Meet Alexa & Dina

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexa & Dina. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexa & Dina below.

Alexa & Dina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my past experiences and supportive family and friends that I surround myself with. After college, I moved out of New Jersey and decided to pursue a career dancing professionally in Los Angeles, CA. This was a cutthroat industry that was moving at a rapid pace and had both its ups and downs. While many auditions and performances felt exciting, there was a lot of rejection as well. In the beginning it was difficult to accept the “no’s”, however I continued to stay positive and focus on my passion. I knew rejection did not define my talent or potential and staying inspired helped me grow. Remembering why I loved to perform and reflect on my experiences along the way made me a stronger individual. Continuing to audition and keeping an open mind helped build resilience. I was very far from home in NJ however keeping a close knit relationship with family and friends gave me reassurance and the support I needed. I now carry resilience with me as a business owner. I am able to adapt and embrace any set backs while still staying focused on my goals. – Alexa Bernier

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Hi there, we are Dina & Alexa! A mother-daughter duo living in Monmouth County, New Jersey and the creators of Pardon My Picnic! The table was always an important aspect of our lives – serving as a central hub for family connection and tradition. It is a space where we gather to share not only our meals but also catch up on each other’s days, stories of triumphs, challenges, and everything in between.
Pardon My Picnic specializes in boutique picnics and tablescapes. We strive to make your table special, transforming it into a place where memories are created and cherished. We believe that every gathering can be an occasion worth celebrating.

“This venture for me is very special because I get to work with my daughter.” – Dina Lucchese

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that are impactful to our journey as a small business would be customer service, adaptability and time management and quality teamwork.
Customer service is essential to our business as they become our number one priority. We are responsible for creating special moments for our clients and we strive to give them only the best experience from start to finish.
Adaptability and time management is crucial for picnicking, tablescapes or larger events to effectively complete tasks within a deadline. Factors such as weather can allow us to pivot and adapt quickly to new environments.
Quality teamwork allows our business to operate efficiently and accomplish more. Our team consists of hard working individuals with shared goals and supports a positive work environment.

Advice we have for people who are early in their own journey is to create a plan, stay focused on your goals and always be open to learning new skills. Enjoy the journey and celebrate little victories.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Both of us (Alexa & Dina) have relied on each other tremendously to overcome challenges. We both bring to the business different knowledge, experience and combined we are each others support system. We also have a vast community of women owned businesses that we have built relationships with over the years and can rely on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pardonmypicnic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pardonmypicnic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PardonMyPicnic/

Image Credits

Gina Danielle Photography
Zeph Colombatto
Capture by Cai Photography