Meet Morgan Nussbaum | Owner of MO&CO Custom Events

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morgan Nussbaum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morgan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My passion for planning and executing events started at 12 years old when I was heavily involved planning my own Bat Mitzvah!

Every detail was carefully thought out to tell the story “My Passion is Fashion.” The event came to life the moment you walked through the hotel ballroom doors-  where an entry “storefront” facade of “Morgan’s Fifth Avenue” greeted the guests! After walking into “the store,” guests immediately saw a large stage shaped like a fashion show runway. Each dinner table was branded with a different designer- from Tiffany+Co, to Gucci, to Chanel, to Juicy Couture. There were 10ft photos of me hanging on the walls from a modeling shoot I did at my favorite childhood store, Animal Crackers. We even hired Jan Strimple, one of fashion’s most glamorous runway models, to be placed in the center of a round table as she passed out desserts to family and friends. Every element of the event was carefully planned to fit within my fashion theme and a one-of-a-kind event experience was created that my friends still talk about today (special shoutout to Gary Peto of Shag Carpet Props for all of his help)!

Early on, I realized that you must create personal, custom moments to make an event special. I think of events as more than just a gathering of people, or a party—they’re glimmers in time that speak to the uniqueness of each client, their vision, and the memories they wish to make. I find great joy in all the thoughtful planning that goes into an event, and then executing a never-forget moment for the client.I have worked in the event industry since my college days at The University of Texas at Austin. I have planned events for organizations that include The Dallas Cowboys, AT&T, and rewardStyle + LIKEtoKNOW.it and have established many contacts throughout the event industry over the years. I decided to start my own event company, MO&CO Custom Events in 2020.

One may ask- “Why start an event planning company during a pandemic, when there are no events?” Well, after a transition to digital vs. in-person events at the company I worked for, many people still wanted to throw celebrations in more intimate ways from the comfort of their own homes-  holiday dinner parties, kid birthday parties, drive-by baby showers. I planned many of these events on the side. Then, as more people got vaccinated, I began getting requests to plan fitness pop ups, large baby showers, engagement parties, grand opening events for businesses, and corporate conferences. I was doing the same type of storytelling as I did when I was 12 years old, but for other people, 15 years later. I loved creating unique experiences again! Clients were very happy with my work and the creativity I brought to the table. I realized events were never going to go away, and there will always be moments worth celebrating! Most important, I realized this is what I was born to do, and decided it was a perfect time to spread my wings and launch MO&CO Custom Events!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Details make the moment – this is my business mantra! Every event I plan and design is custom and unique to each client. Not one event in my portfolio is the same. I strive to stay away from “cookie cutter,” or traditional event elements, and I am always thinking outside the box when it comes to creating memorable, never forget moments for both personal and corporate clients. I love a good challenge – come to me with your crazy idea and let’s bring it to life, together!

While my passion to create memorable events started at an early age, my event planning skills blossomed during my time working at my corporate job with rewardStyle + LIKEtoKNOW.it. Four years at this amazing company, I planned events of all different scales – from internal employee happy hours, to holiday parties, to influencer events at New York Fashion Week, to influencer conferences in both Dallas and Brazil, to brand dinners in New York + LA. At rewardStyle, I learned many lessons that I will carry forward to MO&CO. I learned all about the ways to make each event stand out to be “unforgettable and photo-capture worthy,” but just as important I learned how to create these moments by being flexible within the confines of a budget. You have to be flexible because there are always a variety of ways to make an event work.

I also want the world to know I am currently planning my own wedding at The Rosewood Mansion at Turtle Creek during the spring in 2022 – I plan to show Dallas how to get creative with wedding design and guest experience. I want to shake up the industry, disrupt the “cookie cutter” Dallas wedding landscape and showcase my skills by creating a one of a kind wedding design with experiences that haven’t been seen before! Stay tuned 🙂

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am the biggest foodie, so I have a lot of Dallas favorites 🙂 we would definitely start by grabbing a latte + croissant at Georgie Butcher Shop. For lunch, we would head to Mi Cocina for a ricardo salad + mambo taxi. For happy hour / dinner we would go up to Lounge 31 and enjoy a marg with Osadia tequila + salmon crispy rice and many more delicious bites throughout the night. Throughout the week we would sit on the patio at Beverley’s and enjoy a crisp glass of Rose Gold wine, head to Hudson house for their insane cheeseburger, hit two sushi spots Oishii + Shinsei, and always end at Braum’s for dessert, specifically to order a soft serve swirl.

As far as activities, we would workout at VIVE Personal Training, walk the Katy Trail with my two golden retrievers, and stroll through Bishop Arts and visit my favorite candle store, Society by Jackson Vaughn!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Like I referenced in my Bat Mitzvah story, I want to give a shoutout to Gary Peto, Founder and Owner of Shag Carpet Props. He helped me design my Bat Mitzvah 15 years ago, and we have continued working together ever since – he has THE BEST props + rentals for events here in Dallas. He has been a mentor to me while launching my business and I can’t thank him enough for all of his support!

I also want to give a shoutout to my parents + fiancé for supporting me as I follow my dreams!

Website: www.moeventco.com

Instagram: @moeventco

Image Credits
Hannah Vista Photo Lauren Reynolds Photography