Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsea Lawson.
Hi Kelsea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Gatlinburg has been my home since I was one year of age. I have always had a fascination with Cades Cove and really the parks in general. I love this place and I couldn’t imagine not being some small part of it. I remember this special memory when I was a kid that really started my love for picnics.
My step-dad picked me up from a friend’s house, surprised me with some good food, and we ventured to Cades Cove for a picnic. That has always stuck with me, and now I have a business out of it? That’s really special to me.
This idea was honestly sporadic and random. My vision was clear though – I wanted to give everyone the good day feeling I had years ago through my picnics. This year has really kicked off with several new services to follow. I can’t wait to see what it’ll look like in another year, five, even 10 years from now!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
To be completely frank – it has been far from it. I am a mama of four, with a first responder at home, and juggling the fact that we still have Covid affecting so many people. Though it’s been quite the adventure – I am learning along the way, which I am grateful for.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Before my picnic business, I was a wedding photographer in 2007. I started young, and so I am thankful for my customer service, and loyalty to all my clients/customers that I have picked up since then.
Picnic in the Park Co is reliable and detailed oriented which I think is, SO important right now. I feel like these bigger corporations have forgotten how to actually care about what they are selling and whom they are selling to. Do you know? I am grateful to have that reputation and will continue to do so.
I am proud that I took risks, especially in uncertain times. I hope to show my kids that if you really want to do something, do it! Life is just too short. Do it with grace and patience, as the road ahead isn’t always smooth. Lessons are always to be learned.
Picnic in the Park Co specializes in pop-up picnics (think fine dining outdoors), graze tables, and special charcuterie boards for any occasion.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a wanderer, observer, and sometimes a little rotten. Haha, but I was always a passionate kid who had dreams bigger than myself. Creativity was a gene that ran strong through my blood.
I had family that I looked up to, like Loretta Lynn (yep, the one and only!) and Tara Thompson (who is in country music now). They made me feel like dreams were never impossible. My first love was entertainment, and when I got into high school entrepreneurship started catching my attention.
Contact Info:
- Email: picnicintheparkco@gmail.com
- Website: picnicintheparkco.com
- Instagram: @picnic_in_the_park_co
- Facebook: @picnicintheparkco
Image Credits
Kelsea L. Photography
