I want to give a big thanks to
Councilman Brennan and the city for
hosting. They get to hold the big
scissors and I get to brag on Alex
today.
>> [snorts]
>> Here's the thing about Alex, she doesn't
wait for a big occasion to make
something beautiful.
It could be a random Tuesday, a dinner,
a playdate. She shows up with the right
napkins, the perfect little favor, and
the candle or glass of wine you didn't
know you needed. She's taught all of us
that ordinary moments are worth
celebrating because ordinary moments are
our lives. Some would call her actually
a true Southern Belle, which is
incredibly perfect for her considering
she was born and raised in Canada.
Alex is a part of a new generation
choosing Columbia on purpose, planting
roots, building something, and making it
a whole lot of prettier in the process.
She's also one of the reasons why I'm
still here. When I needed somebody, she
showed up. The time that she planned my
toddler's first birthday party, to
checking in regularly when I lost my
mom. No fuss, she just came. She came
color coordinated with a fabulous
designer bag and a matching phone chain.
Good friends make a place feel like
home, and Alex did that for me. And now
she's doing it for all of Columbia. So
today it is our turn. We are here
showing up for her fabulous self. Petite
Party Shop is the best of Alex. Her
weddings made it into Vogue. Her team
keeps growing, and her taste, frankly,
sometimes a little intimidating cuz I
never know what to wear. But now all of
it, the favors, the themes, the hosting
pieces, it lives right here. And you can
take it home.
Friendship and small business have a lot
in common. Both are built by people who
keep showing up. But they only work if
you keep coming back. So I hope you'll
come back and buy the cute napkins, the
tailgating swag, and tell your friends
about this amazing business. Throw a
party on a Tuesday while you're at it.
Alex, we are so proud of you, and as a
member of your girl squad, the Cola Gal
Pals, I can tell you that we are so
excited for what's to come for you.
>> [applause]
>> Thank you so much, Audity. That was
really heartfelt. I really thank you.
This is amazing. Thank you so much for
coming out and supporting me. Uh
never did I ever think that when I
started weddings with Alexandra Madison
Weddings that we would be here today.
And it's been about almost 10 years this
coming April where we'll be celebrating
our 10-year anniversary for the wedding
company. I It's It's crazy to think, you
know, we we ended up moving off of Main
Street, which we have loved dearly for
the past 7 years. And when we moved into
and were looking for a new space that
could fit everything, all of the growth
that we had achieved, etc., it was
amazing to find something on Divine, on
such a fabulous shopping district area
that I once, you know, would shop on
myself. And when I was in undergrad,
kind of seeing and loving and working
myself just down the street. Never did I
ever think, "Oh, I'm going to have a
store here one day."
Uh but like Audity mentioned, I love
hosting. I love celebrating.
Uh I am so grateful for the community
that I have been able to gather with
like-minded individuals, other women
that also love celebration. And that is
kind of where this was born. You know,
why not have something that was easy to
come by, come to, grab something quick
for hosting, for your Mahjong night,
your charcuterie board, your kids'
birthday. That was kind of where this
came. We celebrate already large,
massive events with our couples and our
brides, and we're so grateful for that
on the wedding industry side. But I
wanted to be able to celebrate every
little moment with Columbia, and
especially such a great shopping
district like we have here, which is
Divine Street. So, we're so excited to
join. I wanted to say a few thank-yous.
Uh wanted to make sure I didn't forget
anybody. But first of all, our speakers,
Councilman, thank you so much for
coming. My dear friend Audity, the city
itself, and then Jennifer, thank you for
supporting me. Also, my neighbors, um
I'm so lucky to be on such a fun little
shopping strip. We have Monkeys here,
Steinway. Uh we have Outspoken Bicycle,
and then behind us Parlor. Um I'm so
grateful for all the welcoming that the
community has already shown me, um and
the outpouring love that I've seen come
through our doors. I also want to thank
just um
you know, anyone that's made this party
possible for us, cuz we're going to be
celebrating the rest of the evening. Um
Southern Way, Party Reflections, Twist
Bartending, Becca Zorn, Mommy East
Coast, Cola Bounds House, Nicole Schmidt
Studio's going to be doing wonderful
watercolors for us, Nikki Morgan
Photography, who always comes through
with a beautiful album for me.
Um I can be so much more thankful. Thank
you to everybody and especially to my
husband who has spent countless hours
and countless time hammering up whatever
I need, taking whatever trash, you know,
pulling up the floors in this space.
And thank you to Joy Joy Group that, you
know, owns this building and had this
space made possible for us that then
brought me to where we are today. Thank
you to everybody here and all of my
friends and I'm so grateful and
cheers to you. Let's cut the ribbon.
I think, right Greg? Okay.
>> Hey, three, two, one. We're open.
>> Yeah!
>> [cheering]
[music]