We recently connected with Alena Apollonsky and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alena, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry
As the owner of a luxury picnic company, Your Lovely Moments, I’m noticing a shift from traditional celebrations to outdoor luxury events, particularly luxury picnics. Here are a few trends that are becoming prominent in the event and celebration industry.
1. Bachelorette Parties Embracing Outdoor Luxury Picnics.
Traditionally, bachelorette parties were synonymous with clubbing or dining at restaurants. However, we’re noticing a shift where more brides-to-be and their friends are choosing luxury picnic experiences for their celebrations. Whether in stunning outdoor locations or at private Airbnb rentals, these picnics offer a more intimate, relaxed, and picturesque environment for bonding. The flexibility of customizing themes and the backdrop of nature have become appealing alternatives to the typical nightlife scene.
We’ve had a funny experience where recently, a group of bachelorettes decided to mix the famous 3 together for an ultimate night out: a luxury picnic at their Airbnb, followed by bar-hopping and clubbing. By the time they got to the bar, they realized they were more exhausted than energized, and the next morning’s hangover made them wish they’d stayed at the picnic. They all agreed the picnic was the highlight, proving that sometimes skipping the nightlife and enjoying a relaxed, luxurious evening is the better choice.
2. Outdoor Celebrations for Family Events
Families are increasingly opting to celebrate birthdays and special occasions in the great outdoors. Whether it’s a 16th birthday or a family reunion, people are drawn to the idea of marking these moments with a beautifully setup luxury picnic, often overlooking scenic landscapes. This trend reflects the desire to spend quality time together in a less structured, more personalized setting, allowing for a unique experience that feels both luxurious and personal.
3. Demand for Greater Comfort and Convenience
Clients are willing to spend more on the luxury of outdoor picnics because it offers the appeal of everything being handled for them. From seating arrangements and décor to food presentation, they’re looking for comfort and style. Many guests are choosing premium seating like our plush pillows, umbrellas, and cozy blankets as part of their celebrations. The convenience of not having to worry about setup or cleanup is a key driver behind this trend.
Unique and Scenic Proposals
We’re also seeing a rise in couples opting for luxury picnics to create unique, intimate proposal experiences. Instead of traditional venues, more people are choosing to pop the question in romantic, outdoor settings—often with oceanfront views or in secluded parks. The personalized touches, beautiful décor, and picturesque scenery provide a memorable backdrop that’s more intimate and distinctive than typical proposal settings.
Increased Willingness to Invest in Experiences
Consumers today are more focused on creating memorable experiences, and they are willing to invest in services that provide not just convenience but also aesthetics. The focus is on crafting events that are both Instagrammable and meaningful, with every detail—whether it’s customized signage, unique table settings, or personalized themes—carefully curated to ensure a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
These trends show a growing preference for outdoor luxury, personalization, and stress-free celebrations that are designed to be both beautiful and enjoyable. My company, “Your Lovely Moments,” is perfectly positioned to capitalize on these trends by offering services that reflect this shift toward experiential luxury.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
About Myself and How I Got Into the Industry
My name is Alena Apollonsky, and I am the founder and owner of Your Lovely Moments, a luxury picnic company based in San Diego, California. From a very young age, I’ve always been passionate about creating magical moments. I was drawn to the idea that something as simple as a picnic could turn an ordinary day into something extraordinary. This passion, combined with my love for style and fashion, inspired me to start Your Lovely Moments. I wanted to bring a touch of elegance and creativity to outdoor celebrations, where clients could experience something truly unique and memorable.
The Services We Provide and the Problems We Solve
At Your Lovely Moments, we specialize in crafting bespoke luxury picnic experiences. Our services cater to a wide range of celebrations, including birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, romantic dates, proposals, and more. We provide everything from beautifully curated picnic setups—complete with plush pillows, styled tables, floral arrangements, and décor—to special add-ons like cozy blankets, signature seating, and photo sessions.
One of the main problems we solve for our clients is convenience. Planning and organizing an outdoor event can be stressful, but we take care of all the details—setup, breakdown, and even cleanup—so our clients can simply show up and enjoy their special day without worrying about logistics. We also offer creative solutions to those who want to celebrate in a unique way, whether that’s proposing during a romantic sunset picnic or hosting a bachelorette party with a stunning backdrop instead of a traditional restaurant or bar.
What Sets Us Apart
What makes Your Lovely Moments different is our keen eye for detail and our commitment to going above and beyond. While many companies offer beautiful setups, we focus on creating an experience that’s truly personalized. I often ask our clients, “What can we do to make your celebration even more special?” We then tailor our setups to reflect their vision, whether it’s incorporating a specific theme, color palette, or even a favorite flower. Our passion for style, fashion, and creating memories ensures that every event is both elegant and unforgettable.
Another thing that sets us apart is the luxury and comfort we offer. We’ve added premium seating, like our cozy wide chairs and soft pillows, as well as beautiful umbrellas to provide shade, ensuring that our clients not only have a visually stunning event but also feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the experience.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m incredibly proud of the journey we’ve been on and the relationships we’ve built along the way. Seeing our clients’ reactions when they walk into their beautifully set-up picnic and hearing how much the experience meant to them is what drives me every day. Whether it’s a proposal, a milestone birthday, or a simple gathering of friends, knowing that we played a part in creating lifelong memories for our clients is truly fulfilling.
What I Want Potential Clients to Know
For potential clients, I want you to know that Your Lovely Moments is more than just a picnic company—we are memory makers. Our goal is to turn your vision into reality, creating luxurious, stress-free celebrations that reflect your unique style and occasion. We take care of every detail, so you can focus on enjoying your special moment. Whether you’re local to San Diego or flying in from out of town, we’re here to help you celebrate life’s special occasions in the most beautiful and meaningful way possible.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building an Audience on Social Media
Building an audience on social media has been an exciting journey for me and Your Lovely Moments. When I first started, I knew it was essential to connect with people who were not only interested in luxury picnics San Diego can offer, but also those who were specifically looking to celebrate in San Diego. One key strategy that has worked incredibly well is using targeted keywords and hashtags like “San Diego” alongside phrases like “birthday celebrations,” “bachelorette parties,” “proposals,” and “bridal showers.” This helps ensure that our content and ads are seen by both locals and tourists who are planning special events in San Diego.
By doing this, we’re able to reach a highly specific audience—people who are either living in or traveling to San Diego with a reason to celebrate. Many of our clients come from out of town to mark special occasions, so this approach has allowed us to position ourselves in front of the right people at the right time.
Advice for Building a Social Media Presence
For those just starting to build a social media presence, my advice is to really understand who your audience is and focus on content that speaks directly to them. Using location-specific keywords or phrases relevant to your niche can help you target the right people. Consistency is key—posting regularly, engaging with your followers, and sharing high-quality visuals that align with your brand will help you grow organically. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content, like behind-the-scenes videos, client testimonials, or time-lapse clips of your setup process—these types of posts often resonate well with followers and show the heart behind your brand.
Lastly, paid social ads can be incredibly effective if you target them carefully. Focus on key interests and locations relevant to your business, just like we do with our San Diego-focused ads. This way, you’ll put your brand in front of the right audience and get the most out of your social media efforts.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
Ecommerce Approach
At Your Lovely Moments, we’ve developed a straightforward process that allows potential clients to book directly through our website. We’ve categorized our offerings into three main sections: Luxury Picnics for Couples, Family Celebrations, and Large Parties (which includes bachelorettes, bridal showers, baby showers, large birthdays, team-building events, and corporate parties). This structure helps clients easily navigate our services based on their needs. Once they choose a category, they fill out a form with essential details like their name, date, time, and can select optional upsells such as extra soft chairs, umbrellas, or a backdrop. After the form is submitted, we personally call the client to discuss details and reserve their party for that specific time and date.
Why We Chose This Approach
We opted not to use platforms like Amazon or Etsy because our service is highly personalized and relies on close communication with our clients. We believe that the nature of luxury picnics demands more than a typical eCommerce transaction—it requires attention to detail and a deep understanding of what each client envisions for their celebration. By having a direct booking process on our site, we maintain a personal connection with every client, ensuring that their expectations are met, if not exceeded.
Pros and Cons
The biggest advantage of our approach is the level of customization we offer. By handling bookings and communication in-house, we can provide a truly bespoke experience, which is a core value of our brand. It also allows us to upsell services like premium seating, umbrellas, or backdrops directly, creating a smoother experience for clients. On the downside, this method requires more time and effort on our end. The lack of a traditional eCommerce platform means we rely heavily on human interaction, which can be both time-consuming and dependent on availability. However, we believe that the personal touch is what makes our service stand out and keeps our clients coming back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yourlovelymoments.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your.lovelymoments/
Image Credits
Image credits are attributable to “Your Lovely Moments Luxury Picnic Company”.