Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee Lee.
Hi Dee, 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?
I was a middle school teacher with LAUSD for 13 years. I was doing events and photography as hobbyist. When my miracle babies were born I decided to take a leap of faith and build my brand from the ground up. I retired from being an educator and pursued my love for designing events full time.
I was blessed with so many people helping me on my journey. I started with doing dessert bars for parties, to styling small events and eventually full service design and productions.
My first big break into the industry full time was with one of my mentor and director Carmen Choy-Surdam. Five years ago she gave me the task of doing a grand opening of the hotel for 600 people that included Congresswoman Judy Chu and the mayor of the city of the San Gabriel Juli Costanzo.
The highlight of career was doing an anniversary event for designer Michael Costello and Oprah was a special guest. Who can say that the first year out full time, they would get to meet such an icon and one of the most celebrated women in Hollywood.
Today we can say, 5 years later we are executing and producing bigger events and traveling as destination planners. We are truly blessed to have so many in our industry we call family supporting us all these years.
Currently, Dee Lee Designs was named The BizBash 500, 2021’s Most Influential Event Professionals, The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame from The Knot, 2023 winner of The Knot Best of Weddings, a winner of the 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®. We have been featured in magazines and on Good Day LA for our work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has truly been a blessed road. I have so many people supporting me in my growth. There will always be struggles or challenges along the way. It is what makes us stronger and teaches us how to endure. Finding a balance to my crazy hectic life as a wife, mom to my 6 and 7 years old and business owner is always my top priority.
Being an event planner is one of the top ten most stressful jobs. I wear a lot of hats in my regular life and as an event producer and designer, I wear even more because I always have to multitask. I am constantly putting out fires for various situations. I am supporting hotels and the partnerships we have built. Lately with Covid, it was dealing with supply chain and staffing issues.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Dee Lee Designs is an award-winning, event design, and production company based out of Los Angeles, California. We have been curating weddings that embody modern sophistication and romance throughout Southern California, Hawaii and destinations beyond. Our team of event planners and designers are recognized for the unparalleled, lavish designs we create, that uniquely tell love stories, and highlight brands.
Captivating audiences through our passion for storytelling, we take pride in our artistry at Dee Lee Designs. We have produced luxurious events with the finest quality and professionalism in the industry. Our mission is to curate an elegantly seamless full planning experience with memories that will last a lifetime.
We specialize in luxurious events. We do brand activations, corporate events, galas, destination events, and luxury weddings.
We are so proud of all our accomplishments in the industry in only 5 years. Dee Lee Designs have been named the top 500 influential event professionals in our industry by BizBash. We have been inducted into The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame from The Knot. We have been selected as a 2023 winner of The Knot Best of Weddings. We have been selected as a winner of the 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards. We are currently being nominated for Smart Women in Meeting for visionaries, industry leaders, to entrepreneurs, stellar performers, innovators and rising stars recognizing the top women in the meetings industry who continue to open new doors for all with creativity, passion and drive.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I honestly love the event community we built around us. They are like family and we get to create beautiful things in our city to elevate the industry.
I always pray we can keep our cities safe as there has been a rise is a violence everywhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designsdeelee.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deeleedesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deeleedesigns/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/deeleedesigns
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dee-lee-designs-pasadena-2
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@deeleedesigns
Image Credits
Caroline Tran Photography
Duke Images
Kayla Denae Photography
Lauren Dinh Photography
Tin Photography
Steven Nguyen
