Rhode Island has a history of food trucks reaching all the way back to 1872, and in recent years, food truck catering for bites, meals, or desserts has been a booming trend for events, including non-traditional weddings. But the trucks don’t have to be just for food, or just for the wedding night. Three women – Gianna Grande, Jill Lucena, and Chelsea Smith – are among those capitalizing on convenience by creating businesses ready to bring the fun to special gatherings, including stag dos, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties.
Gianna Grande’s micro version of a dessert truck is a peddler cart named The Biscotti Bar. The idea was born out of a love of the family tradition of baking over a dozen different kinds of cookies and crafting the assortment into trays around the holidays. “Biscotti means twice baked. It is baked once in a loaf, then sliced, and baked again on its side.” Pistachio, almond, and oatmeal chocolate chip are her best-selling flavors, but the bar also offers other types of Italian cookies to choose from – including wine biscuits – a Grande favorite; all are baked with help from her mother and sister. Hosts can order a personalized Italian cookie bar and have cookie bags as party favors. North Providence, TheBiscottiBar.square.site
After 20 years of handcrafting jewelry from sea glass to upcycled materials, Jill Lucena created Boho Bead Bar in July of 2023 to share the experience of “working with color and blending materials to create unique, meaningful pieces,” she explains. The bead bar – an eight-foot-long table with Lucena at the helm, crafting bracelets in front of guests’ eyes – allows party-goers to design their own bracelet, from wire to beads, and watch it be made in under three minutes via a bead spinner. It’s a chance to have “family and friends laughing and creating together,” Lucena says, and at the end of the night, all guests receive a signature bracelet designed by the host to commemorate the special event. Cumberland, BohoBeadBar.wixsite.com/boho
For her own winter wedding, Chelsea Smith wanted candles to set the ambiance, but struggled to find a non-toxic, long-burning candle, so she made her own from soy wax and essential oils, filling vintage mason jars. Before long, she turned her hobby into Sea Smith Candle Co.; more recently, she and her husband transformed a horse trailer into a traveling candle cart allowing Smith to visit local markets and events. Pouring is not done on-site but hosts can work with Smith to select or customize fragrances in advance. “Love Spell and Crème Brulee are probably two of my most popular for bridal [parties],” says Smith who shares that candles work as wedding/party favors, bridesmaid gifts, or simply for cozy ambiance. Smithfield, SeaSmithCandleCo.com
Part activity, talking point, and party favor wrapped into one – here are more local businesses ready to make any event memorable.
Cupcake Truck:
The Cupcakory
Floral Bar:
Cedar Edge Floral Farm
French Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches: Millie by Ellie’s
Frozen Lemonade Truck: Del’s
Ice Cream Cart:
Tricycle Ice Cream
Soda Fountain:
Clara’s Cart, Green Line Apothecary
Tea Cart: Spill the Tea
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