Meet Marissa Mascaro – National Events Manager at The Candy Buffet Company

Meet Marissa Mascaro, National Events Manager

Marissa Mascaro, a leading stylist in the candy buffet industry, has been event planning since her teens. She has designed over 3,000 candy buffets, catering to more than 300,000 guests, including many household names. What inspires Marissa to excel in this unique industry? Let’s find out.

Where did you study?

Marissa excelled at business, art, and literature from a young age. She studied business marketing at Victoria University, completing her qualifications in 2001, and later earned an Event Management qualification from Swinburne University in 2005.

How did you get into the candy buffet business?

Before joining The Candy Buffet Company, Marissa had extensive experience in events but was new to candy buffets. Styling from concept to completion was the perfect match for her passion.

Early events and charity work

At just 16, Marissa helped establish The Mascaro Foundation to raise funds for Make-A-Wish Australia. The first event hosted 100 attendees and raised $10,000, growing to 450 attendees raising $100,000. Over ten years, the foundation raised over $500,000—a milestone she considers a huge achievement.

Candy buffet experience

In her five years with The Candy Buffet Company, Marissa has styled more than 3,000 buffets for around 300,000 guests—likely more than anyone else in the world. Her standout projects include touring with Live Nation for four artists, including P!NK’s Australian tour with 46 events.

Favourite styles and unique experiences

Marissa loves working with diverse themes, tailoring each candy buffet to the client’s vision. One of her most unique experiences was setting up a candy buffet for Big Brother Australia in 2012—completing the styling in just 10 minutes inside the house!

Feedback from the show summed it up perfectly:

“The professionalism and patience you showed in the crazy, last-minute environment that is live TV was incredible. The Candy Buffet looked amazing, and we couldn’t stop talking about it. I would not hesitate to recommend you for any future events.”

– Lisa Fardy,
Big Brother Producer

Popular themes

Corporate clients focus on colour and branding, while brides usually coordinate candy buffets with venue décor and bridesmaids’ dresses. With thousands of venues across Australia, Marissa knows exactly how to style each space beautifully.

Future plans

Marissa is focusing on DIY candy buffets for rural clients, developing new props and decorations, and exploring opportunities overseas and for destination weddings, like Hamilton Island.

Connect with Marissa on LinkedIn.

Want your event styled by someone who’s created thousands of unforgettable candy buffets for hundreds of thousands of guests? Marissa and The Candy Buffet Company can bring your vision to life with a custom candy display tailored to your celebration or corporate event.