Meet the New Owners of Picnic Party Seattle
If you've followed Picnic Party Seattle for a while, you've probably noticed a few new faces behind the scenes lately.
We're excited to officially introduce ourselves: we're Diona Young and Mariah Sheppard, the new owners of Picnic Party Seattle.
Before we tell you about our plans for the future, we thought we'd start with how we got here.
It Started With a Friendship
Like many good stories, ours begins with a mutual friend.
Years ago, we were both lucky enough to become friends with Kiya. When she eventually moved to New York, it left a bit of a void in both of our lives. Thankfully, it also led us to becoming friends ourselves.
What started as occasional meetups quickly turned into a friendship built around a shared love of afternoon tea, cultural events, and finding any excuse to get dressed up and go out.
A new exhibit?
We're there.
A themed tea service?
Absolutely.
A fancy event where we can wear a great outfit?
Say no more.
Over the years, we spent countless afternoons exploring Seattle together and dreaming up ways to make ordinary moments feel a little more special.
Looking back, it's not surprising that we eventually found ourselves in the celebration business.
Meet Mariah
Mariah is a Seattle native, having grown up in West Seattle.
If you've ever met her, you know that she's sunshine in human form. She has an incredible gift for making people feel welcomed, cared for, and celebrated.
She's also the undisputed queen of hosting.
If you've attended one of her gatherings, you've probably heard guests asking:
"Wait... did she do all of this?"
"Did she make the food too?"
"And the decor?"
The answer is almost always yes.
Creating beautiful spaces and memorable experiences has always come naturally to her. She has had an eye for style since she was young, and bringing people together is simply part of who she is.
Meet Diona
Diona grew up in Spokane before moving to Seattle in 2012.
She spent years working in the hospitality and service industry, where she developed a passion for creating exceptional experiences and taking care of people.
She's also the group's travel expert.
Planning a trip?
Need a restaurant recommendation?
Trying to figure out how to maximize every minute of a vacation?
She's your girl.
Diona believes some of life's best memories happen when people step outside their routine and create space for connection, adventure, and celebration.
How We Found Picnic Party Seattle
One day, Diona's sister, Chrystan, sent her an Instagram post.
Picnic Party Seattle was looking for its next owner.
Diona immediately forwarded the post to Mariah.
Mostly for fun.
We talked about it. Dreamed about it. Wondered what it would be like.
Then we thought:
"Let's see what happens."
What followed was months of conversations, planning, learning, and excitement.
And eventually, Hannah handed us the reins.
Honoring What Hannah Built
One of the things we loved most about Picnic Party Seattle was the heart behind it.
Hannah built something truly special.
Over the last several weeks, we've had the privilege of training alongside Hannah and her wonderful mom, Melody, learning the details, systems, and standards that helped make Picnic Party Seattle what it is today.
Their dedication to quality, creativity, and customer experience is something we deeply respect.
Just as importantly, Hannah created a welcoming space where people could gather, celebrate, and feel comfortable being themselves. We admired the way Picnic Party Seattle embraced people from all walks of life and helped create meaningful moments for so many different communities throughout the Seattle area.
As we step into this next chapter, we are committed to continuing that spirit of inclusivity and celebration. We believe everyone deserves beautiful experiences and meaningful moments with the people they love. We are proud to celebrate clients of every background, identity, culture, and love story.
Love is love, every story matters, and every celebration deserves to feel special.
Our goal is simple:
To honor what Hannah built while bringing our own energy, ideas, and creativity to the future of Picnic Party Seattle.
Why We Believe in Celebrating
At the end of the day, we believe you don't need a milestone to celebrate.
A birthday is wonderful.
An anniversary is wonderful.
A proposal is wonderful.
But so is gathering your favorite people together on a sunny afternoon simply because you can.
One of our favorite quotes comes from Hester Browne:
"Always keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes, the special occasion is that you've got a bottle of Champagne in the fridge."
That perfectly captures how we feel about celebrations.
Life gives us plenty of reasons to wait.
We'd rather find reasons to celebrate.
We're incredibly grateful to Hannah for trusting us with Picnic Party Seattle, and we're excited to continue creating beautiful moments throughout the Seattle area for years to come.
Fresh-faced and ready to party,
Diona & Mariah
Co-Owners, Picnic Party Seattle
