Maria Thomas
Owner & Creative Director
Maria Thomas, Founder of A Picnic to Remember, was born in New York and relocated to Florida. After earning her Master Degree at Hunter College in Special Education, and working closely with families, other educators, and service providers in the local community she noticed how often people struggled with finding balance between work and self-care. She believes the high demands of work cause us to live monotonous lives, which hinder our individual creativity. These specially designed events provide an opportunity for her and her clients to collaborate together and be bold, and creative while embracing nature, relaxing, and spending time with loved ones.
Give yourself the same care and attention that you give to others and watch yourself bloom
- Holly A. Bay
Jami De Souza
Photographer
Jami is our photography partner. She started working with photography from the age of 13, when she was introduced to her first professional camera and editing software. She developed a passion for the art and has been working with it ever since. In her words, "People often jokingly say 'Take a picture, it will last longer', but I'm a genuine believer of this. "I believe pictures can truly record and retain special memories unlike anything else." “I love being able to capture and enhance these small fractions of moments for my clients, so they can find joy looking back and reliving their amazing experiences." "That's why I'm so delighted to partner with A Picnic to Remember and all of their exquisite team."
God creates beauty. My camera and I are a witness
- Mark Denman
Yajaira Ruiz
Craftswoman
Yajaira is our craftswoman partner. Yajaira has always enjoyed a tactile or hands on approach to learning, she loves designing and creating new things. Yajaira started her crafting journey approximately 2 years ago, while woodworking and refurbishing old furniture. During the pandemic she purchased a cricut and was inspired by Tik Tok’s DIY videos and ever since she has been obsessed with crafting. Yajaira uses crafting to escape her daily stressful routine, and channel her energy to keep her mind focused. Yajaira specializes in shadow boxes, and party favors, but she is also able to craft numerous items which are great for gifting.