arts&life

p ro f i l e

I

Mollie Yarsike

can’t believe this didn’t exist
before,” is the most common
reaction to Mollie Yarsike’s two-
and-a-half-year-old business venture.
It makes sense considering the idea
of having childcare at a wedding or
other adult-focused event seems like
it should be a no-brainer — yet it’s a
service that typically is not seen.
Yarsike, 25, got the idea after
attending a networking event at the
Los Angeles home of a couple with
young children. One of the kids was
having a hard time at the adult-only
event while her parents were busy
hosting. Yarsike’s extensive experi-
ence as a babysitter and nanny along
with her love of children led her to
spend the evening with this 4-year-
old and became the catalyst for start-
ing her California-based company,
Black Tie Kids.
The premise behind the business
is simple: providing quality childcare
at weddings and other events so that
the party hosts and guests can enjoy
the event without having to worry
about the kids in attendance.
“A big concern of brides and
grooms is whether to include kids in
their wedding celebrations, but find-
ing childcare can put a lot of stress
on their guests. Many, especially
out-of-town guests, are more likely
to attend when their children are

Mollie Poppins

Native Detroiter

Mollie Yarsike takes care

of the kids so parents can

enjoy the party.

JENNIFER LOVY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

details

Black Tie Kids charges $16 an hour per
child (with a $40 an hour minimum) and
provides a ratio of 1 counselor for every
5-7 kids (depending on the ages). Costs
include all games, craft supplies and an
age-appropriate movie. Get more info at
blacktiekids.com.

A Black Tie Kids counselor plays Connect Four at a wedding.

34

May 31 • 2018

jn

included,” says Yarsike, who launched
Black Tie Kids in the summer of 2015
in Los Angeles, and just expanded to
the Detroit area, where she lived until
college.
Black Tie Kids is more than a
babysitting service, according to its
founder. Kids may be attending the
event themselves and need to be
entertained and watched, or just in
town with their parents. The pro-
gram is set up like a camp where kids
attending weddings and other events
are entertained with games, crafts
and activities while their parents
enjoy the celebration. “Counselors”
are accustomed to working with
children who might have separation
anxiety or are uncomfortable being
in an unfamiliar environment.
Based on the success of this newly

created venture, Yarsike believes she
can expand Black Tie Kids to other
markets as well. Bringing it back
to Michigan makes sense, she says,
since she grew up in Southfield and
has family, friends and other connec-
tions in the area.
While she was home for Passover,
Yarsike hosted a happy hour for
event planners and vendors to intro-
duce her services. Andrea Solomon
was one of the attendees and, after
hearing about the company, not only
recommends Black Tie Kids but also
plans to use their services to watch
her grandsons during her daughter’s
upcoming wedding.
Yarsike’s longtime friend Fran
Wanetick will be the contact person
for all Michigan events once booked,
and serve as “the lead counselor”
during all local parties.
Upon earning a degree in advertis-
ing and marketing communications
from New York’s Fashion Institute of
Technology in 2014, Yarsike left New
York in search of warmer weather
and to pursue her dream of living in
California. She went out West job-
less and not knowing anyone, but
her schmoozing skills and ability to
network served her well. She quickly
landed a job working in fashion and
advertising. The long hours and high
pressures led her out of the fashion
industry and into her current posi-
tion as the marketing assistant at
Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and
Mortuaries (where she has a full-time
job in addition to running Black Tie
Kids).
Her marketing experience helped
her break into the wedding and
event-planning scene. Last year, her
company provided services at 52
events, mostly weddings, and she
generates her business through word
of mouth — particularly recommen-
dations from event planners. One of
her weddings included the marriage
of Ali Fedotowsky, who is best known
as a TV personality and as the Season
Six bachelorette from the ABC reality
program The Bachelorette.
“I think it’s a great idea,” says
Wanetick, who also works as the
Jewish student life coordinator at
Hillel at Michigan State University.
“I’ve been following her progress with
the business on social media and she
is doing such great things. It’s amaz-
ing to think about the fact that she
is living in L.A., where she isn’t even
from, where she created this camp-
like experience for kids, and is con-
tinually growing her business.” •

