Rochester, NY

Planning events that unlock core memories

We help Rochestarians unlock core memories with loved ones through fun, immersive, and beautifully decorated weddings, events & luxury picnics.

PLAN MY EVENT

DIY-ing your event can be so stressful

Custom wedding cookies with bride and groom names on them and touches of lavender flowers

You adore your sister, so when she got engaged, of course you volunteered to throw her an amazing bridal shower! You’re now just a few months away from the event, and you don’t have a clue where to start beyond the guest list. Where should it be? Should there be a theme? What games should be played? How long should it be? What do you do for food? Don’t you worry…WE’VE ENTERED THE CHAT. We help you navigate all of this and so much more to make sure your event is flawless and mind blowing.

Help Me

Your new event & luxury picnic besties

Planning personal, love-fueled weddings, events and picnics for Rochestarians who want to do things a little differently is what we do best. Better yet, we’re here to make sure you get to take part in your event and leave the heavy lifting to us (we’re buff).

Event Planning

Your bestie is having a baby? It’s your parents 40th-anniversary bash? Fear not, we’ll handle all the details so you can unlock core memories with your loved ones as a guest.

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Bride and groom at their rustic wedding styled by Homemade Events

Wedding Planning

Whether you’re eloping or throwing a grand celebratory wedding - we’ll handle all the details so you can shine as the bride or groom and take in all the love without distractions.

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Luxury Picnics

Whether it’s a special anniversary, a proposal, a slumber party, a birthday, or “just because,”… we will craft the perfect ambiance for a magical, memorable picnic experience.

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Fancy chairs with umbrella decor for an outside luxury picnic

Graphic icon of a mud vase with greenery inside

Decor Rentals

If you’re looking to DIY your event or are already working with an event planner, we have everything you need to create the perfect event found in one convenient source - us.

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Need a venue for your next event?

Look no further! We are the in-house event managers for Slate on South—a light-filled, industrial-chic venue in Rochester’s South Wedge. It’s perfect space for your event and luxury picnic needs, including weddings!

Working with us is easy-peasy

We are big on working very closely with our clients - hello bestie! So if you’re ready to get chummy with us for a mind-blowing event, then peep below how easy it is to get started with us!

STEP ONE

No matter the service you’re after, fill out the inquiry form with starter information so we get a gist of what you’re looking for and have in mind for your event to better serve you.

STEP TWO

For event planning, we schedule a virtual call with you to get all the details and a clear picture of what you envision for your event. For luxury picnics or decor rentals, we’ll send over a form for you to select which package and add-ons you’d like to book.

STEP THREE

After accepting our proposal, signing the paperwork, and paying the invoice, we go into full event planning mode and dive into our design cave to bring your event to life and unlock several core memories while we’re at it.

SIGN ME UP

SLATE ON SOUTH

New Space, Same Homemade Magic

We’re thrilled to share that Homemade Events is now the exclusive event manager for Slate on South—a bright, modern venue nestled in Rochester’s South Wedge. Whether you’re hosting 35 for a seated dinner or 45 for a lively gathering, Slate offers a blank canvas ready to reflect your vision. But don’t worry—our approach hasn’t changed. Whether you’re celebrating at home, at Slate, or somewhere else entirely, we’re here to make your event unforgettable, your way.

Curious about hosting your next celebration at Slate?

take a peek inside

Client Love Notes

Testimonials

ASHLEY ROCHE

I loved my entire experience. Barbara and Alyssa were very professional and brought all of my ideas to life. Can't wait to book my next party.

WENDY MACDOWELL

My experience of working with Barbara & Alyssa was exceptional from beginning to end. Absolutely, 110% positive. Having never worked with event planners before, I was skeptical to do nothing, but they had it 100% covered. What they created literally took my breath away, made me tear up and the guests gasp in awe. These ladies don’t just decorate, they create pure magic. We can’t wait for our next special event!

ADELE JONES

Marshmallows in apothecary jars to look like cotton balls, pretzel rods dipped in colored chocolate to look like thermometers, small specimen cups filled with apple juice to look like, well you know; these were all creative ideas Homemade Events used to celebrate my niece's graduation from nursing school. Everyone was impressed. They listened to what we wanted and executed the party with professionalism, attention to detail and no drama. I highly recommend these highly capable and extremely talented women.

BONNIE EVERS

I can't say enough about how accommodating these ladies were for our wonderful picnic for two on our 50th wedding anniversary! A delightful experience and the foods were good as well. Felt like a luxurious "Downton Abby" picnic!

TERESA LOPEZ-JONES

I gave Homemade Events a color scheme and let them handle the rest. I was blown away when I walked into my baby shower and saw all of the beautiful decorations, yummy food, and inviting atmosphere. I felt like they really understood who I am and what I would like for this event and I didn’t have to lift a finger. I can’t wait to have another reason to book an event with these ladies. They understand how to make your vision a reality.

JASMINE VEGA

I wasn’t expecting our bachelorette picnic to be as beautiful and relaxing as it was. Barbara and Alyssa took care of everything from set up to clean up. Everything from the signs to the plates and the little speaker was absolutely amazing. They did such a phenomenal job that there were people driving by and stopping by just to see what it was. Thank you, Barbara and Alyssa - we all LOVED it!

JEN GENDRON

Our Butterfly Fairy Princess Tea Party was amazing! The attention to every single detail was outstanding! Barbara & Alyssa took our ideas and ran with them, creating a most memorable experience. We CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH! What a GREAT team these ladies are to bring your visions to fulfillment, creating lasting memories for our family.

MYA THOMAS-POPE

The picnic was amazing! My husband was so happy and relaxed that he wanted to lay out and take a nap!! He’s been bragging about it ever since! Definitely a birthday to remember! We definitely will be booking again!

BETHANY PADILLA

Absolutely out of this world! I cannot begin to explain how wonderful this team is ! From start to finish they made me feel like a queen! They truly went all out. The whole day I was just in awe! They made it special and definitely one to remember !

YASMIN ROSSY

Outstanding! They did an incredible job and went beyond my expectations! I couldn’t have asked for anything better for my 25th birthday! Would recommend, always ❤️

DENA LISSOW

Amazing experience! The whole process was so smooth. The decor exceeded everyone’s expectations. Cannot wait to do another one.

BETH LIGHTHOUSE

Incredible! This party was more than we could have imagined! Every little detail was over the top perfect! Alyssa & Barbara are both incredibly talented! Our daughter had the absolute best birthday! Thank you so much for the best day! 💅🎉💗

ANGILEE MULUK

Barbara & Alyssa are a dream team. They took all the stress of my bridal pop-up event away and even added their own touches and ideas to the event, which made it that much better. Book these wonderful ladies asap! They are worth the investment and will bring all of your ideas to life and then some!

SELENA NGUYEN

My boyfriend and I had the most magical night thanks to these wonderful ladies. The entire day we were so worried we would be rained out, but these ladies planned ahead and set us up with a backup location. I can’t recommend these ladies enough! Thank you again!

LUIS ROCHE

Talk about bringing your image to life! It was an absolute memorable experience loved by everyone. The thorough attention to detail was truly noticed. Thank you ladies for an unforgettable day.

ANONYMOUS

We had so much fun! Our Valentine's Day picnic was a unique way for our whole family to enjoy the holiday in the comfort of our home. Barbara and Alyssa answered all questions quickly, from booking to the end of the picnic. We'll always recommend them for your unique entertainment needs.

KELLY ZARYK

Amazing! Attention to detail was spot on!

Event planners Alyssa and Barbara clinking two fancy tea cups together and laughing

We’re Alyssa & Barbara

We’re Barlyssa

YOUR GO-TO ROCHESTER WEDDING, EVENT & LUXURY PICNIC PLANNING BESTIES

We’re Barlyssa - or Barbara and Alyssa if you want to get technical - and we’re the dynamic duo here to take the overwhelm out of planning your wedding, bridal shower, anniversary party, birthday party, or whatever special event you have in mind. When you agreed to plan that surprise anniversary party for your parents, no one ever told you just what a time suck it would be…right? Lucky for you, we love a good event planning time suck.

GET TO KNOW US

We have so much to say, so we started a podcast!

Tbh, we couldn’t help ourselves. We had so much to say and Instagram Reels and Stories just weren’t cutting it. Did we know what we were doing when we started the Margs & Mindset podcast? Absolutely not. But we did it anyway. We did it scared. Our goal? To empower badass WOC to break free from shackles of the past through raw convos, laughs and tasty margaritas (or beverage of choice). Listen to your fav Rochester jefas every Wednesday here:

LISTEN HERE

Follow the pod on the ‘gram: instagram.com/margsandmindsetpodcast