How one woman’s passion for connection led her to discover her true calling in Southern Utah

Written by Jessi Bang
July 1, 2024

ST. GEORGE — This business owner is grabbing life by the picnic basket and turning outdoor dining into an art form.

Maria Simpson, owner and founder of Make a Scene, sets up a luxury picnic for one of her clients, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News
Maria Simpson, owner and founder of Make a Scene, sets up a luxury picnic for one of her clients, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News

“I’m 47 and finally know what I want to be when I grow up,” Maria Simpson said, laughing. “So it took me a while. But this job — I love it.”

Simpson, owner of Make a Scene, has been on a mission to turn ordinary events into unforgettable memories. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for two or a lively gathering of up to 50 guests, her specialty lies in crafting cozy, private atmospheres.

When the party is a bit larger—12-plus guests—she brings in an assistant to ensure everything runs smoothly. The setting and details vary depending on a client’s specific taste.

“Sometimes, clients will send me a Pinterest board with lots of ideas or simply say, ‘She loves pink,’ and I can bring their vision to life,” she said. “I can recreate anything they have in mind. Other times, people trust me completely and just say, ‘I’ve seen your work, do your magic.’ Either way, I make their dream event a reality.”

A luxury picnic setup is made possible by Make a Scene Events, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News

One type of event she offers is a luxury picnic, where she lays out a feast for guests in a stunning outdoor location. After guests have soaked in the moment and finished the meal, they can explore the area while she clears the table and sets out dessert.

Simpson said she frequently hears that what sets her business apart from others is her meticulous attention to detail, the home-cooked food she offers, along with charcuterie boards and other custom food orders. She also collaborates with a network of private chefs and caterers to elevate events.

“It’s really fun to have someone plate gorgeous, gorgeous food on my very intentional plates,” she said. “That’s a fun thing to design.”

Among her favorite events to plan are marriage proposals. She said the person proposing is often nervous and focused on the details, and she loves ensuring everything is perfect for their special moment.

She also loves to create intimate moments for couples, whether they have children or not. She especially loves designing special settings for those who have been married for a while but have not had the chance to truly connect. While they might go to the movies or out to eat, they often rarely have time to relax in a peaceful place to engage in meaningful conversations. She aims to create that perfect setting where they can genuinely reconnect.

“You can feel the difference between when they arrive and when they leave,”  she said. “And that’s my favorite part about my job.”

Clients can choose from places like Virgin, Smith Mesa, Pine Valley and Cedar Mountain. Additionally, Simpson arranges picnics at clients’ homes and has curated setups at numerous cabins on the east side of Zion National Park.

Journey to Make a Scene

Simpson originally majored in psychology and worked in a wilderness program in Southern Utah, gaining experience in the therapeutic field. After having kids, she spent 13 years as a stay-at-home mom on the East Coast. Following a move back West and subsequent divorce, she began her journey to find a new career.

She returned to work at a residential treatment center for seven years, starting as a mentor and eventually becoming the adventure director. While she loved her job, the demanding workload meant she regularly worked 60-hour weeks and struggled to find a way to reduce them, she said.

“It ran my whole life,” she added. “But it was awesome because my whole job was to create experiences that would take these girls who had suffered horrific traumas and bring them back into their bodies. To reconnect the mind/body gap that happens when trauma is created and remind them how strong they really are.”

Maria Simpson, owner and founder of Make a Scene, carries furniture and decor to a scenic area where she will create a luxury picnic, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News
Maria Simpson, owner and founder of Make a Scene, carries furniture and decor to a scenic area where she will create a luxury picnic, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News

Those experiences involved hiking and a deep connection with nature, which she said she found incredibly fulfilling. It was the first time she said she felt a strong sense of competence and enjoyed seeing the tangible rewards. She later transitioned to organizing retreats and special events as a “party planner” at SkyWest Airlines. However, when the pandemic struck, her role was dissolved, prompting her to pivot to the COVID-19 response team.

When she learned about another mother in Washington, DC, running a luxury picnic business, she found herself intrigued. However, with a new baby on the way, she set the idea aside temporarily. It wasn’t until her daughter was nearly 1 that she revisited the concept of starting her own picnic business.

In November 2022, she decided to leap, and by Feb. 1, her business Make a Scene was officially launched, just in time for Valentine’s Day. By August, demand for her services had soared, prompting her to use her paid time off to meet her minimum hours at SkyWest as her own business flourished.

“The business was just nuts, and it’s been a wild and fun ride,” Simpson said. “It’s been extremely rewarding because I feel like I’ve taken those skills I learned therapeutically and the value that I have for those tools and brought that to this.”

She emphasized that her goal goes far beyond creating a visually appealing setup. She aims to foster a profound connection with oneself, with nature and with loved ones.

Simpson, now the mom of a 3-year-old girl, also lives with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system. It involves the dysfunction of the body’s ability to regulate blood flow and heart rate in response to changes in posture, such as standing up from a sitting or lying down position. People with the condition typically experience symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, palpitations, fatigue and fainting upon standing or prolonged sitting. 

A luxury picnic setup is made possible by Make a Scene Events, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News
A luxury picnic setup is made possible by Make a Scene Events, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Maria Simpson, St. George News

“It’s quite debilitating,” she said. “I need more sleep than your average bear. So it’s been about finding balance with my business.”

But despite her condition, she said she continues to persevere and pursue her passions with determination and resilience.

“There’s a lot of peace and confidence and excitement for me that’s come with knowing my purpose,” she said. “At the core of who I am, I just want to help people. There’s a confidence that comes from understanding that I am making a difference to a couple or family that hasn’t sat down together and really connected in a long time.”

For more information on Make a Scene, visit their website. Follow them on Instagram for all the latest news and events.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

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Twitter: @STGnews

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