Meet Erica Gleeman | Event Planner & Professional Picnicker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Gleeman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My fondest recollections from growing up are of friends and extended family filled our house, everyone happily gathered amid dazzling displays of party décor my mother had carefully arranged. I inherited this passion for bringing people together and organizing countless details to create beautiful and memorable settings. At the same time, I was drawn to the idea of transforming outdoor settings due to the arrival of Covid restrictions posing challenges to restaurants and other indoor social spaces. With the growing demand for open-air gatherings, I was excited to launch my event-planning and pop-up picnic company, The Picnic Creative. For me, this business is a labor of love, one that continually allows me to channel my zest for creating awe-inspiring, customized events of all sizes – while also honoring a legacy left by my mom, who lost a long battle with cancer in 2019.

What should our readers know about your business?
Along with my bottomless enthusiasm, which I have been told is infectious, I bring extraordinary attention to detail and the ability to understand a client’s vision (even when the person cannot quite articulate it!). People have long gushed over my knack for selecting gifts that perfectly reflect the recipient. I love bringing that same talent to event-planning. I make sure to pinpoint clients’ hopes, expectations and preferences, including their preferred vibe, whether glam, tranquil, boho, quietly elegant, or something else. While I specialize in pop-up gatherings, I am equally adept at orchestrating all types of events, including entire wedding weekends; large parties for adults and/or children; special occasions, such as bachelorette parties, bridal showers, baby showers, and gender reveals; and intimate date nights, marriage proposals, and more. With my unlimited imagination and a remarkable team, I can deliver on every detail, from delicious and artfully presented food to eye-dropping table décor, meaningful party games, and thoughtfully curated party favors. While I have contended with challenges, such as not always having a helping hand when carting heavy party supplies along wide stretches of beaches or lawns, I feel unstoppable!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Palm Beach County is a great area for finding a balance between healthy outdoor activities and a vast choice of lively food and drink emporiums day or night. For example, from the beach at Palmetto and A1A, we could start with a 1-mile walk along the sand or sidewalk, then swing back another mile for a sensational breakfast at The Boca Beach House (think eggs benedict with generous chunks of lobster or perhaps thick whole-grain toast slathered with avocado). After eating, I would head back to Boca’s pretty public beach, relaxing under the sun plus enjoying plentiful people-watching and dips in the frothy ocean.

Downtown Delray Beach, anchored by Atlantic Avenue, is a must-stop at night (with so many enticing spots, we would need an encore!) Favorite spots to show my friend include Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar, where I adore the Volcano Fried Rice that arrives literally on fire and the Kiss My Coco drink, a luscious concoction of vodka, rum, vanilla, honey and coconut; Rosewater Rooftop, featuring specialty cocktails and 360-degree views of downtown to the beach; The OG, with an inviting vibe that blends corner bar with arty and chic; and Dada, for top-rated gourmet dining and al fresco crowd-gazing. On a Saturday morning, we would stroll through colorful Green Market booths selling artwork, hand-held eats, and local produce – and open all year except August and September. We would check out the all-level yoga class that kicks off the wellness-themed Coco Market the first Sunday of each month, featuring attractions like slacklining, meditation, art therapy, live music, sound healing, acro therapeutics, and healthy food options.

Another day’s excursion would find us heading about 25 miles north of Atlantic Avenue to Clematis Street in downtown W. Palm Beach, where one finds a similar eclectic mix of food, drinks and people-watching, located perpendicular to a gorgeous stretch of the Intracoastal. For lunch, we would stop at one of the many casual eateries offering easy take-out options for pedestrians, then stroll a couple of blocks east to picnic tables on Flagler Park’s expansive lawn, catching the waterway’s soothing breeze. After sundown, I would eagerly introduce my friend to Clematis By Night, a concert series on Thursdays that has been drawing throngs of people to lively musical performances for over 30 years.

I would cap our blissful week by creating an outdoor pop-up picnic for my BFF, surprising her with a final tantalizing meal and a stunning display featuring photos and meaningful mementos paying homage to our special friendship.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to go back to my mom. In addition to following her lead as a genuine people-person who coordinated spectacular parties, she was also an entrepreneur. Even though my dad and she had been middle school sweethearts who married young, my mother took pride in establishing her own business. She always encouraged me to be independent and to pursue a career enabling me to support myself without having to rely solely on a significant other. My father encouraged me in this way as well. For my success so far with The Picnic Creative, I want to give a special shout-out to my main photographer, Sean LaRochelle with Famed Photos, whose gorgeous shots on my website, https://www.thepicniccreative.com, and Instagram capture the care and the flair that I put into each creating each personalized event. I also owe a big thanks to all my vendors for leading me to each other and to my growing list of fabulous clients.

Website: https://www.thepicniccreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepicniccreativefl/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk%3D

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087181247801&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Famed Photos – Sean LaRochelle FlorenciaRL – Florencia Rodriguez Photos by Max Duckworth – Max Duckworth Chamber Hart Photography – Antoine Hart MKPrintss – Madeline Jaymes