Reni Papalexiou, the founder and creative director of Sun Served Bespoke Picnics,  grew up as part of a large family in São Paulo, Brazil. During her childhood, she developed a deep love for design and aesthetics. “I played with Barbies,” she says, “but I didn’t have a Barbie house, so I used little things that I had around to create a beautiful home for them.” She carried her passion for curating meaningful moments and places into her career, earning a bachelor’s in Architecture and a dual master’s encompassing Infrastructure Planning and City and Regional Planning, and working for 14 years in design and architecture. In 2020, she moved with her husband to Sarasota—in the midst of the pandemic. “It was just us and our two dogs. We had no family and no friends around, but we went to the beach and watched the sunset. I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great to host an event right here on the beach?’” she adds.

A keen observer of human behavior, Reni set about researching, creating a business plan and building her brand. In September 2021, after a year of planning, she opened Sun Served Bespoke Picnics, which she describes as a lifestyle brand experience, combining her talent for design with her knack for hosting. The company focuses on two complementary areas, the service line, which includes picnics, in-room services and accompanying activities, and the product line of custom gifts. Guests can combine selections from these categories to create a unique experience, or pick and choose what suits their needs. They can opt for extra surprises like a grazing box, fruit or veggie platter, champagne and even custom eats, like cookies. While guests are welcome to bring their own food, Reni recommends that they sit back, relax and let her take care of them, allowing for full enjoyment of the moment she’s helped them create. 

“Every client has needs and desires that are unique to them and the occasion,” she says. “No one picnic experience or gift is the same, and we tailor everything to each client. Our services and products cannot be bought in a store.” The client chooses their packages, which range from the classic picnic to picnics that include experiences, like a mini-facial or boat ride. Birthday, proposal and anniversary celebrations rank among the most popular events, followed by micro-weddings, bachelorette parties and vow renewals. Reni caters to every client, from an impromptu picnic and spa day for a friend’s self-care needs to branded corporate events. 

 “With proposals, we get a lot of guys who are super nervous, and we walk them through the process and understand their needs to create a hassle-free experience,” she adds. “It’s about creating memorable and unique experiences that leave a lasting impression.”