Meet Emily Burton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Burton.

Emily, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started out as an Interior Designer and worked in this field for 13 years. When the economy crashed, the firm that I worked for ended up having to let me go (due to them downsizing).

I ended up taking a sales job that I wasn’t passionate about…so every day I would come home my hubby would ask me why didn’t I just open up my own business. (I would spend nights sketching and writing business plans)

One day on the job I ended up getting into a wreck that landed me on bed rest for a month. While on bed rest I built a website, came up with the name of my business and launched Emily Burton Designs.

Two weeks prior to turning in my notice I pitched my company to one of my old co-workers whom was getting married. She ended up hiring me, and she was my very first client. I’ve been in love with planning, designing, and producing weddings and other major events since then!

I’ve had the pleasure of working with well-known celebrities such as David Tutera on WEtv, Cynthia Bailey of Real Housewives of Atlanta, New York Fashion Week of Art Hearts Fashion.

Our company now is a luxury one-stop shop for full planning, event design, styling, and production. We travel around the world and our goal is to continue to produce over-the-top designs while providing the highest level of client and guests experience possible.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all!!! Our industry definitely has a lot of “Smoke and Mirrors.” People see the pretty Instagram pictures, but don’t see the reality of our industry (the working from 5am until 2am) forgetting to take lunch because you’ve been assisting your clients and additional items they’ve added on your to-do list at the last minute, or taking your plate of dinner and literally eating it going down the road to a client meeting, missing family events and holidays because we are in the business to please our clients…and at the end of the day (that’s what they remember).

I’ve had my fair share of struggles…but I’m appreciate of the hard times, because it makes me a better person and a better entrepreneur. Without hard times or struggles…how would one ever learn, or have the opportunity to improve?

Some of the struggles I’ve encountered are:
– Not being supported by certain vendors, because I was the youngest “new kid” if you will on the block.
– Obtaining a lot of success fast, and going through a period of health problems and burn out early in my career.
– Being kicked out of a venue because I was booking more business than some of my competitors.

These are a few, I could seriously go on, but again it’s molded me into whom I am today. These things have allowed me to grow, and be more aware of how I don’t want to treat other people.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Emily Burton Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a Luxury Event Planning, Event Design, Styling, and Production Studio, creating one of a kind events through our strategic storytelling and design process.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see our industry going to more of a “Turn – Key” all-inclusive industry. With seeing our clients having more demanding jobs, clients are more overwhelmed than ever, and really just want to show up to their event…not be asked questions and just have EVERYTHING taken care of.

I think more interactive apps will be implemented, which will speed up the super quick process, and make communication more effective for both parties.

Pricing:

• 10,000.00 +

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emilyburtondesigns.com
• Phone: 7066148627
• Email: emily@emilyburtondesigns.com
• Instagram: @emilyburtondesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyBurtonDesigns/
• Twitter: @theemilyburton

Image Credit:
Brooke Roberts Photography, Shannan Leigh Photography, Tamara Gibson Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.