Camp Sweet Dreams brings the slumber party to you

Two longtime friends have turned their passion for decorating into a unique slumber-party business in West Orange County.

Robin Zimmerman and Jennifer Rabaja have created Camp Sweet Dreams, a full delivery and styling service based in Windermere that provides themed decorations, tents, mattresses, bedding and more for birthday parties and other special events.

Rabaja got the idea when she took her niece to a similar party in Texas. When she returned to Florida, she and Zimmerman began brainstorming ways to create their own slumber-party business to supplement their income.

“We sat over coffee,” Zimmerman said. “We knew we wanted tents. We actually Googled slumber parties.”

The two spent hours combing through Hobby Lobby and TJ Maxx looking for pieces that would fit specific themes. They bought tents off Etsy and learned how to build them using a pattern created by a sister-in-law. Zimmerman’s father-in-law helps with the tent construction.

Themes run the gambit, from unicorns, sweet treats and beach party to superheroes, galaxy and dinosaurs. Some themes are more generic than others, such as Movie Night and Legos.

Packages start at $180 for a three-tent combo and can be customized to fit parties of up to 10. Each party guest has access to his or her own tent and bedding, plus blanket, decorative pillow, bunting/garland, fairy lights, bed tray, lantern and a sleep mask. The masks are theirs to keep.

One of the owners returns the next day to retrieve all the pieces.

All bedding is laundered after every party, and all hard surfaces, including the mattresses, are cleaned with sanitizer.

When Rabaja’s sister visited from Texas, the business partners set up the tents to see how everything worked and to hold photo shoots with their children, nieces and neighborhood kids.

“They were the test-and-adjust kids,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman, of Ocoee, has two children 15 and 17, and Windermere resident Rabaja is the mother of five ages 10 to 24.

They keep their party equipment in a storage unit on Maguire Road, halfway between their homes, so they both have access for set-ups.

The pair has been working on marketing their business, reaching out to schools and PTA organizations and setting up displays at various elementary schools during Meet Your Teacher events. While their props are more suited for the 5- to 14-year-old set, Zimmerman and Rabaja are considering adding themes for older teens and for women interested in holding a girls night or bachelorette party.

To book a party online, go to campsweetdreamsorlando.com. For questions, call (407) 325-2601 or (407) 325-5695.