We were lucky to catch up with Mai Wedaatalla recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mai, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The true root of my business is my daughter. After becoming a mom, something shifted in me. I’ve always been creative and had an eye for making things feel special, but motherhood brought that desire to the surface in a much deeper way. Growing up, my own mother—an immigrant who faced many struggles—always made sure our birthdays were celebrated. Even when resources were limited, she created joy with intention and love. Those moments stayed with me.
When I became a mother myself, I wanted to give that same feeling to other families—especially other moms who wanted to create beautiful, meaningful moments for their children. That’s how my business first began: creating sweet, thoughtful celebrations rooted in love. As it grew, I realized it wasn’t just about kids’ parties. It became about capturing moments, elevating milestones, and turning them into lasting memories through beauty, desserts, and intentional design.
My business is named after my daughter, Ilyanna, and she truly is my “why.” What makes this even more special is that Ily’s Sweets & Treats is not something I carry alone—it’s supported by a village. My mom, my sister, my husband, and my close friends have all poured into this business in countless ways—helping with set-ups, prepping late into the night, running to the grocery store at the last minute, and stepping in whenever I needed support. Even my daughter, who is not even two yet, cheers me on in her own way by telling me how beautiful everything is—and that alone fuels me in moments of exhaustion.
Balancing full-time work, motherhood, and a growing weekend-based business is not easy. There are days it feels overwhelming. But everyone who has ever poured love into my daughter has also poured into me. That love and support is what allows me to keep going. This business is built on family, friendship, intention, and community—and that’s what makes it so deeply personal and meaningful to me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Mai, and I am the founder and creative behind Ily’s Sweets & Treats, a custom dessert and event styling brand focused on turning meaningful moments into unforgettable experiences. While my journey into this space began personally, my mission today is centered around my clients — helping them celebrate life’s milestones with beauty, ease, and intention.
I specialize in custom desserts including cupcakes, dessert cups, chocolate-covered treats, and fully curated dessert tables, along with event styling that brings everything together visually. What sets my brand apart is that I don’t just provide desserts — I design full experiences. From color palettes and presentation to flavor pairings and layout, every detail is thoughtfully styled so my clients don’t have to worry about anything feeling unfinished or disconnected.
One of the biggest problems I solve for my clients is overwhelm. Many people know they want something beautiful but don’t know how to bring it together. I take that vision and turn it into a cohesive, elevated setup that feels personal, seamless, and photo-ready. Whether it’s an intimate baby shower, a birthday celebration, or a community event, my goal is always the same: to make the moment feel special.
What I am most proud of is building a brand that reflects creativity, intention, and community while balancing full-time work, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. I want people to know that when they book Ily’s Sweets & Treats, they are not just getting desserts — they are getting heart, detail, and a truly personalized experience.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been a combination of social media visibility and a deeply personalized client experience. Social media allows people to discover my work, see my style, and understand the level of detail I bring to each setup. I share both the finished results and the behind-the-scenes process so potential clients can see the care that goes into everything.
What truly sets the experience apart, though, is how involved I am with my clients from the very beginning. I don’t just take an order and deliver it — I walk through the entire vision with them. Clients share their ideas, I come back with creative concepts, and we go back and forth until everything feels intentional and aligned. Sometimes that means spending hours talking through details, layouts, colors, and logistics — but that time investment builds trust and leads to results that feel personal, not generic.
Because of that, most of my growth has come through word of mouth and repeat clients. When someone feels genuinely seen and supported throughout the process, they naturally share their experience with others. That combination of authentic social media presence, personal connection, and consistent service has been the foundation of my growth.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience has shown up in my journey in both big and very quiet ways. There have been many moments where things went wrong on the fly — arriving at a setup and realizing I forgot a key item, having to problem-solve in real time, or leaning on my support system to make a last-minute run back home or to the store so everything could still come together. Those moments are stressful, but they’ve taught me how to stay calm under pressure and trust myself to make it work no matter what.
A huge part of my resilience has also been the late nights. Most of my events happen on weekends, which means a lot of time spent away from my daughter — and that is easily the hardest part for me. There have been many nights where I’m up alone prepping, exhausted, running on very little sleep, and still pushing through because I made a commitment to my clients and to the vision I’m building. Some nights feel incredibly lonely, but I remind myself that I’m laying the foundation for something bigger.
What keeps me going is knowing that I’m not just doing this for me — I’m doing it for my daughter, for my younger self, and for every version of me that once needed confidence. I want my daughter to grow up seeing that you can build something with your own hands, brick by brick, even when it’s hard. I want her to know she can do whatever she puts her mind to, even when it feels scary or uncertain.
I’ve been in business for less than a year, and the growth has honestly been beyond what I ever expected. This is my very first business — I came in knowing nothing. I’ve learned on the fly, taken losses financially and emotionally, made mistakes, and celebrated wins that reminded me why I started. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been deeply rewarding. Every challenge has shaped me into a stronger version of myself, and every win has fueled my belief that this journey is worth it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ilyssweetsandtreats
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15ZnbZ2eNCH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
