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Daily Inspiration: Meet Leslie Diaz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Diaz.

Hi Leslie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Luxe Picnics by Les is more than just a luxury picnic company. We are in the business of designing special moments so you can have memories to cherish for a lifetime.” – Les Luxe Picnics by Les offers luxury pop-up picnics, grazing services, private wine/whiskey, and charcuterie pairings, Private Build-a-Board workshops, and charcuterie workshops throughout Northeast Florida.

Before Luxe Picnics by Les and moving to Fernandina Beach. I owned a High-end children’s boutique in South Florida and began doing dress-up Glam Parties for children in 2005. The parties were a success and that grew into a party warehouse venue where I planned/designed and hosted hundreds of parties and events for children and adults alike. When my family moved to Fernandina Beach 11 years ago, I took the opportunity to just slow down and raise our daughter. It gave me the chance to be there for her and even home-school her through middle school. That’s something I did not get the chance to do running a 7 day a week business in Miami. Now, she’s 17 and will be graduating in 2022, so I felt it was time to get back to entertaining, just at a smaller scale.

Luxury picnics are nothing new and what started out on the West coast has expanded and moved across the country with several picnic companies popping up everywhere. With my experience and background in entertaining, coupled with Covid-19 holding everyone back from gatherings, I felt that this was the perfect way to reintroduce gatherings in an imitate setting while doing what I love to do. Luxe Picnics by Les is more than a picnic, it’s an experience and a way for people to re-connect.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, it has been smooth in the sense that my community has embraced me and my small business and I’m so grateful for the support that I have been given and the reception I have received. I would say the only struggle has been that I am small and I am one person so keeping up with the demand has been a bit difficult and I’m short on sleep but doable for now.

My focus is more about quality than quantity so I don’t like to book more than one picnic in a day because when I create a picnic or a grazing platter I give it 150% of my creativity and my energy. I don’t want to ever negotiate quantity over quality.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I grew up involved in music and theatre. Entertaining on stage and off has always been a big part of my life. I even studied photography in college and majored in film production to become a Director of Photography. Straight out of college I was hired by Barry Diller (Founder of FOX Broadcasting Company/USA Broadcasting) to produce a live 5-hour children’s television show and alongside other producers, created it from the ground up.

We brought in performers such a Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Destiny’s Child to name a few. Even had some fun working with Radio Disney and being a part of music videos and major motion picture shoots. We were just kids. That experience put me where I am today.

From there I went on to work for a multi-billion dollar global telecommunications company, Telecom Italia, working closely and assisting the CEO, COO, CFO – which further grounded my business etiquette, professionalism, and what it took to be a part of the corporate world. From there I went on to open and operate my own business that I mentioned in the previous question.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, my parents. My parents are my biggest supporters. They have backed up every single vision, dream, and idea I have had and Lord knows I have had MANY! I’m an artist through and through so the creativity never shuts off for me. I’m constantly reinventing myself, learning, and evolving. My parents are the ones that molded who I am today.

Every other thing I’ve learned has come from experience in the industries I have had the honor to be a part of. My other cheerleaders are my husband and my daughter. My daughter is my drive. My motivation to move and be a better me every day. She inspires me on a daily with her work ethic at such a young age.

My husband loves unconditionally. He is beyond patient with me and every one of my crazy ideas and instead of convincing me to take another direction he always encourages me to go for it no matter what. He always has my back.

Pricing:

  • Picnics range from $254-499+
  • Grazing Services Range from $10 – up

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Boston Photography and Golden Flare

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