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Maria Rissanen

Maria Rissanen — founder & CEO

The beginning

Every great celebration begins with someone who truly cares.

Freesi Living started with a single wedding bouquet. Over the years it has grown into one of the Helsinki region's most trusted catering and event companies — but the starting point hasn't changed. Behind every occasion is a person who wants it to feel unmistakably yours.

It all began with flowers and has grown into complete experiences: flavours, atmospheres and moments remembered for years to come.

The journey

Eighteen years of carefully built craft.

  1. 2008

    Kukkapalvelu Freesi founded

    The first wedding bouquets and floral arrangements. A love for detail is born.

  2. 2013

    Flower & event services

    From flowers into complete celebration services — from décor to planning.

  3. 2019

    Freesi Living Oy established

    A full-service catering and event company is born.

  4. Today

    Complete event experiences

    Weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, catering and venues across the Helsinki region.

Maria Rissanen

From the founder

Maria Rissanen — entrepreneur, event producer and atmosphere builder

I believe successful celebrations are remembered for their atmosphere. Good food, beautiful table settings and a well-run whole are important, but what matters most is how the day feels — both for the host and for every guest.

I am the founder of Freesi Living and a seasoned entrepreneur. Over nearly two decades I have had the privilege of planning and producing hundreds of different events: corporate celebrations, weddings, family gatherings, meetings and client events. Each one has been unique, and that is precisely what makes this work so rewarding.

My strength is seeing an event as a whole. I plan every occasion carefully, from the first idea to the smallest detail. Food, styling, flowers, schedules, service and atmosphere come together to create an experience that looks like the client — not like a ready-made concept. These services are also produced by Freesi Living ourselves, so unnecessary middlemen are left out.

For me, entrepreneurship is above all about trust. I want my clients to be able to leave the arrangements in my hands with confidence and focus on enjoying their important day themselves. I am easy to reach, I keep my word and I believe that the best service comes from genuine care.

Freesi Living is built on the belief that every client deserves a personalised event. That is why we do not offer only ready-made solutions; instead, we design every whole according to the client's wishes, the nature of the occasion and the budget.

My greatest success is the moment when a client smiles at the end of the day and says: "This was exactly what we hoped for — or even more." I warmly welcome you to plan an unforgettable occasion together with me.

What makes us different

More than catering.

Complete event planning

From idea to the last candle — one team handles it all.

Fresh ingredients

Seasonal, considered, sourced with care.

A beautiful whole

Food, styling and table setting designed as one composition.

Warm personal service

Personal, genuine, present.

A reliable team

Timing, quality and promises — all kept.

A stress-free celebration

You enjoy. We handle the rest.

Our services

One partner. The whole celebration.

Private celebrations

  • Weddings
  • Birthdays
  • Christenings
  • Memorials
  • Family celebrations

Corporate events

  • Meetings
  • Conferences
  • Business lunches
  • Staff events
  • Corporate celebrations

Catering

  • Buffet
  • Plated dinners
  • Canapés

Venues

  • Distinctive event spaces

Decoration

  • Flowers, tables, atmosphere

Event planning

  • Concept, timeline, execution

Real moments

Once, moments before a wedding, a salad tipped over.

Professionalism doesn't mean nothing ever goes wrong. It means the guests never notice.

We rebuilt it in minutes and the day continued as planned. From it we learned a new way to pack, a new routine, a new confidence.

"We learn, adapt and continue delivering exceptional celebrations."

Community

Entrepreneurship connects us.

Maria is active in local entrepreneur organisations and a regular voice at industry gatherings. That commitment to community reflects the same value clients feel in every dish served: dedication and craft, kept for the long term.

Featured

Freesi Café Otaniemi & Diili

The Freesi Café Otaniemi collaboration and visibility on Diili (the Finnish Apprentice) added new dimensions to the brand — and confirmed that honest craft holds up in the spotlight.

Our values

Simple promises, kept with care.

01

Hospitality

Every guest is met with warmth.

02

Quality

From ingredients to the final touch.

03

Creativity

We dare to make every celebration yours.

04

Trust

Our word holds.

05

Attention to detail

Every detail matters.

Every celebration matters.

Let's create your next celebration together.

Get in touch

Let's start planning together.

Tell us about your celebration — we'll get back to you within 24 hours with a personal proposal.

Request a quote