About Us
Brass & Bamboo Picnics was founded in the April of 2022 in Rochester, NY. As one of the first businesses of its kind in the area, our vision was to bring innovation to the events sector by helping our clients celebrate their special occasions differently. We mainly do private events but have found that our picnics can also be wonderful corporate events partners, especially for companies looking for a different way to celebrate and reward their employees.
We appreciate every style aesthetic under the sun and value giving our clients a unique and exciting experience unlike anything they have encountered. What resonates with us is finding a balance between old and new. We strive to incorporate modern aesthetics with vintage touches as a way to bridge the gap between the different generations of customers we serve. We keep nature at the heart of what we do with beautiful outdoor backdrops and elements of faux/fresh flowers and plants.
In addition to Luxury Picnics, we also offer Table Styling, Photoshoot Staging, Event Rentals and Hula Dancing.
Owner Bio
Aloha! My name is Melissa. I am the creator and owner of Brass & Bamboo Picnics. Born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu I relocated to Rochester, NY in 2001. I carry the aloha spirit with me in everything I do and hope that that sense of care resonates with each client we encounter.
My connection to nature brings significance to my work. Two of the elements that influence me most in how we design/style our picnics and the ideals that bring the most value to my life is Brass & Bamboo.
Brass Symbolism and Meaning
In spiritual traditions Brass is the metal that brings out natural good and inner truth. For instance, the phrase 'getting down to brass tacks', tells of clearing away the old debris and getting down to the pure and natural truth. Brass is also associated with beauty, problem-solving and positivity.
We love celebrating the beauty of our clients and their guest in beautiful environments with beautifully curated picnics.
Bamboo Symbolism and Meaning
Bamboo is a symbol of strength, flexibility, health and good luck. Its strength teaches us to stand upright, and its flexibility teaches us to adapt to the harshest circumstances. The combination of these virtues teaches us how to find balance and inner peace in our lives, in turn improving our health.
Something as simple as a luxury picnic can help add much needed work life balance in the hustle and bustle of the modern day. It is important that we prioritize ourselves on our endless to-do lists.
Past Career Experience
In my former life I was an executive for Macy's for 10+ years. Working mainly to develop the talent of my teams and across functions. I landed a role as the District Merchant for the Home Division overseeing 22 stores from Upstate NY to CT. In that role my love for home decor flourished. I gained so much knowledge on not only function, but style. Helping elevate not only presentation in stores, but also making personal connections with customers and helping them with their most precious spaces, their homes.
That knowledge and experience gives me such a passion for what I do. Each theme is curated with care in hopes of creating a
table-scape that is cohesive and seamless for our clients to enjoy in both function and beauty.