Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ellen Collier and Selena Ruiz.
Hi Mary Ellen and Selena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our business started with two best friends who met while working together in a completely different field: veterinary medicine. Although our love for helping animals still burns strong, we discovered a completely different passion: crafting and curating drinks into an experience that brings people joy and adds something special to their celebrations.
We entered the wedding and event industry knowing very little about it, but we fully immersed ourselves in the experience and quickly fell in love with it. We learned as we went, constantly challenged ourselves to grow, and discovered that there is so much more to bartending than simply making a good drink. It’s about creating an atmosphere, providing great service, and paying attention to the little details that make an event feel personal and memorable.
With every wedding and event we work, we have the opportunity to get to know our clients and their guests on such a personal level. We get to see firsthand the excitement, laughter, and joy that good service and good drinks can bring to such an important day.
What started as two best friends taking a chance on something completely outside of our careers has grown into a business that we genuinely love. We’re incredibly grateful for every client who has trusted us to be part of their celebrations, and we’re excited to continue growing, creating, and making memories along the way.
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?
This entire process has definitely been a learning experience, but having such an amazing and strong partner by my side has made all the difference. The two of us have always had each other to lean on… whether it’s talking through a difficult decision, figuring out a problem, or simply picking up the slack when one of us isn’t able to give 100% at that moment. There’s never any hesitation or keeping score; we know we can count on each other, and that has made the challenges of building a business so much easier to navigate.
I would say our two biggest struggles have been balancing the business with our full-time jobs and keeping up with social media.
You would think that, as two young people who grew up with social media, that part would come naturally to us — at least, that’s what we thought! We quickly realized there is so much more to maintaining a social media presence than simply posting a picture. Keeping up with trends, constantly coming up with new content and ideas, and finding ways to make our business stand out can feel like a full-time job in itself. It’s something we’re still learning and working to improve every day.
Our other major challenge has been building the business while both of us still work full-time jobs. It can definitely be exhausting trying to balance two careers, personal lives, and the demands of running a growing business. There are long days and plenty of moments when we have to remind ourselves why we started.
Ultimately, though, it’s all been worth it. Our goal is to eventually make Moonlit Merlot our full-time career, and we know getting there takes time, patience, and sacrifice. We’re willing to put in the work, and we’re excited to see where that hard work takes us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Moonlit Merlot, we pride ourselves on making every bartending experience as personalized to the client and their event as possible. We don’t believe that bartending should be one-size-fits-all. Once an event is booked, we take the time to understand what our clients envision, the type of drinks they enjoy, and the overall feel they want for their celebration. From there, we curate cocktails that fit their event and bring their vision to life.
One of our favorite parts is taking it a step further and making the drinks as visually memorable as they are delicious. We look at the theme, colors, style, and even the smallest details of an event to determine how we can incorporate them into the presentation of the drinks. We want guests to see a drink and immediately feel like it belongs at that specific event.
Recently, we added edible drink toppers featuring a couple’s wedding date and initials for one of our weddings. For a masquerade-themed birthday celebration, we created themed drink names and added miniature masquerade masks to the cocktails. These may seem like small details, but they are the things that make the experience feel intentional and unique.
What we’re most proud of is that our clients can come to us with an idea, even if it’s just a theme, a color palette, or a feeling they want their event to have, and trust us to turn it into something tangible. We’re not just there to pour drinks; we’re there to help create an experience that feels like it was made specifically for them.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Beyond traditional bartending, our passion is creating interactive experiences that give guests something special to enjoy, explore, and remember throughout an event.
One of our most popular offerings is our champagne wall. It creates an immediate “wow” factor the moment guests arrive, letting them grab a glass of bubbly right away rather than waiting in line at the bar. It’s not only a fun, seamless welcome, but it also doubles as a stunning statement piece and photo opportunity.
Our self-serve mimosa bar cart pairs beautifully with the champagne wall and is a favorite for bridal showers, brunches, and daytime celebrations. Guests can choose from a variety of juices and customize their drinks with fresh fruit, edible flowers, cocktail glitter shimmer, and more—making each glass feel uniquely theirs. For those who prefer something savory, our self-serve Bloody Mary bar cart features our signature house-crafted mix alongside an assortment of classic and creative garnishes, letting guests build a drink tailored exactly to their taste.
Looking back on how far Moonlit Merlot has come from our days working together in veterinary medicine, we’re just endlessly grateful to do what we love side by side. At the end of the day, our mission is to turn simple sips into lasting memories and take the stress off our hosts so they can be fully present. We truly love being part of the Central Florida event community, and we can’t wait to bring a little extra magic—and a lot of fun—to your next celebration!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.moonlitmerlot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonlitmerlot/?igsh=MXJ2dmZ2ZHlvc2E0bQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576327465297
