Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Burton.
Hi Melissa, 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?
After graduating from Appalachian State University (go neers!), I fully expected to step directly into my “dream job” in advertising. When that didn’t happen, I decided to return to the coast and lean into an industry I knew well: restaurants and hospitality. Having spent my high school years working in restaurants in Southport, I felt comfortable in fast-paced, guest-focused environments. While this path was not what I initially envisioned, it became one of the best things that could have happened. Working in hospitality allowed me to meet people naturally, build meaningful relationships throughout the community, and fine-tune my customer service skills in ways I still rely on today.
One evening, while bartending at a downtown Wilmington establishment, I happened to serve a few guests who worked at a nearby event space. While they were there, I realized that they ran a venue I had applied to six months earlier for an internship. I had applied somewhat on a whim, encouraged by my mom, who felt my detail-oriented and organized nature would be well suited to event work. Unfortunately, I never received a response after submitting my internship application. As fate would have it, I overheard them mention they were still looking for help. So I spoke up, shared that I had previously applied, and by the end of the evening, I had an interview scheduled for the following Monday.
A week later, I had successfully interviewed, started the job, and then spent nearly four years managing the venue, helping grow their business to host over 100 events per year. That role gave me invaluable, hands-on experience in event logistics, planning, and execution. Just as importantly, I built strong relationships with many of the best vendors in the area.
After realizing I had a natural knack for this profession, I began coordinating weddings exclusively for couples who were getting married at this particular venue. Things changed after about a year, when I received an email from someone who had toured with me there but ultimately was getting married elsewhere. They wanted me to be their coordinator. It was the first time I truly recognized that my services, and the impression I left on couples extended beyond a single venue. At this time, I didn’t have a website or even a business card to hand out. No business contract. No bank account. Nothing. What I did have was a clear realization that this was the work I loved and a growing belief that couples trusted me to be part of their most important day.
In January of 2014, with equal parts courage and determination, I took a leap of faith. I registered the business and officially launched Knot Too Shabby Events. At first, I took on a few clients at a time, but demand quickly grew. Within a year, I was receiving inquiries for nearly every weekend of the year. That growth allowed me to step away from the venue manager role in 2015, and Knot Too Shabby Events has been my full-time job for the last 10 years. I haven’t looked back.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My road hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge has shaped me into the planner and business owner I am today. Entering the wedding industry without a traditional path meant I had to prove myself through grit, consistency, and genuine care for the couples I served. I learned early on that credibility is earned not just through experience, but through integrity, follow-through, and a true passion for serving others.
Behind the scenes, the early years of Knot Too Shabby Events also coincided with a period of significant personal challenges. In 2014, I was navigating the sudden loss of my father alongside a difficult divorce that left me thousands of dollars in debt at a young age. That period tested my resilience deeply – especially working in an industry built around love and “happily ever after.” There’s a stigma around being divorced in the wedding world, but I refused to let it define me. I’m living proof that you can still believe in joy, partnership, and possibility, even after life takes unexpected turns.
Those experiences fundamentally shaped how I approach my work: they made me stronger, smarter, and more empathetic. They taught me how to show up with grace on the hardest days and how to support couples through the full spectrum of emotions that come with planning a wedding. My struggles didn’t break me – they refined me, and ultimately fueled the success of Knot Too Shabby Events.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Knot Too Shabby Events?
I’m the founder and principal planner of Knot Too Shabby Events, a full-service wedding planning, design, and event management company based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Since launching the business in 2014, my team and I have had the privilege of planning over 275 weddings and events, and even after all these years, our passion for this work has never wavered. We specialize in guiding couples and families through the entire planning process, from the earliest stages of vision and budgeting to creative design, logistics, vendor coordination, and seamless execution so that the wedding day itself feels effortless, joyful, and fully present.
At its core, Knot Too Shabby Events is built on thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and genuine connection. What truly sets us apart, however, is our approach and our presence – we are known for our ability to communicate firmly and kindly, a balance that puts people at ease, keeps the day running smoothly, and earns trust from clients, their families, and vendors. We’ve had guests, parents, and members of the wedding party tell us that they’ve experienced planners at other weddings who were either tense or disengaged, but with us, they notice how we maintain professionalism, warmth, and positive energy all day long. That presence is something people truly feel once they experience it, and it’s a gift I’m deeply proud of.
Another hallmark of our brand is the consistent feedback we receive. Knot Too Shabby Events has been voted Wilmington’s Best Wedding/Event Planner six times, reflecting recognition from our community and peers. We are also humbled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from couples and families, from detailed planning support to flawless execution on the wedding day, with raving reviews highlighting our organization, communication, and calming presence.
From a brand perspective, what I am most proud of is how authentic and relational our work feels to the people we serve. We do not believe in simply “checking boxes.” We partner with couples, understand what matters most to them, and help them show up fully present for their celebration. Whether we are providing full-service planning, wedding management, or design support, our goals are always the same: to create experiences that feel intentional, joyful, and genuinely reflective of the couple, to make the planning process as stress-free as possible, and to allow our couples the ability to be fully present on their big day.
What I hope readers know about Knot Too Shabby Events is that we approach this work with heart, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime moments, and we consider it a true honor to be trusted with them.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I have never been one to attribute my success to luck. Everything I have built has been the result of hard work, consistency, and a willingness to show up fully, day after day, even during the most challenging seasons. The COVID years, in particular, tested every part of our industry. We spent months rescheduling weddings, navigating uncertainty alongside our couples, and absorbing the impact of lost opportunities to book new business. Those years required resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to our clients, and they reinforced my belief that longevity is earned through perseverance, not chance.
If anything, the “lucky” moments in my life were really moments of readiness and courage. When I happened to wait on those venue owners I had applied to work for months earlier, I could have easily stayed quiet and waited for the next opportunity. Instead, I chose to speak up. My late grandmother always told me, “The world is at the tip of your tongue,” and that advice has stayed with me throughout my life. So instead of holding back, I spoke up, and that conversation led to an interview the next week, a job that changed everything, and ultimately, the launch of Knot Too Shabby Events.
Had I not taken that small but bold step, my path may have looked entirely different. So no, I don’t believe luck shaped my career. My willingness to act, speak up, and seize the moment did. If you want something, you can’t whisper at the world – you have to meet it boldly.
Pricing:
- planning services starting at $4,000
- available for travel (travel fees apply)
- offers custom pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.knottooshabbyeventplanning.com
- Instagram: @knottooshabbyevents
- Facebook: @knottooshabbyevents
