The Business of Luxury Weddings Podcast
Melissa Sullivan – Studio Sully
In this episode
James and Otto are joined by Melissa Sullivan, the owner and founder of Studio Sully, a design and production firm focused on events that is located in Los Angeles and New York. Melissa had years of professional experience in the wedding and event industry with top designers, and after the tail end of COVID, she finally took the leap to start Studio Sully. She made a lot of contacts and vendor relationships that supported her during the early phases of her new company. Melissa is also the owner and curator of Maison Sully, which is a company that transforms up-cycled vintage wedding dresses into new creations for weddings and special events.
To begin, Melissa shares that starting her own business was extremely hard and felt very humbling in the early negotiations with fees. It was a tough first couple of years, but she wanted it to be the best it could possibly be. They discuss the idea of having a “number 2” or partner that is invaluable to a business. She says the most important part of being a number 2 is to be really efficient with your time and theirs, and to anticipate needs and feedback. She also says to not be afraid to give your own two cents but at the end of the day, the number 2 needs to know that they are supporting this other person. She has multiple people in her business that are her own number 2’s. She talks about the other employees in her business and finding the team that has the right personality fit. The biggest motivator to create her own company was the idea of freedom and getting to do things her own way. She also didn’t know if her job would come back and had a supportive partner that pushed her in that direction. Melissa has a very unique voice and brand that instantly makes her stand out from other design and event planners.
Next, Melissa talks about how there are so many things she has learned over the years that have helped her succeed, but what sticks out is how to treat your team well and with respect, and motivate them when times are tough. She thinks back to when she was in their position and how those moments made her feel. She also wants her team to be comfortable in coming to her. Melissa completed an internship where there was an event in Barbados. The client didn’t want help importing the food in, but ended up needing help, and Melissa took the lead in getting the food from the restaurant to the event. After that, the company gave her the job for the summer and the rest is history! Melissa also discusses her love of fashion and how that first started with her Mom being a seamstress, and tells how she would make blankets out of the scraps. She thought about design school, but went to the fashion institute and received a degree in marketing through the lens of the fashion industry. She always felt passion and inspiration from fashion, and that shapes her events. The audience and clients notice the little things and after a while, all brands start to look the same, but with Melissa, there is a strong sense of her voice and emotion that truly makes her unique. She started giving advice on curating images and self-taught, and then developed her own passion project called Maison Sully. These experiences have given her that unique voice that is authentically her.
In addition, Melissa says to be more successful on the PR side, you need to be organized, persistent and don’t get discouraged. If you don’t hear back, it’s not necessarily a rejection, so you need to write them again. Melissa does believe in helping other planners and sharing experiences to help each other navigate them. She says you don’t have to share specifics of where things were made, but sharing experiences will come back around in working relationships. To earn respect in this field, Melissa says you have to be authentic to yourself and who you are and not be afraid to take some small risks. Attempting to be different is good and makes you stand out. She wants the team to grow to over 8 weddings and events a year, and she would also like to see bigger and more unique productions. She explains her usage of the word “prompt” in that she used to think she had to be a dominating personality in this field, but then realized you can still be assertive, but you can take a step back to listen really well and ask the right questions. A lot of clients have a good idea of what they want, but don’t know how to articulate it. If you listen, you can really hear the client and be authentic to who you are, but also to them.
Timestamps:
0:30 – Introduction of today’s guest, Melissa Sullivan.
0:45 – Melissa shares her background and talks about Studio Sully.
4:29 – What was starting a business like?
7:36 – What is the most important job of being a “number 2?”
10:09 – What was the biggest motivator to create your own company?
12:27 – What was the most important thing you learned?
16:51 – How has your love for fashion infused your brand and what you do now?
20:23 – Where does your brand voice come from?
23:53 – What are tips to be more successful on the PR side?
29:07 – What side of the coin are you on?
34:22 – How did you earn respect in this field?
37:06 – What do you want?
38:59 – Why the word “prompt?”
41:55 – Thanks to Melissa for joining us today.
Bio:
Studio Sully is a full-scope event design & production firm based in Los Angeles with a satellite production in New York.
Studio Sully specialized in uniquely creative productions carefully tailored to the vision and message of each client, ensuring a one-of-a-kind experience rather than “just” a party. We honor tradition by challenging it. Our unique approach to thought provoking, high touch points with a little fashion, whimsy, and nostalgia along the way is what sets up apart.
Studio Sully prides itself on delivering a meticulous level of service for everything from destination weddings, intimate VIP gatherings to celebrations for thousands, for industries including financial institutions, medical groups, global entertainment groups, hospitality brands, and beyond.
The Studio was founded by Melissa Sullivan, an event industry veteran with experience working amongst the biggest names in the industry: Colin Cowie, Stefanie Cove, Yifat Oren, and Mindy Weiss. Since 2010, she has produced countless events for private clientele, celebrities, corporations, and non-profit groups, with a global portfolio spanning New York to New Zealand, with extensive experience throughout the Caribbean and Europe.
Learn more about Studio Sully and on Instagram at Studio Sully.