This is the story of how a Topeka woman took a penchant for planning, a passion for parties, plus a pinch of panache and popularized these post-pandemic posh picnics. Phew!
Is there anything more fun than surprising someone you love? Probably not. At least that’s how Cheryl Clark, CEO of Dare to Dream Event Management in Topeka feels. Born, raised, and educated in Topeka, she is a certificated wedding planner and certified event designer with over 25 years of experience. Over the last few years, one particular type of event she hosts, the pop-up picnic, has really taken off in popularity.
“Pop-up picnics are just what they sound like,” Clark explained. “You pick the place and we pop up!” Backyards, lakes, parks, campfires, pretty much anywhere outdoors can be the perfect place for a picnic. Each picnic is a customized experience. “You can go simple with sub sandwiches and balloons to posh with charcuterie boards and champagne,” Clark said. Typical picnics include food and drink, music, games, and themed decor, but you can also include photographers, videographers, flowers, painting, and more. “You dare to dream it, and we’ll make it happen!” Clark declared.
There’s really no occasion that can’t be celebrated with a pop-up picnic - romantic dates, kids birthdays, adult birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, wedding showers, gender reveals, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day (last year Clark hosted ten picnics on Father’s Day alone!). “My favorite is surprise wedding proposals,” Clark said.
Believe it or not, pop-up picnics were originally born out of the pandemic. “People were looking for ways to get together and the outdoors was one of the only options,” she explained. “Picnics were the perfect answer. Picnics allowed people to gather and socialize in small groups outside.” Clark said 2021 was a very busy year for her pop-up picnic business. “I think I did 50 picnics from May through August of that year,” she laughed.
What’s behind the popularity of pop-up picnics? “I think people want experiences as opposed to material things,” Clark surmised. “And that’s what we create.” Indeed, a 20-year study conducted by Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, concluded that people shouldn’t spend their money on things because the happiness things provide fades quickly. Experiences deliver more lasting happiness because they become a part of our identity. “Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods. You can really like your material stuff, but they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are part of you. We are the sum total of our experiences," Dr. Gilovich said.
With Dare to Dream, Clark’s eye for design, attention to detail, and dedication to her clients earned her some much deserved attention. In 2021, the Greater Topeka Partnership named Clark a Woman of Influence and also awarded Dare to Dream Event Management the prestigious Minority-Owned Business of Distinction Award. In 2022, the Kansas Department of Commerce named them the Kansas Minority-Owned Business of the Year Service Industry.
It may surprise you to know that on top of coordinating weddings, events, and pop-up picnics for Dare to Dream, Clark holds a full-time job with the federal government. She is also very active in her church and community. And as if she wasn’t busy enough, she is rolling out an interior design service that includes in-home Christmas decorating. “I’m gonna slow down, but my calendar is booked!” she laughed. She said she gets help from her husband and lots of assistants, but you can hear the excitement in her voice when she talks about Dare to Dream. It’s clear she loves what she does. “I’m passionate about this job,” she said. “I love people and celebrating them!”
To learn more about Dare to Dream or to schedule your own pop-up picnic in the Topeka or Lawrence areas, visit daretodreamevents.com or call Cheryl at (785) 554-1049 and create some memories to cherish forever.